Avaya Evolves Avaya Connect Channel Partner Program

SANTA CLARA, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 18, 2014) -

• Drives superior customer experience using Avaya solutions to meet business challenges
• Accents expertise and delivers greater differentiation for partners
• Introduces six new Solution Expert designations and restructures Silver, Gold and Platinum level requirements

Avaya Inc. today announced changes to its Avaya Connect Channel Partner program to advance partner expertise in successfully solving customers' challenges using Avaya Collaboration technologies. The program changes will help channel partners differentiate their respective companies and help drive a high-quality end-to-end, customer experience.

Changes to the Avaya Connect Partner Program includes revisions to the requirements for achieving Silver, Gold and Platinum level status and the introduction of six new Solution Experts designations: enterprise unified communications and contact center, midmarket unified communications and contact center, networking and video. To achieve the Solution Expert designation in any one of these areas, partners need to acquire credentials in sales and design, achieve certain revenue thresholds as proof of their experience, and demonstrate customer satisfaction. The Silver, Gold and Platinum level status will be determined based on the number of Solution Expert designations achieved by each partner company.

The changes to the program make it easier for channel partners to achieve a higher level status for their chosen business model and to distinguish themselves based on their expertise. Highly flexible, the program supports both capex and opex sales models, allowing channel partners to support premise, cloud and hybrid cloud models. They can also take a 'full stack' approach to the Avaya solution portfolio, or they can focus on a particular area such as networking or contact center and still differentiate their expertise and gain the financial benefits for their solution area. 

The program changes go into effect on October 1, 2014 with Avaya's fiscal 2015, allowing partners a transition year during which they can earn their status levels based on current or new requirements, whichever works in their favor. 

Avaya Connect Channel Partners can view a replay of Worldwide Channel Vice President Richard Steranka's presentation and the announcement being made today in the Avaya Virtual Partner Forum.

Quotes
"Business challenges require the expertise of a trusted partner who understands how technology can be applied to achieve the desired business outcome. It's rare that a customer will require a single isolated product. The changes to Avaya Connect address what we as a vendor need to do to encourage our channel partners to develop the expertise to help ensure customer needs are met to the highest level of their satisfaction and reward them for doing so."
Richard Steranka, vice president, Worldwide Channels, Avaya

"We believe that when you migrate to a program that is based on skills and value and not just revenue, you create a competitive differentiator based on partner competency. The volume-to-value transformation rewards partners that are aligning with Avaya's growth strategies and strategic products in the areas of networking, video and security."
Jamie Wood, president, Avatel

"These Solution Expert designations give us a great way to highlight what we do best for customers. Basing Avaya Connect level achievements on true dedication and expertise with Avaya solutions rather than our buying power means I have a better opportunity to promote our capabilities in the marketplace."
Karen Christensen, vice president, DTSI Group

Tags: Avaya, Avaya Connect, channel program, channel partners, resellers, unified communications, contact center, midmarket, networking, video

About Avaya:
Avaya is a global provider of business collaboration and communications solutions, providing unified communications, contact centers, networking and related services to companies of all sizes around the world. For more information please visit www.avaya.com.

Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "should" or "will" or other similar terminology. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. For a list and description of such risks and uncertainties, please refer to Avaya's filings with the SEC that are available at www.sec.gov. Avaya disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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