HP energizes SMB channel initiative

LAS VEGAS, US: HP, recently outlined enhancements to its flagship channel partner program, the HP PartnerONE program, including its long-term growth strategy, during the first day of the HP Americas Partner Conference (APC).

"Our channel share is growing, and our channel partners are more profitable with our product lines than they've ever been before. HP will continue to invest in channel partners to increase partner profitability across our portfolio." said Mark Hurd, HP chairman and chief executive officer.

As part of HP's channel growth strategy, Stephen DiFranco, vice president and general manager of the Solution Partners Organization -- Americas, HP, announced several enhancements to the PartnerONE program, including new programs around healthcare and small and midsize businesses (SMBs).

"We make changes to the PartnerONE program based on a balance between partner feedback and market conditions," said DiFranco. "Today's enhancements were developed to help partners accelerate growth in hot markets and provide them with a distinct business advantage."

The changes, effective May 1, include:

-- SMB Elite Expansion provides more partners an opportunity to achieve and maintain full SMB Elite recognition and benefits. It is offered to partners who have demonstrated best-in-class competency in selling into the SMB space. SMB Elite partners receive dedicated sales support, marketing benefits, priority leads and significant rewards and benefits to help them deliver a superior customer experience.

-- Healthcare Elite identifies, equips and rewards partners who specialize in serving healthcare customers. Healthcare Elite joins an existing portfolio of designations that recognize partners for special skills in key markets and provides them with dedicated sales support, marketing benefits, priority leads and rebates.

-- Imaging and Printing Group Supplies Credit counts the revenue from the sale of HP imaging and printing supplies from all HP Authorized Partners and Supplies Authorized Distributors in determining PartnerONE membership levels, such as Business, Preferred and Elite. This change will enable partners to quickly upgrade their membership levels and earn greater benefits with marketing subsidies, distinctive branding, additional leads, growth accelerator benefits and more.