Zebra Technologies (Nasdaq: ZBRA), a global leader in delivering on-demand printing solutions for business improvement, has witnessed great success in the Middle East with the newly introduced PartnersFirst programme. Launched in the Middle East in April, Partners First is an umbrella programme tailored to help enhance the value of Zebra specialist printing solutions and increase customer satisfaction.
Online Distribution Ltd, already a Zebra Distributor for the past 3 years covering the GCC region, has received the Authorised Zebra Distributor status under the programme.
PartnersFirst is a continually evolving scheme, designed to offer more opportunities as new products and technologies become available. The programme recognises three tiers of direct resellers: Premier Partners, Advanced Partners and Associate Partners. These core categories are complemented with programme sub-tracks that reward excellence in specific areas, such as RFID and Zebra supplies.
It also recognises the support that resellers who buy through distribution expect. These partners will benefit from working with a local distributor while maintaining a relationship with Zebra for sales, marketing, training and technical support. Zebra resellers can enjoy some preferential sales and marketing benefits over other second tier resellers in order to encourage the growth of Zebra business. Such benefits include the receipt of a proportion of leads that Zebra’s corporate marketing department generates throughout the year.
PartnersFirst recognises the different skills and commitment offered with Zebra’s vast partner community. The reward mechanism will encourage partners to invest in Zebra’s business.
According to Paul Garner, Zebra Technology’s Dubai based Regional Sales Manager for the Middle East, India and South Africa: “PartnersFirst will provide a foundation for a consistent and transparent partner programme across the EMEA region. It aims to define and recognise channel partner value as well as enable margins that encourage partner investment in Zebra.”
“Structure is always a key business driver”, said Venu Menon, divisional director at Online Distribution, “The PartnersFirst Program has assisted to consolidate Online's relationship with Zebra Technologies and the Channel Partner Community. Partner First also differentiates distributors from direct resellers with a specific authorized reseller track buying through distributor This tool now enables Online Distribution to recruit fresh channel partners with Zebra recognition.”
Another advantage to the PartnersFirst Program is it’s ability to manage and resolve channel conflicts on opportunities and pricing. The partners enrolled in the program can enjoy some preferential sales and marketing benefits over other second tier resellers. Some of the advantages are training, lead allocation, and access to an account manager within their local market to help facilitate sales of Zebra products.
"Zebra’s determination to change how its partners are supported and rewarded will benefit the channel and will help Online Distribution support the reseller community", added Mr Garner.
All existing partners have until the end of 2006 to apply for accreditation under the Partners First programme.
About Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: ZBRA) delivers innovative and reliable on-demand printing solutions for business improvement and security applications in 100 countries around the world. More than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Zebra-brand printers. A broad range of applications benefit from Zebra-brand thermal bar code, ‘smart’ label, receipt, and card printers, resulting in enhanced security, increased productivity, improved quality, lower costs, and better customer service.
The company has sold more than four million printers, including RFID printer/encoders and wireless mobile solutions, and also offers software, connectivity solutions and printing supplies. Information about Zebra bar code and RFID products can be found at http://www.zebra.com
Zebra Technologies Europe Ltd, headquartered in the United Kingdom, provides product and speciality label sales and support, including oversight of offices in Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.
About Online Distribution
OnLine Distribution Ltd. is a value-added distributor for data networking products and services covering the Middle East, Western Asia and North Africa. It is a subsidiary of Datatec, an international networking and IT services group.
Based in the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone of Dubai, the company has stocking locations and offices in both Jebel Ali and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It provides its partners with technical expertise, network design solutions, logistics and sales support for all its vendors, as well as their large inventory of products.
