Avaya Enables Channel Partners to Deliver Innovative Real-time Collaboration Solution

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Avaya Enables Channel Partners to Deliver Innovative Real-time Collaboration Solutions and Evolve Businesses

- Avaya Connect Channel Partners Have Access to New Skills and Support in Video and Data, Partner Helpdesk, Business Management and Marketing Curricula
- Announcement made as over 500 EMEA partners gather for 2011 Conference in Barcelona

BARCELONA, SPAIN – Avaya, a global leader in business communications systems, software and services, today announced new skills, certifications and support systems to help Avaya Connect Channel Partners provide innovative, real-time business communications and collaboration solutions to their customers. Avaya Connect Channel Partners will have access to new technology certifications, business management, increased marketing funds and a global Partner HelpDesk to help evolve both their customers business as well as their own. Partners serving the SME sector will particularly benefit from this increased support structure and will now be able to gain their SME certification with greater ease.

The announcement was made as over 500 Avaya channel partners gathered in Barcelona, Spain, for its 2011 EMEA Partner Conference being held this week.

“The innovations Avaya is now bringing to market allow our Avaya Connect Channel Partners to change the conversation,” said Jeremy ----, vice-president, Worldwide Channels, Avaya. “Our partners can have a strategic impact helping enterprises reinvigorate their business by using open, standards-based real-time communications and collaboration applications. Avaya is equipping channel partners with the technology, skills, certifications and support to enable their success in this industry.”

The announcement follows a series of technology innovations announced by Avaya through 2010 that included advancements in unified communications and collaboration, contact centre and data networking for businesses from small to very large. Most recently, Avaya announced a new portfolio of video-enabled collaboration solutions highlighted by the Avaya FlareTM Experience, the industry’s first next-generation user experience that delivers unique collaboration capabilities across video, voice and text.

“The focus of our business lies very much on technical competency and expertise. Having the Avaya accreditations helps reinforce and clearly communicate our expertise to our customers," explained Daniel Cholerton, sales director at Aurora Networks. "We don't want to pay lip service to training; we want our team to become qualified to prove we are among the best in the field. The Avaya training helps us to offer our customers technical and well designed solutions that provide good value for money and a commercial advantage. Having a knowledgeable team has enabled us to build long term relationships with our customers where we become a trusted partner and not just a supplier.”

“Working with a vendor which is channel-engaged in its approach is good news for companies like us, and good news for the customer," commented Andy Roberts, commercial director at Sabio. “Having our core competencies recognised within the scheme means we have a clearly structured channel whereby partners with the right area of expertise are being matched to the right customers’ requirements. The Avaya Connect programme enables Sabio to work side-by-side with Avaya in a strong partnership which is focused on solving our customers’ needs.”

The new and expanded technology training, designations and skills reflect Avaya’s expanded portfolio into Data and Video Solutions and include:

- Video or Data Authorisations – new and updated policies both protect and reflect an Avaya Connect Channel Partner’s commitment to globally consistent quality standards in video or data solutions.
- Video or Data Expert – identifies an Avaya Connect Channel Partner that has demonstrated the highest level of ability in sales and support of video or data, and provides access to Avaya’s industry-leading tools and support.
- Avaya Certified Solutions Architect (ASCA) in Unified Communications Solutions or Contact Center Solutions – new certification opportunity indicates an individual employee has achieved the highest level of training and competency in unified communications or contact centre solutions and helps channel partners build deeper levels of specialisation.
- Avaya Connect Video Solutions certification – for individual employees as an optional solution set training that can be added onto Unified Communications credentials.

“Vendors with clear and strong certification programmes enable partners to develop comprehensive skill-sets and build and grow their business,” states Chris Ilg, director, Infrastructure Channels and Alliances, IDC. “As enterprises look for innovative collaboration solutions to fuel innovation in their business, partners with the latest capabilities are best positioned to meet the needs of customers today.”

The recently launched Avaya Connect Partner HelpDesk provides a single point of contact for channel partners who have questions about Avaya’s partner programmes, tools and services. Available in 10 languages, this new resource offers truly global assistance to channel partners to make it easier for partners to do business with Avaya, regardless of their level, geography, or portfolio sold.

Avaya is offering access to courses leading to a Professional Diploma in Marketing Business Services and Solutions provided by ITSMA and the Chartered Institute of Marketing to help channel partners build business skills. The curriculum will help channel partners understand what they need to do within their own business to create and deliver business services and solutions and how to win, grow and defend key customer accounts.

The new training and certifications will be available over the next two quarters. The Avaya Connect Partner HelpDesk is available now.