Lenovo enhances One Channel partner programme

Lenovo has announced enhancements to its One Channel partner programme that now integrates former IBM System x products and partners.

Lenovo’s One Channel 2015 programme aims to “maintain the founding principles of simplicity and predictability” whilst enhancing the incentives for the Enterprise portfolio, as well as a new series of solution expert programmes, said Lenovo.

Lenovo has fully integrated the System x business into its channel scheme meaning total Lenovo revenues now contribute to the partner status of Premium or Gold, and channel partners will earn incentives on all business with a simple classification between PC and Enterprise business. This enhancement means partners need only to qualify once to be assigned either Premium or Gold status and benefits will accumulate across all lines of business.

And to drive greater channel breadth, Lenovo is offering the opportunity for new partners, who are already certified to sell competitor products, easy entry into the One Channel Program with the equivalent category for a six month period without qualification or certification. Following a successful six-month period those partners will automatically become certified partners.

A further enhancement is the introduction of System x server products to the Lenovo Topseller line-up alongside the existing Thinkserver portfolio, that will simplify and speed-up business via the channel. “This comprehensive line-up will be readily available off the shelf from our authorised Distribution network.

“The TopSeller portfolio offers selected configurations always available and competitively priced simplifying resellers’ business and enhancing sell-out velocity,” Lenovo said.

The programme also offers competitive incentives with new incremental rebates and accelerators aimed at expanding Lenovo’s presence in the value-add solution and SMB segment. The incremental rebates reward selling high-end solution based products and the TopSeller portfolio to support Lenovo’s growth ambitions in the mainstream tower and rack categories.

Vincent Fauquenot, VP of products and channels at Lenovo EMEA, said: “The channel is at the heart of delivering our remarkable run of results across EMEA. Our partners represent 95 percent of our total business.”

Earlier this month, Lenovo announced its first partner programme for cloud and managed service providers (MSPs), following the transition of the IBM System x server business to Lenovo.