Salesforce.com Announces Force.com Value-Added Reseller Program
IT News Online Staff
2009-09-01
Salesforce.com, the enterprise cloud computing company, has announced the new Force.com value-added reseller (VAR) program. The new program enables VARs to resell Force.com, the cloud computing platform for custom application development.
The Force.com VAR program will help resellers build a business developing and delivering custom applications in the cloud for their clients. The program is free to join and gives partners the opportunity to create recurring revenue as well as manage contract renewals.
Initial partners that have joined the program include American Data Company, Appiphony, Aptaria, Centerstance, Echo Lane, EDL Consulting, ForceBrain.com, Lexnet Consulting Group, MK Partners, Red Sky Solutions, Reside, Silvertree Systems, Stone Cobra and Sundog.
"With their depth of customer expertise, resellers bring tremendous value to cloud computing," said Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO, salesforce.com. "The new Force.com VAR program gives resellers a clear path to success in cloud computing for the first time."
Salesforce.com said that given the VARs' traditional role as trusted advisors to companies of all sizes, adding custom app development on Force.com to their service offerings will help accelerate the adoption of cloud computing worldwide. The Force.com VAR program offers reseller access to a rich set of technical tools, training and go-to-market resources to develop cloud computing expertise and drive business success.
The Force.com VAR program includes:
- A sales resource center for VARs, which provides access to a Force.com sales kit, industry insights and other exclusive sales tools such as demo orgs and customer references
- A consultant resource center, which provides a robust set of implementation resources, including best practices, community discussion boards and design guidance and templates
- Technical training and a comprehensive Force.com certification program, including role-based online courses
- No program fees, and VARs generate recurring revenue on the initial contract as well as renewals
- VARs can resell the Force.com cloud computing platform, as well as additional services such as mobile capabilities, storage, sites and development sandboxes
- Salesforce.com will provide the first line of support for the Force.com platform, while VARs are responsible for supporting their customizations and applications
- Entry-level Force.com pricing for VARs begins at $7.50 per user per month
Force.com is salesforce.com's enterprise cloud computing platform. It provides everything companies need to quickly build and deliver business applications in the cloud, including the database, unlimited real-time customization, powerful analytics, real-time workflow and approvals, programmable cloud logic, integration, real-time mobile deployment, programmable user interface and Web site capabilities.
Customers and partners have built more than 120,000 custom applications on Force.com to run their businesses, including, supply chain management, compliance tracking, brand management, accounts receivable, claims processing, time-off applications and much more. Salesforce.com said Force.com enables companies to build and deliver applications five times faster, at about half the cost of traditional client/server software platforms.
"The Force.com platform provides a fast and compelling way to develop and deploy custom business applications," said Steve Warshawsky, Director, Perficient. "And with the new Force.com VAR program, there has never been a better time for channel partners to get started delivering apps - and business value - in the cloud for their clients."
"Building apps on the Force.com cloud platform is faster and more cost-effective than on premise alternatives," said Bill Loumpouridis, CEO, EDL Consulting. "The new Force.com VAR program will provide more choices for our customers in how they realize the benefits of application development and delivery in the cloud."
"The Force.com VAR program gives us a clear path to delivering custom application development projects in the cloud for our clients," said Josh Holtzman, CEO, American Data Company. "Delivering the best practices, training and certification and sales engagement in one program will help us extend the benefits of enterprise cloud computing to our clients."
"We've delivered over 1,000 successful Salesforce CRM projects for our clients both in the Sales and Service Cloud, and built custom solutions leveraging the Custom Cloud," said Alana Kaselitz, Principal Founder, Echo Lane. "The Force.com VAR program now delivers everything we need to further grow our custom application development business on Force.com."
"Salesforce.com is providing resellers a path forward for custom application development projects in the cloud," said analyst Mike West, vice president, Saugatuck Technology. "Now moving beyond Salesforce CRM customization and integration, the Force.com VAR program will interest CIOs and IT departments that are moving their business processes and IT backlogs into the cloud."
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