Amazon Web Services (AWS), recently announced enhancements to its AWS Partner Network offerings (APN). These include more resources for independent software vendors, new competencies, and a broader marketplace.
These announcements were made at the ongoing AWS reInvent conference, which was held as a virtual event for three weeks this year.
Doug Yeum, Worldwide Channel & Alliances head at AWS, stated that “We are excited about continuing to launch new programs, services, and support our tens, of thousands of AWS Partners around the globe,” in a prepared statement. We are continuing to invest heavily to help our partners build successful cloud businesses on AWS. This will ultimately ensure that customers have the best software and services to guide their cloud journeys.
AWS has added four new competencies into the APN. These are Energy, Mainframe Migration, Travel and Hospitality, and Public Safety and Disaster Response.
AWS has also launched two new programs for ISVs — AWS SaaS Boost and ISV Partner Path. AWS announced that ISV Partner Path “replaces previous partner tier requirements ISVs had to meet in the APN and instead focuses upon service level validation and recognition.” According to AWS, this new program recognizes ISVs based upon their skills and specializations across verticals and workloads.
ISV Partners have access to AWS support resources and programs, which are “uniquely designed to help them accelerate their business growth.” The AWS ISV Accelerate program, which is part of ISV Partner Path, connects ISVs with AWS sales teams to encourage co-selling opportunities.
AWS SaaS Boost is the second ISV offering. It allows ISVs to begin delivering their solutions as Software as a Service applications (SaaS) applications with low-maintenance. AWS describes AWS SaaS Boost a “open source ready to-use reference environment.” It assists ISVs in migrating to SaaS and provides pre-built software components such as deployment automation, usage analytics, and tools to manage billing and metering.
AWS Marketplace now offers third-party professional services such as assessment, migration, training, support, support, assessment, and support to increase its customer reach. The AWS Marketplace previously only listed software products from its partners. The portal will now include professional services. This will streamline the process for AWS customers and expand the user base of AWS partners.
“With today’s announcement, software listings on AWS Marketplace will now highlight related services offerings, so AWS clients can quickly find the best services for their software implementations, and purchase them with one click. AWS Marketplace’s standard terms and contracts reduce procurement time from months down to days,” AWS stated in its announcement.
