HP Modernizes SMB Sales and Marketing Partner Portal

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), making sure it doesn’t lose sight of its partner community while it fusses to fix its flagging business, has opened a new online, SMB-focused portal called Partner Concierge meant to serve as a central location for tools, training and support.

Inasmuch as HP chief executive Meg Whitman has referred to the vendor’s channel as its “No. 1 competitive advantage in the industry,” how then does Partner Concierge benefit channel partners? Here are the details …

Essentially, Partner Concierge is a modernized version of HP’s 18-month-old SMB Central portal, constructed to better engage with partners concentrating on smaller businesses through a collection of upgraded sales and enablement tools, marketing programs, training and information vital to sell the vendor’s products and services.

The portal also gives partners a vehicle to interact more frequently with HP, and for new partners to sign up for HP authorized reseller status. The program is available to all U.S. channel partners — joining is free and requires only registration — and it’s soon headed for Canada and then worldwide implementation.

Judging from the landing page alone, the web site is far more user-friendly, inviting and informative than its predecessor. For example, right now the page lists HP printer and PC roadshow locations through early December, offers information on new promotions, social media marketing, partner testimonials, financing programs and provides a Twitter feed.

Partner Concierge tools and resources include:

HP has hopes the Partner Concierge program will encourage partners to work together on joint marketing and business development opportunities and to more closely partner with the vendor.