IBM Cloud is truly "open for business."

In July, we kicked off the Cloud Channel Innovation and Growth Initiative. Our goal was to create an environment that enables IBM Business Partner and Distributor success, helping them better serve their clients with IBM's cloud portfolio.

We offer many cloud advantages for Business Partners and Distributors--a virtually unmatched spectrum of capabilities through IBM Cloud, a broad range of education and sales content to enable business success, and the opportunity for Business Partners and Distributors to extend their reach to clients through our cloud services and solutions.

Our initiative began with three key actions: 1) changing the downstream indemnification requirements in the SoftLayer Reseller agreement; 2) broadening the selling portfolio available to Business Partners and Distributors, starting with IBM Bluemix™; and 3) introducing a multi-tier Cloud competency framework that strengthens the sales and technical capability of Business Partners who are expanding their cloud services practices—while rewarding them for demonstrated market success. Today, I’m excited to tell you more about Bluemix.

Since IBM launched Bluemix, many channel partners have become early adopters and evangelists for our digital innovation platform. That's no surprise. Bluemix is a "game changer." It brings together market-leading capabilities from across IBM and our third-party ecosystem that help enterprises, developers and startups build, run and manage applications in the cloud.

Now, IBM Software Value Plus resellers in the SaaS Entry Authorized Product Group can sell Bluemix Public
Subscriptions for Cloud, Internet of Things, Watson and Systems Middleware. Channel Incentives include:

  • Reselling through Tier 2 Distribution = SaaS resell incentive stack
  • Referral (single-tier incentive paid to VAR). IBM Business Partners can reference the SaaS Referral program documents on PartnerWorld.

Note: IBM Business Partners cannot earn incentive on resell and referral for same transaction. No SVI incentive.

Take action today to capitalize on expanding your Cloud sales opportunities with IBM Bluemix.

If you are not an IBM Business Partner, visit ibm.com/partnerworld to learn about the program and benefits of joining.  If you are an existing IBM Business Partner not already SVP Authorized for SaaS Entry product group, access your profile in PartnerWorld and "apply." Ensure you have a sales mastery aligned with the IBM SaaS - Entry Product Group for authorization. See the applicable Mastery Tests listed. Look under "IBM SaaS Entry."

Visit http://www.bluemix.net, attend one of our face to face or virtual happening worldwide now. IBM Business Partners can also access Bluemix sales enablement webinars on PartnerWorld.

Momentum is everything when it comes to competing in the marketplace. In IBM Cloud Business Partner and Channel Innovation, we are building such momentum quickly and helping IBM drive revenue growth to new levels in 2015 and beyond.