What is a technology partner?
A technology partner is a company or organization that provides technology solutions or services to another company to help them achieve specific business goals. Technology partners can include software vendors, system integrators, managed service providers, and consulting firms.
Technology partners can provide a wide range of services, such as software development, hardware installation, system integration, and ongoing support and maintenance. They can also provide specialized data analytics, cloud computing, and cybersecurity expertise.
Why are technology partners valuable?
Technology partners are typically engaged to help with specific projects or initiatives, such as implementing a new software system, migrating to the cloud, or improving the security of a company’s IT infrastructure. They often work closely with the company’s internal IT team to ensure that the solutions they provide are aligned with the company’s overall technology strategy.
Having a technology partner can bring many benefits to a company, such as:
- Access to specialized expertise and resources that they may not have in-house
- Flexibility to scale up or down as needed
- Lowering the total cost of ownership
- Improving time-to-market and increasing innovation.
Technology partners are becoming increasingly important in today’s business environment, as technology continues to evolve rapidly and companies are looking for ways to leverage technology to gain a competitive advantage.
Many companies maintain partner relationships that help market and deliver their products to our customers and complement our community.
Vendor partner relationships include the following:
- Cloud providers. Many companies work with major cloud providers to increase awareness of our products and make it easy to access our software. For example, we partner with Google and Microsoft to offer the vendor’s SaaS Service on Google Cloud Platform (“GCP”) and Microsoft Azure, respectively, including direct purchases from us and through their respective marketplaces.
- Systems integrators, channel partners, and referral partners. Many companies have a global network of systems integrators, channel partners, and referral partner relationships that help deliver our products to various business and government customers worldwide.
- OEM and MSP partners. Many companies have original equipment manufacturing (“OEM”), and managed service provider (“MSP”) partners embed a SaaS subscription into the products or services they offer to their customers. As a result, OEM or MSP partners can include the vendor’s paid and unpaid proprietary features in their product, receive ongoing support from the vendor for product development, and support for the end customer issues related to the vendor.
- Technology partners. Many technology partners collaborate with SaaS and IT companies to create a standardized solution for end-users that includes technology from both the vendor and the partner. For example, vendors can work with companies like Micro Focus to integrate our products with their products. Technology partners represent a deeper collaboration than community contributions and are distinct from distribution-oriented relationships like OEMs and MSP partners.
Factors to Consider
When working with an IT partner, there are several factors to consider to ensure a successful partnership:
- Experience and Expertise: It is crucial to work with a partner with experience and expertise in the specific areas you need help with. This will ensure they have the knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality solutions that meet your business needs.
- Communication and collaboration: A good IT partner can communicate effectively with your team, understand your business goals and collaborate effectively to achieve them.
- Scalability: As your business grows, your technology needs will change. Working with a partner who can scale up or down to meet your changing needs is essential.
- Security and Compliance: When working with sensitive information, security and compliance are essential. Working with a partner who can provide solutions that meet your security and compliance requirements is essential.
- Support and Maintenance: An IT partner should provide ongoing support and maintenance to ensure that your systems are running smoothly and that any issues are addressed quickly.
- Price and Value: It’s essential to consider the costs of working with an IT partner and to ensure that the value they provide justifies the cost.
- Track record and references: It’s essential to review the IT partner’s track record and references to understand their deliverability and reputation.
- Cultural fit: It’s essential to work with a partner with similar values and culture to ensure the partnership will succeed in the long term.
By considering these factors, you can ensure that you work with an IT partner that is well-suited to your business needs and will help you achieve your goals.