Netgear Launches Channel Program

Networking vendor Netgear (NTGR) announced the launch of its Netgear Solution Partner Program, a new global channel reseller program designed to help partners turn a greater profit by selling the company’s enterprise solutions.

Netgear has borrowed the standard three-tier partner model from its contemporaries to form the structure of its latest channel effort, which is comprised of NSP Basic, Platinum and Platinum+ tiers. All partners are initially eligible for NSP Basic status, with access to the Platinum and Platinum+ tier dictated by reaching quarterly revenue goals.

The company also announced an NSP Specialist level, which is only available for U.S. partners specializing in vertical market segments such as education and hospitality. Specialist partners will have access to all the benefits of Basic, Platinum and Platinum+ partners as well as additional discounts at distribution and a backend rebate.

“It’s the right time to redesign our program to emphasize not only the price/performance value of Netgear products and our industry-leading warranty program, but to strengthen margins and simplify business processes to lower the costs of doing business with Netgear,” said Renee Meisenbach, director of Worldwide Channel Marketing for Netgear Commercial Business Unit, in a statement. “We recognize that a successful channel program is not based on technology alone, but on a shared effort to drive business opportunities and revenue.”

All partners will have access to a host of standard program features including market development funds, lead generation and sales support services, with the specific level of benefits varying by tier. A new partner portal is also live to help resellers gain online access to the program, Netgear said.

Straight from the press release, NSP Basic members will have access to benefits including:

Both Platinum and Platinum+ partners will receive these benefits as well as several others, including:

The VAR Guy reached out to Netgear to learn more which benefits would be exclusive to Platinum+ partners, but did not receive a response prior to posting.

UPDATE: Platinum+ partners receive all of the benefits of both the Platinum and Basic level partners in addition to a higher level of rebates at distribution, as well as a higher level of discretionary market development funds and priority on lead sharing, said  Meisenbach.

Netgear has released the new partner program in the United States and select countries in Europe including France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The company said it plans to add additional EMEA countries to the program in the future, although a specific launch window was not announced.