If there’s one thing for certain about the tech industry, it’s that the landscape is always changing. New products enter the market, existing products get updated, different trends shape our behaviors, and every once and awhile innovation disrupts how we do things completely. There’s always something new to learn or try out, and the flow of suggestions for how to improve on anything—be it technical expertise, sales, marketing, customer service, business processes or any other area—never stops.
Staying on top of it all is critical to success, but difficult to do in practice. Ongoing education can be costly and time consuming. It can also be tricky to determine exactly what you should be learning and how to go about learning it.
Introducing Partner University
We created Partner University to make ongoing education easy for IT providers. Designed with solution selling in mind, Partner University is an online, on-demand video library where Sherweb partners can increase their knowledge at their own pace.
Featuring skill paths dedicated to business strategy, sales, marketing and products, Partner University facilitates success by helping channel partners go beyond simply reselling licenses to providing as much value for clients as possible. Anyone can present a SKU to a potential or existing client, but having the expertise to understand customer pain points in addition to which solutions to resolve them can position your business as a true champion and trusted advisor.
Customers are looking for personalized experiences and want to work with companies and brands that resonate with them. Two-thirds of consumers are willing to pay more for great experiences, and 84% say the experience they have is just as important as whatever product or service they’re getting (Salesforce, 2019). Providing a great experience, however, requires more than handing clients a list of features and benefits; it requires understanding those benefits on a granular level. Taking time to learn the intimate ins and outs of the products and solutions you sell, the services you provide, the market you serve, and the industry you belong to can therefore represent innumerable opportunities for your business.
Remember that constantly changing tech landscape we talked about? Partner University helps providers tackle that challenge, too.
Sherweb is adding new products and solutions to its portfolio all the time. By engaging with educational material including demos, provisioning guides and skill-testing quizzes, partners can become experts on new offerings as quickly and efficiently as possible. Sherweb will also be adding new skill paths not specific to products—marketing campaigns, for example—as Partner University progresses to ensure that content is fresh, and that partner education can truly be ongoing.
Available skill paths
There are plenty of Partner University skill paths available right out of the gate. New courses are added regularly, so make sure you check back every now and then to see what’s new!
Acronis Online Backup
Online backup is a great way to start cybersecurity conversations with clients. Find out why Acronis Online Backup is the strongest option for your clients and how to make cybersecurity a profitable part of your business.
Bitdefender
Antivirus, anti-malware and endpoint protection are just a few of the elements that make Bitdefender a key component of any layered security offering. Learn how to position, provision and market Bitdefender and boost your cybersecurity knowledge!
Cloud PBX
Every business needs a phone system. This skill path has everything you need to know to confidently sell Sherweb’s Cloud PBX solution and combine VoIP services with your current offering.
MBA for MSPs
Based on the 2020 Accelerate Cloud Summit, the MBA for MSPs provides attendees with actionable takeaways for building a solid business plan and strategizing for the future.
Not-for-Resale (NFR) Program
Did you know Sherweb partners can test drive solutions for themselves for free or at a discount before offering them to clients? Learn all about our NFR Program and how you can participate.
Office Protect
Office Protect is a Microsoft 365 add-on that increases your clients’ cybersecurity. Find out how it works proactively to keep your tenants safe and how it can enrich your business’s security offering.
Performance Cloud powered by VMware
Sherweb’s flagship cloud server solution is an excellent option for SMBs looking for a fixed-cost alternative to typical pay-as-you-go models. Enroll in this skill path to see how Performance Cloud powered by VMware compares with competing solutions and why it’s perfect for MSPs offering cloud infrastructure and related services.
Keep learning, keep selling solutions
Investing time and energy in solution selling strategies and ongoing education has tangible benefits for your business in the long run. For starters, it keeps you competitive. CompTIA’s 2021 IT Industry Outlook shows 67% of tech professionals are focused on building technical skill in a new area in 2021, and 44% of companies believe selling new product lines will positively impact growth. With so many consumers making purchase decisions based on their experience with a company, it’s by no means a reach to infer that increased product knowledge and marketing skills can help differentiate your offerings for prospects.
Focusing on continued learning will also help you be more efficient. When you can answer complicated questions, run scenarios or resolve technical issues all on your own, it keeps your customer happy and sends them on their way that much faster. And who doesn’t love a quick and easy resolution?!
Sherweb launched Partner University with these benefits in mind. As a value-added cloud solutions provider, Sherweb partners’ success is our success. Join our partner network today to take advantage of all the learning Partner University has to offer, increase your value for clients and strengthen your business.
