SAN JOSE, CALIF. – NetSuite has launched a new channel program that tries to answer the question: “Does my solution provider developed app work?”
The cloud financials and ERP vendor launched Built For NetSuite program to help its solution provider partners instill customer confidence in custom built apps for the NetSuite’s platform.
The program works this way: Solution providers submit their SuiteApp to NetSuite. From there, the company verifies SuiteApp compliance for architecture, development, privacy and security. After the Built For NetSuite team reviews the partner’s SuiteApp submission for completeness and appropriateness, channel partners will then provide a demonstration of the product and/or positive customer references. The SuiteApp is then awarded a Built For NetSuite badge that the solution provider can show to the customer.
In order to keep the Built For NetSuite badge, channel partners must go through this process semi-annually and align with NetSuite’s product release cycle.
“A customizable platform is why we win,” said NetSuite president and CEO Zach Nelson. “Built For NetSuite was devised from the ground up and it’s for every customer who wants customization. Partners are great at building SuiteApps on top of the NetSuite cloud platform and we want to better manage that,” Nelson added.
Currently NetSuite has attained approximately 300 new channel partners in its SuiteCloud Developer Network since it launched back in 2009. From that group 270 specific SuiteApps have been created in markets such as manufacturing, distribution, social, ecommerce, and retail.
“Built For NetSuite is a set of best practices that ensure new apps play well together in the NetSuite environment,” Nelson said.
NetSuite partner application (SuiteApps) can be found on SuiteApp.com, the online marketplace that showcases more than 270 third-party applications with industry—and business-specific capabilities to extend NetSuite.
Nelson went on to say during a press conference that NetSuite started as a direct-selling software company. However, today NetSuite is very close to achieving a 50-50 split between direct and indirect channel sales.
“I have never seen that from any other company throughout my career. When you start direct you always end up having more direct sales even if you move into the channel and partner with VARs,” he said.
NetSuite currently offers solution providers margins of 33 per cent on a re-occurring basis. Nelson said that he realizes solution providers incur the cost of sales and that he wanted to support them as much as he could.
