We've put a new expanded structure in place behind our Google Apps Reseller Program. As introduced on our blog, we've created two tracks to correspond to the different customer size segments typically served by our resellers. Additionally, we're adding a new Premier Reseller tier to help differentiate partners who have proven success at driving adoption of Google Apps. Overview Google Apps Resellers may participate in one or both of the following tracks:
Within each track there are two reseller levels:
For more information on the benefits and requirements of these tracks, please see the Google Apps Reseller Program Guide. SMB Reseller track Building a practice around bringing Google Apps to the small and medium business market involves different dynamics in terms of how you engage with customers and with Google. We created the SMB Reseller track to support your efforts in this area and to reward your success. If you typically target SMB businesses (<250 employees) then this is the track for you.
Building a practice around bringing Google Apps to mid-market and large companies requires a deeper competency and investment in order to effectively sell and implement the services. We created the Enterprise Reseller track to support your efforts in this area and to reward your success. If you typically target mid-market or enterprise businesses (>250 employees) then this is the track for you.
Common questions Q: We’re currently a Google Apps Authorized Reseller, how does this affect us? If you are already a Google Apps Authorized Reseller and you typically target SMB businesses, then you are qualified for the Authorized tier of the SMB Reseller track. In addition you may consider aspiring to the Premier tier of this track - see below. If you typically target mid-market or larger companies, then complete this tier change request form to request entry to the Authorized tier of the Enterprise Reseller track. If you are eligible for the Authorized tier, then you may consider aspiring to the Premier tier of this track - see below. Q: We’re currently a Google Apps Authorized Reseller, how do we get promoted to the Premier tier? If you typically target SMB businesses, you may consider aspiring to the Premier tier of the SMB Reseller track. You can find the requirements for this tier in the program guide. We will contact you soon if we feel you are close to achieving the requirements for the Premier tier. If you typically target mid-market or larger companies and you’ve confirmed eligibility for the Authorized tier of the Enterprise Reseller track, then you may consider aspiring to the Premier tier of this track. You can find the requirements for this tier in the program guide. If you feel you’ve satisfied the requirements for the Premier tier, complete this tier change request form. Q: We’re not yet a Google Apps Authorized Reseller, how do we get started? If you typically target SMB businesses, then get started by following the enrollment process. If you typically target mid-market or larger companies, then start by completing the reseller program application form. Google will select resellers among those who have satisfied the minimum requirements for the Authorized tier of the Enterprise track. More details in the program guide. Q: We work with larger companies, how do we get into the Enterprise track? If you are not yet a Google Apps Authorized Reseller, start by completing the reseller program application form. Google will select resellers among those who have satisfied the minimum requirements for the Authorized tier of the Enterprise track. More detail in the program guide. Q: What are the benefits of being a Premier Reseller? For a full list of Premier Reseller benefits, please review the program guide. Q: Why update the reseller program with tiering now? The Google Apps Reseller Program is growing rapidly and differentiation is becoming key for our community of over 3000+ resellers. We want to help customers more easily identify which partners are well suited to enable their success based on customer segment, technical expertise and overall customer success. Q: What are the differences between the SMB and Enterprise tracks? The SMB Reseller track is for resellers that focus on selling to companies with fewer than 250 employees. The Enterprise Reseller track is for resellers that focus on selling to companies with greater than 250 employees. The separation of these segments allowed Google to design the tiers with qualifications and benefits aligned to these market profiles. Q: Can we be in both the SMB and Enterprise tracks? Yes, a company can pursue both tracks as long as their business meets the qualification requirements for each track separately. Each track has different requirements, and qualifications for one track does not carry over into the other. Resellers may be a Premier reseller in one track and an Authorized reseller in the other track. Q: What does the “Annual New Business” requirement mean? To achieve certain tiers we would like that you demonstrate activity and success recently - over the past 12 months. As detailed in the program guide, the Premier tier requirement for the SMB track involves reselling a certain number of new Google Apps for Business customer domain accounts AND a number of new end user accounts (seats) within those new customer accounts, over the trailing 12 month period. And for the Enterprise track, the tier requirements involve reselling a certain number of new Google Apps for Business end user accounts (seats) over the trailing 12 month period. Q: How do I determine if I’ve satisfied the Annual New Business requirement? Currently the best way to do this is to examine your reseller console for the customer domain accounts you have ordered online. You should have a list of customers with the customer size as well as your order history to give a sense of timing. We are actively working on providing easier tools for you to track your progress. Q: Does Google Apps (free edition) or Google Apps for Education count towards the Annual New Business requirement? No. While we have many partners doing valuable work rolling out our free products to organizations, the Google Apps Reseller Program is aimed specifically at supporting partners in bringing Google Apps for Business (paid) to business customers. Q. Do paid Postini seats count towards the Annual New Business requirements? No, Postini seats for paid Google Message Security or the other Postini products will not count toward your Annual New Business requirements. Q: Where can I learn more about Google Apps certification? You can learn more about the Google Apps Certification Program by viewing the webinar or visiting the Google Apps Certification Program site. Q: How do I satisfy the Published Customer Success Stories requirement? A success story must describe the experience of a Google Apps for Business (or Government) customer. It must include enough detail to describe the challenges that were faced with the prior environment, the named reseller who helped them successfully adopt Google Apps, and the benefits the customer has seen. And customer success stories need to have been published externally within the last 12 months. Submit your success stories to Google using the Enteprise form or the SMB form to satisfy this requirement. Q: What does the “"Minimum seven day active user percentage"” requirement mean? One way to measure the level of adoption for a Google Apps customer is by looking at the percentage of end user accounts that are currently active. A currently active user is defined as a user who has sent or read mail in the last 7 days (a “7-day active user”). This requirement is specific to the SMB track and involves maintaining a minimum percentage of 7-day active users across your entire SMB customer base. (Your SMB customer base is made up of the set of resold customers that have less than 250 employees) This includes both your newer customers and your older customers. It is measured at a couple of points in time near the time of your consideration for the Premier tier, but we expect this percentage to remain relatively steady. Q: How do I know if I’ve satisfied “7 day active user %” requirement ? Currently the best way to do this is to examine your reseller console. You should be able to click through to each customer's control panel to see their usage pattern and current number of 7-day active user accounts in the upper right of their dashboard. More detail here. We are actively working on providing easier tools for you to track your progress. Q: What is the term length for a qualification? Do I have to worry about being demoted? When you are approved into a tier, you are in that tier for the rest of the calendar year and will be re-evaluated at the beginning of the following calendar year, and each year thereafter. During re-evaluation, if you have not met the requirements during the prior 12 month period, you will enter a 12 month probationary period. You will be re-evaluated following that probationary period and will be demoted or transitioned out if you still have failed to meet the requirements. |
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Reseller Tiers and Tracks |