VMware Solution Competencies enable, recognize, and reward partners in selling and delivering VMware solutions.  They accelerate sales and services growth by helping partners distinguish and deliver virtualization and cloud computing expertise in the marketplace.  Reference the “Solution Competencies: A Badge Worth Bragging About” blog (published last quarter) for more detail.

While there are six (6) VMware Solution Competencies available, we’d like to focus on why you should invest in a Management Competency.

First, did you know that there is a $1.4B white space market for VMware partners with a Management Competency to target?  Watch the following video to find out how.

On average, the Management Solution Competency helps drive 2x new management license and 3-5x in services revenue in your existing vSphere install base – a ROI for your training in as little as two (2) months.   Additional benefits include:

• Solution Rewards quarterly rebates 10-20% on license sales
• Access to the vCenter Operations Management  Demo Kit
• Solution Enablement Toolkits to package a service delivery offering
• Recognized for expertise in the VMware Partner Locator
• Earn up to 35% for selling vSphere with Operations Management (through September 15, 2013)

Solution Competencies are earned through a combination of in-depth training and customer references.  VMware offers free accreditation trainings, customized training paths that contain essential knowledge for sales, technical sales, and technical post sales roles to ensure your team can provide the in-depth sales and technical know-how that your customers need.

To encourage you to get started now, we are running the Q2 Race to Profits promotion.   Partners who complete the VMware Management Competency between April 1 and June 30, 2013, qualify for a $1,500 rebate on required post-sales courses.

Download this presentation to learn more about the Management Solution Competency, the free accreditation trainings to help you earn this competency, and the promotion that rewards you for the achievement.  The more you know, the more you grow.

− The VMware Partner Network Team

Last month we introduced the new VPN ‘How To’ Series, a monthly blog dedicated to keeping partners in the know about the program and other areas of focus that influence growth.  This month’s topic is on the latter, focusing in on how you can expand your social media presence to influence a user community of 4.5B.  That’s right, 4.5B and it’s growing by the day.

First, social media must be a part of your overall communications strategy.   For a complete overview on how to get started or to enhance your current efforts, take a moment to listen to a recent vmLIVE, VMware Social Media 101.  The course provides you with an overview of the social media outlets available, and how to effectively use  them to nurture current customers, recruit talent, influence the industry, and extend your reach to prospects within.

Once you are social media engaged, your next step is providing quality information on a consistent basis.  Don’t fret because VMware offers a Social Media Content Syndication program to aid you with these efforts.  This program provides a library of valuable content that you can use, plus a delivery infrastructure that allows content to be easily pushed through multiple social media outlets. The end result is that you are provided an instrument to supplement your own social contributions with those provided by VMware.

VMware has waived the fee for all partners to access our Social Media Syndication program, so you can start accelerating your online reputation now.  To take advantage of this limited time offer, visit vmware.zift123.com to learn more and register today.  And don’t forget to stay connected to the entire VPN community with VMware Partner Link.

− The VMware Partner Network Team

VMware recently introduced VMware vSphere with Operations Management, which combines the world’s leading virtualization platform with VMware’s award-winning management capabilities to deliver a managed virtualization solution for the SMB and commercial space. VMware vSphere with Operations Management (vSOM) takes vSphere to a whole new level. It provides customers a single view of their IT environment through an operational dashboard to determine root causes faster, obtain real-time health and performance analytics, and understand their capacity management and optimization needs.

Why is vSOM important to you, a VMware Partner?

• Partners can increase their profitability up to 25% and can  increase deal size to new customers and sell existing customers more software, services, and support
• Customers who have vSOM can easily identify capacity shortfalls, which may lead to additional upsell opportunities.

Why and how is vSOM important to customers?

How to Get Enabled in 60 Minutes

1. Take this 20-minute sales enablement training to get started.
2. Review the VMware Sales BYTE: Virtualization Expansion for Management and Advanced Capabilities.

Learn more about the available Q2’2013 promotions that are available to customers who buy VMware vSphere Operations Management.

- The VMware Partner Network Team

* Source: Management Insights Customer Survey, September 2012

VMware accreditations enhance an individual’s skills and increase their value to their company and customers, while building upon their professional achievements. VMware offers partners free workshops on a quarterly basis for sales and technical solution professionals to learn more about our key products and earn accreditations for it.

Accreditation workshops are categorized by an individual’s role and expertise as follows:

SolutionTracks
Through an interactive format of presentations, tutorials, and role-play scenarios, individuals learn how to deliver a comprehensive whiteboard solution to senior IT management, application owners, and C-level executives. This quarter’s workshops will equip individuals for success in selling VMware vCloud Suite, vCenter Operations Management Suite, and Horizon Suite products. Attending a SolutionTrack also provides an opportunity to earn VMware Sales Professional (VSP) accreditations. (A VSP-Foundation Accreditation is recommended prior to attending.)

Tech Express

These workshops provide a technical review of VMware vCenter Operations Suite and Horizon Suite product solutions. Individuals develop a better understanding of product architecture and key components, learn how to de-position the competition, and develop technical white-boarding skills to communicate key product capabilities in a format that relates to customer pain points. Attending a Tech Express also provides an opportunity to earn VMware Technical Solutions Professional (VTSP) accreditations.

Advanced Tech Express

These workshops offer a technical deep-dive of the VMware Horizon Suite product family and the complex topics that are most frequently seen in desktop virtualization design and implementation. Individuals will learn to apply design methodology to architect solution deployments with consideration for storage, applications, types of users, and devices.  (Note that these workshops may come with prerequisites.)

These accreditation trainings will be touring North America and EMEA – in addition to virtual offerings. Build upon your professional achievements and register for a SolutionTrack, Tech Express, or Advanced Tech Express workshop this quarter.

− The VMware Partner Network Team

As the ecosystem driving the VMware Partner Network continues to evolve, we want to ensure that our partners are kept in the know. To aid these efforts we bring you the VMware Partner Network ‘How To’ Series, a monthly blog focusing on different topics that help you to better market, sell, and deploy VMware solutions.

For the first topic, we thought we would start with our first line of support –   the Partner Support Center (PSC). The PSC is the team dedicated to helping VMware partners whether it’s establishing a new profile account, finding information, or getting clarity on a new incentive’s benefits – You name it, they’ve been asked it.  For example, the PSC can assist you on any of the following support categories:

• General Program Inquiries
• Partner training through Partner University, Specializations, and Solution Competencies
• VPN Program Level Progression / Renewal advice and assistance
• Partner Incentives such as Advantage+, Solution Rewards, and Sales Rewards
• Opportunity Registration process and status
• Market Development Funds (MDF)
• General Benefits such as Not-for-Resale and Internal Use license software, and toolkits
• My VMware – Portal Navigation & Functionality support
• Partner Central – Portal Navigation & Functionality support
• Partner Link – Navigation & Functionality support
• User Information for general partner profile updates, Partner Locator and Distributor Locator

To further support you, the PSC team recorded short video clips around the most frequently asked questions. Take a moment to scroll through the PSC FAQ playlist below. You just might find a topic that you haven’t gotten around to inquiring about.

Please continue to contact the Partner Support Center, but don’t forget about your other ‘support line’ on VMware Partner Link.  The company stream on Partner Link is connected to a wide variety of SMEs just by using #help.

− The VMware Partner Network Team