Samsung Launches Ascend Partner Program With Improved Rebates, New Portal
The Ascend partner program includes benefits such as new growth incentive rebates and easier special pricing requests.
Samsung is seeking to continue its expansion with solution providers in 2020 with the debut of an updated partner program, which includes investments in new growth incentives and a refreshed partner portal, the company's mobile channel chief told CRN.
The Ascend partner program and new investments come as Samsung continues to find strong demand for its business-focused devices, said Mike Coleman, vice president for B2B mobile channel at Samsung Electronics America. Those include the Galaxy Note 10 Plus smartphone and the Galaxy Tab Active Pro rugged tablet.
"We are doubling down on our B2B commitment," Coleman said. "B2B's growth is significant [for Samsung]. We're investing in that B2B marketplace. That's where a lot of the project-based volume is coming from. More and more partners are realizing that Samsung has outstanding solutions to solve real business problems, as it relates to mobility."
What follows are five key things to know about Samsung's latest partner program updates.
Samsung Ascend
Samsung is formally launching its new Ascend partner program and portal, which takes the place of the former STEP (Samsung Team of Empowered Partners) program, Coleman said.
Ascend features four tiers--Blue, Diamond, Platinum and Valued. The program covers Samsung partners across not just mobility devices, but also display and SSD products, Coleman noted.
The partner program includes increased support for fast-growing partners--such as with improved incentives tied to hitting higher growth thresholds, he said.
The partner portal, meanwhile, has been redesigned to provide greater ease-of-use to partners. It also now offers better support, incentive management and lead-sharing--as well as automated sales tools, according to Samsung.
Growth Incentive Rebate
A key addition to the Samsung Ascend partner program is a new growth incentive rebate, tied to reaching certain sales volumes.
"In exchange for achieving specific growth targets--for those partners that qualify and invest in our program--we put the growth incentive rebate in place with multiple different tiers. Those payouts are commensurate with your growth and your tier," Coleman said.
Overall, rebates in the Ascend partner program are "richer than they have been, and more plentiful in terms of the benefits," Coleman said.
Special Pricing Requests
The Ascend partner program and portal also improve the process of submitting special pricing requests using automation, according to Samsung.
Previously, special pricing requests had to be made by email and could take up to several days to get a response. Now, requests go through the Ascend portal and a response is provided on the same day, Samsung said.
Other Benefits
The Ascend portal will also provide access to training, deal registration, demo unit requests and discounts, SPIF claims and marketing content, Samsung said.
"It's a one-stop shop--we automate the special pricing, it's got the project registration, SPIFs. We have a more-formalized partner training portal and dashboard for the growth incentives," Coleman said. "So that's where you would see that your target is X for the quarter to date, you're at Y, and this is the gap. Here's what you need to do. And then all of the marketing resources and collateral."
Growth Outlook
Marco Nielsen, vice president of managed mobility services at Stratix, a Norcross, Ga.-based MSP and partner of Samsung, said his firm sees a lot of opportunity with Samsung ahead.
"We are eager to utilize the updated portal with our staff to streamline and expand our sales with Samsung," Nielsen said.
Samsung's business through the channel "enjoyed very significant growth" in 2019 compared to the prior year, Coleman said. And for 2020, "we continue to see that level of trajectory" for the company’s growth in the U.S. market.
Samsung reports there are now 100 million of its B2B-specific devices in use in the U.S., and the company says that the U.S. accounts for 40 percent of its B2B business worldwide.
"We really have a commanding share of the B2B marketplace as it relates to Samsung globally. And a lot of what we're doing here is being replicated elsewhere around the globe" within the company, Coleman said.