14 DAY TRIAL // IBM seems to defy the current financial crisis as its third quarter figures are expected to be better-than-expected. We already said a few words on the Big Blue's good state and more good news on the company emerges to the Web. Given its upwards direction, IBM decided that it was high time to spend some money on incentives to impulse its large partners into investing more in training and few other areas.
Big Blue introduced on Wednesday a scheme that would help its business partners who are involved in its New Enterprise Data Center strategy. The scheme includes incentives for IBM partners and is based on improving their knowledge in three main areas: virtualization and consolidation; energy efficiency; business resiliency.
IMB's plans do not seem to stop here, as there is a fourth area that is currently under consideration, although it hasn't been announced yet, information infrastructure; at least, this is what Mike Bernard, general business and channels marketing leader at IBM, appears to have told ZDNet. “Skills in those areas are what's most needed," Bernard said. "From that the clients will benefit as well as the partners.”
Big Blue's partners can apply for two levels of incentive for training: general specialty, which brings them $25,000, and specialty elite, for which they will receive $100,000. According to Bernard, IBM's scheme was open to any qualifying partner. “There is no qualification other than that they are undertaking work in the chosen areas. They do that and they qualify and they get the money for it,” were his words.
The company also said that the money would not be invested in marketing only, but in business-development activities, marketing intelligence, and certification training and even personnel salaries as well. Besides, access to IBM Labs will be granted, along with offered use of IBM tools and more sales support.