My second post on IBM’s new Ready for Social Business program is out. I provide 5 reasons why the program provides value.
IBM Business Partners can find value in:
- Market Differentiation:
Participation in the program allows you to differentiate yourself. Let’s face it. IBM has thousands of business partners. Other software vendors also have thousands of partners. If you bring something to the table that makes you stand out then your customers will sit up and take note. Sellers within IBM will be more willing to work with you on solution-oriented sales.
Better Delivery : Developing a solution or an approach that merits inclusion in “Ready for Social Business” will shorten your projects and allow you to deliver more. Really, that’s a good thing. Far too many people believe systems integrators want to lengthen a project as far as we can. Honestly though, who wants to spend all your time just getting something running? We want to deliver real functionality under budget so our clients return and ask for more. By bringing solutions or approaches to the table, we can all deliver projects faster and with more success.
Free Marketing : Yes, IBM lists Ready for Social Business partners in the global solutions directory and in Lotus Greenhouse . Quick plug on Greenhouse, anyone who wants to take IBM’s social business products for a test drive can just sign up for a free account and go.
More Free Marketing : Some of the first participants get to speak at key events. Some of the best leads my company, Perficient, finds are through events where we get a chance to talk about the real work of implementing these tools and the best practices. These events provide that type of venue.
Even More Exposure : I have to say that I’m impressed with what IBM has put into the program. IBM promised to promote partners in the next Lotusphere 2013 directory of social business partner and on the solution showcase floor.
