Symantec gears competency among global partners

NEW DELHI

FEBRUARY 27, 2007

In a bid to increase competency among global partners and to provide them a
platform to sustain and thrive, Symantec Corporation has announced three new
initiatives that include a technical specialist and assessment program, a
unified technical support program and three-fold investment in its partner
infrastructure. This is the third phase of channel program unfolded by Symantec
and the company is aiming to outperform the competition and create long lasting
relation among the partners.

“For the last 18 months, we have experienced a sea change in the
performance of our partners with the roll out of phase wise programs. Partners
have lot of potential to sell and reach to the end users, however, they don’t
get the right launch pad. This is the third phase and we have the confidence
that such program would give space to competitive analysis, loyalty and
profitability for them,” said Ajay Verma, Director, Channel and Alliances,
Symantec India.

With the release of new initiatives, Symantec is aiming to fine-tune its
business with partners and manage their community in a much systematic and
profitable manner. The company is targeting to touch the scale of $10 billion by
2010 and believes that the partner-focused strategies are imperative to fuel its
growth.

While stating on the need of such programs, Verma further said, “Partners
are centered around opportunity and they understand the market proposition.
There are lots of challenges while ensuring advancement for the customers and
significant one is polishing the competency skills of partners. We need to value
the partners and give them right solution that develop them among all market
segments irrespective of their business outreach.”

According to Symantec, the phase wise roll out of partner program would help
in consolidating the potential of 60,000 global partners by providing them
adequate technical training, assessing their product specific knowledge and
technical skills and help in developing their business opportunities.

“The main reason behind giving them hundred percent support is that
partners, all over the globe, are full of energy and they need to build
competence among themselves. There are lots of new people joining and leaving in
the market everyday and it is very essential to differentiate them through their
competency,” added Verma.

Highlighting the impact of first two phases of channel centric programs on
the functionality and business of partners, Verma confirmed the growth of 75
percent in the business of existing partners and 100 percent increase in new
business opportunities brought by them.