NetApp dedicated to channel partners

The local ‘Partner Enablement Team’ comprises of seven employees who will provide NetApp channel partners with the tools, expertise and knowledge they need to sell NetApp solutions and services effectively.

According to Scott Morris, director of partner sales A/NZ, the team will ensure its partner community has access to classroom training for technical skills and certification, as well as technical consulting to grow their solutions development expertise and be more self-sufficient.

“Less than four years ago only two percent of our business went through channel, now we’re looking at 45 percent in Australia and around 68-70 percent worldwide,” he said.

“I’m not building free services practice to go up against the channel. [I believe] The better the education (via training) the more our partner can make”

According to Morris, the vendor announced back in May that it would make a significant investment in helping our channel partners succeed.

“Success is not how many channel partners we have, we prefer integrity and consistency with our partners,” he said.

“The appointment of a dedicated Partner Enablement Team is another step towards affirming our commitment towards helping our partners go further and faster by providing them with the best resources available – our people.”

The team reports into Morris and includes; Tanya Pugsley partner enablement manager A/NZ; Paul Charlaff, partner development manager, northern region and NZ; Daniel Reinhardt, partner development manager, southern region; Grant Woodbury, technical partner advisor; Aman Dhillon, technical partner advisor – southern region; Steven Pemberton, technical instructor; Amie Richards, A/NZ training and program coordinator.

“Our deal closure rate is currently 80 percent, [however] SMB still is a challenge and we haven’t had enough focus there,” he said.

“Our partners are what make our business successful so it’s critical that we give them the support and training they need to serve their customers better.”