Partners worldwide are stepping up their game to solve unique customer challenges flowing from the COVID-19 pandemic. One recurrent question is how to help customers evolve ways of working even further, driving project, programme and process management remotely and at scale.
The right collaborative, comprehensive platform is now in pole position to help partners overcome customer siloes and other obstacles across a wide range of industries, confirms Steve Stewart [pictured, above], head of global channels at Smartsheet.
He suggests the next few months should see partners looking at a newly essential category – collaborative work management (CWM). Forrester has named Smartsheet as a leader in enterprise-grade collaborative work management, in particular – read the full report here.
“For years, companies have been using two layers of technology in their enterprise stack: systems of record – ERP, CRM, ITSM, HSM, et cetera – and storage and communications platforms like Microsoft, Google, Dropbox, Slack, Zoom, and the rest. Organisations today need a different type of technology solution that works together with these foundational systems and tools.
“One area I’m particularly excited about that will better support our partner community is the ability to build, market, and sell custom-developed applications and integrations with the Smartsheet platform,” Stewart explains.
This will help empower people to design solutions that meet dynamic work and organisational needs, so they can align and execute with the agility required by the pace of business today.
“In between systems of record where work is recorded, and the tools in which work is created, discussed, and stored, Smartsheet is this dynamic layer where people align and get work done in an agile way.
“This is where Smartsheet activates the entire enterprise,” Stewart says.
Benefits for Aligned partners
This also underlines a thirst in the market for trusted advisors with in-depth knowledge.
“It’s where the Smartsheet partner community adds tremendous value. Our partners build practices focused on specific verticals so they truly understand their customers’ business needs at a level that traditional resellers cannot accommodate,” he says.
“This enables them to build repeatable solutions and services that cater to these specific verticals and use cases to deliver customers the exact expertise they need.”
Smartsheet Aligned partners receive consistent and timely communication about new opportunities, programme and product advancements, and thought leadership via webinars, monthly newsletters, a Partner Portal, and a dedicated channel support team for each partner.
“We are seeing very healthy growth in our channel community in the UK and across EMEA, in terms of channel sales and partner numbers. We are actively recruiting new partners looking to build a Smartsheet practice with a focus on services delivery, including solution development, implementation, and training,” Stewart adds.
The Smartsheet Aligned program, which launched in late 2019, continues to deliver new ways for solution providers to capitalise on a massive market opportunity. In recent months, Smartsheet has launched new education and training programmes, delivered innovative sales enablement tools and resources, and grown the channel support team in all major regions.
“Partners can expect to see new types of benefits and support programs continue to launch throughout the remainder of the year,” Stewart notes.
“Smartsheet has a lot to offer partners across many different use cases and focus areas. The opportunity has never been better to join Smartsheet Aligned and add a collaborative work management platform that enables dynamic work to your solution portfolio. Our product, partner program, and ecosystem of partnerships are leading the way of work.”
Read more: Smartsheet’s five tips for boosting employee engagement in the dynamic workplace.
