AWS prefers US partners over Aussies on new services-finder

Amazon Web Services last week launched a global offering that drives business to the channel – but not for Australian AWS partners. Even for Australian AWS customers.

The offering is called AWS IQ and as the cloud giant explains it helps users “to engage with AWS Certified third party experts for project work” and “will let you quickly & securely find, engage, and pay AWS Certified experts for hands-on help.”

IQ does so by offering a portal on which AWS users can log a request for an expert to do a job. That request is sent to a pool of certified AWS experts who can bid for the work. Once the end-user and expert agree to work together, the job gets done and money changes hands.

It’s all made easy for customers because IQ is “integrated with your AWS account and your AWS bill”.

All of which sounds like a fine way for an AWS partner that has invested in certified staff to pick up some work. And perhaps even some offshore work because AWS told CRN that “Customers can currently post request into IQ worldwide.”

But sadly the offer is not open to Australian AWS partners, because participating experts “must reside in the United States, and … must have US banking and tax information.”

AWS told CRN it currently has no timeframe to expand eligibility to would-be IQ  experts in Australia.

Which means Australian AWS customers that use IQ will be introduced to US partners for the foreseeable future.

IQ is aimed at small and medium users and the nature of the service means it focuses on the kind of task that don’t need high-touch, face-to-face consultancy. So perhaps directing Australian users to US service providers won’t rob locals of much work (even if a US-based “medium” business can be a whale in Australia). On the other hand, the likes of Freelancer.com argue that light-touch online engagements are a fine way to demonstrate competency and build towards more substantial work, so perhaps Australians are missing out.

If you’re an AWS partner, feel free to use our Feedback Form to share your opinion on AWS IQ and its Australian exclusion.