Partner expectations @ 9th SP Summit 2014

DQ Channels spoke to a couple of partners to make this event partner centric and useful. On their expectations, Suresh Ramani of Tech Gyan, Mumbai feels that the discussion should be around the following areas:

1)    Infrastructure as a Service
2)    Software as a Service
3)    Platform as a Service
4)    Public Cloud
5)    Hybrid Cloud
6)    Private Cloud
7)    Business Productivity on the Cloud
8)    ERP on the Cloud
9)    CRM on the Cloud
10)  New Applications on the Cloud
11)  Mobile Apps and the Cloud
12)  Security Service apps on the Cloud

Ramani also says that the various sponsors will pitch their offering on the cloud and even some partners who have Cloud practice can talk about it on how they build the same. But, he adds, "Bottom line is that Cloud is multi dimensional. So depending on the partner strengths, one can focus on the aspect of the Cloud which make most sense. For example, we are Cloud Service providers, but our main focus is on Public Cloud. And within that we look at business productivity services. So we may not be too keen on the Data Centre services of the Cloud. But some other partners may be into data centre setup. For them, Private Cloud will make more sense."
While Alok Gupta of Softmart, Delhi feels that the SP Summit should help the channel to have a better understanding of the cloud and also help in formulating the roles and responsibilities for the channel inside the cloud model.

Gupta states, "If the following two question are discussed , it should lead to a better understanding of the cloud for channel partners. One, "What are or should be the responsibilities of the SAAS Reseller partner towards the end user customers and towards the SAAS Service providers during the first time licencing and the subsequent renewal? The SAAS (Software As A Service) market is now growing fast and will mature soon. The rules of the game are still developing and need to be made finite soon. What according to you are or should be the roles and responsibilities of the SAAS Service provider and the SAAS Reseller partner towards each other and towards the end user custome?"

Second- " Software vendors are now getting CLOUD ready. How much (as a percentage to the Perpetual licence) will the software customer eventually be willing to pay with for a CLOUD Annual licence? Adobe has created customer traction for its Adobe Creative Cloud Team Annual Licence @ ~15% of its last perpetual licence rates for Adobe Master Collection. The are also offering Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud Annual Licence @ ~10% of the Adobe Photoshop Perpetual licence rates directly to individual photographers. Microsoft has pushing its Microsoft Office 365 CLOUD Annual licence @ ~25% of its Perpetual licence rates. Microsoft customers in India are still preferring Perpetual licences. How should other software vendors ensure early success for their CLOUD offerings?"

 

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