Bangalore, March 2, 2020 – VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), a leading innovator in enterprise software, today launched VMware Partner Connect, the new, dramatically simplified and flexible program designed to enable partners to do business with VMware in a way that aligns to their business models under a single unified contract. VMware Partner Connect empowers partners with flexibility to meet customer needs, making VMware technologies and services opportunities more accessible. Partners now have an enhanced experience that delivers simplicity, choice and innovation, while recognizing and rewarding partners based on the value they bring to customers.

“VMware Partner Connect reimagines the way we do business with and for our partners, helping them drive differentiated customer success and digital transformation,” said Jenni Flinders, Worldwide Channel Chief, VMware. “We designed Partner Connect with our customers in mind and the idea that they should feel confident when choosing to go with a VMware partner. And this is just the beginning, as Partner Connect continues to evolve to deliver new and better ways for our partners to grow their businesses.”

Mr. Manish Alshi, Director, Partner Sales, VMware, “We have always had a strong and successful relationship with our partners in India.  With the introduction of VMware Partner Connect, we believe that we have one of the best partner programs in the industry.   Designed in collaboration with our partners, VMware Partner Connect delivers simplicity, choice & innovation, and aligns with partner business models so that they can optimize their profitability. The program also makes it simpler to  recognize and reward our partners for their commitment to VMware.”

VMware Partner Connect now offers three tiers: Partner, Advanced Partner, and Principal Partner. Hundreds of partners have been designated Principal Partners at today’s launch. These partners help customers identify and implement ideal VMware solutions, as evidenced by achievement of Master Services Competencies across different strategic IT priorities. These Principal Partners also earn comprehensive rewards including deployment and consumption incentives and prioritization for collaborative business planning and co-selling opportunities with VMware.

“Customers in Asia Pacific want to build lasting partner relationships to enable their software investment to add as much value to their businesses as possible. Partner Connect combines our expertise with exceptional partner capabilities to help customer digital transformation projects maximize their potential,” said Uma Thana Balasingam, VP & Channel Chief, Asia Pacific & Japan, VMware. “There is so much optimism and growth in the region, and with this new program we are helping to future proof our partners so that they can continue to elevate their trusted advisor status with their customers.”

Across India, IT decision makers are challenging partners to move faster in order to realise growth ambitions and address heightened end-user demands. Partners must be able to keep ahead of technology advances by deepening their technical and services competencies.

“When VMware announced its Partner Connect program, we couldn’t have been more excited. To start with, the program has been designed based on feedback received from the partner community. Secondly it has simplified the engagement process with VMware as there is only one agreement, and finally the program rewards us to deliver the solutions that our end-customers find value in,” said Rajesh Mathkar, Founder and Director, Wysetek Systems Technologists Pvt. Ltd.

Starting today, VMware partners can find support, resources and education at https://www.vmware.com/go/partner-connect. Enhancements include:

• an Incentives and Development Funds portal, which provides enhanced dashboards and improved visibility for partners to track their activity with VMware,
• a new VMware Learning Zone, which provides a wide variety of content, including the ability to customize learnings plans based on individual partner preferences, and
• an overall improved partner experience.

Partner Connect will continue to evolve based on industry changes, changes in customer buying behaviors, and to support emerging partner business models. In the months ahead, VMware plans to integrate partner programs from new VMware products, including VeloCloud and recently acquired VMware businesses VMware Carbon Black and Pivotal.