BT Wholesale’s first ever official partner programme “sets out our stall” to its channel, according to Senior Manager of Transformation, Trevor Lovelock.
BT Wholesale’s Partner Plus is a three-tier programme – Partner, Premium and Elite – that has been designed to formalise its existing services to the channel, as well as new additions, such as a greater range of benefits, including commercial support, sales and marketing resources and learning tools.
“Historically we've had many of the associated features that you would typically find in a programme but we've never really called it that,” Lovelock told UC Today.
“Partner Plus gives our partners a much clearer give-and-get between themselves and BT. We've set out our stall with this programme; it's about rewarding loyalty and growth with us, and the tiering structure of the programme is something that we think will enable that.”
The programme was developed after consistent and increasing feedback from customers and partners who were struggling to keep up with the rapid change of technology and who needed expert support and guidance, Lovelock said.
“Trying to keep up with the pace of change is almost impossible and that's why partners need more support,” he stated.
“That's why we need to lean into the channel and help them go on that journey and help them understand new things like all-IP, SD-WAN, cloud, security, IoT or 5G mobile. Partners need somebody to turn to, they need a trusted supplier to work with who can actually help them to navigate all of that.”
The programme’s launch is well-timed as BT Wholesale and its partners prepare for the next wave of transformation in the industry, he added.
“We've started to deliver our digital transformation, and our partner programme, at just the right time because we're just at that bow wave of the next massive transformation of the industry,” he elaborated.
“For example, the opportunities coming down the track in terms of 5G are mind-boggling and there's a lot of work to do to figure out how we can bring 5G to the channel.”
Over 70 per cent of partners have asked for brand association with BT Wholesale and eligible members of Partner Plus can now avail of using their connection with BT Wholesale in their marketing communications.
