Practical and profitable series #2
Top techniques you need to know to get the most from PartnerWorld Industry Networks
In my last newsletter, I introduced this series as a way to respond to your questions on how to get the most out of your relationship with IBM in the shortest time frame. I focused on the top ways to get the most out of our marketing and collaboration resources. This month, I take the covers off our technical resources and give you ways to get enabled quickly, lower the cost of working on IBM platforms and invest in your personal skills to expand your capabilities.
Whether you're looking to migrate to a new platform, or completely re-architect your solution, we have the right resources to help. Furthermore, our product suite has you covered, too. From cell processors to mainframe servers, from Tivoli to WebSphere, you can access it all here.
Get personalized guidance
The project resource manager team is a great place to start. Your project resource manager can help you whether you're creating a new application, migrating to a new platform, or simply upgrading to a newer version of our technology. They'll work with you one-on-one to help define and document your objectives, identify the support resources you need to help expedite your development, and provide you with a personalized roadmap that outlines the resources you need to help accomplish your goals.
Project resource managers are available through the IBM Virtual Innovation Center (VIC). The VIC is your online connection to technical training, development and sales support at IBM. You can access our complete product portfolio or get technical and sales enablement support 24/7 at no cost to you.
To get a project resource manager, sign in to the VIC using your IBM ID and select "Project support". Follow the instructions for adding a project and a project resource manager will contact you within 1-2 business days.
Build with an architect
When you're building your solutions, you need to make architectural decisions that create an efficient, optimized solution and that delivers real value to your clients. If you're not sure which IBM product can provide the capabilities you need, you can get one-on-one instruction from an IBM IT architect.
IT architects know the latest technologies and trends, and work with you to optimize your solution leveraging IBM products and technologies. They'll make recommendations on how to design your solution efficiently, leverage all the features and functions of our product suite and even provide you a personalized roadmap to achieve optimal design.
Our IT architects are available in person or virtually through over 30 IBM Innovation Centers for Business Partners around the globe. Our centers give you a way to connect to technical support resources—live or remote—to get the guidance you need, when you need it. And again, this is available at no cost to you.
Consultations with an IT architect are available worldwide and in multiple languages. You can request an architecture consultation. You'll be contacted within 3 business days to schedule the consultation. It's that easy.
Do better on the "test"
Many of you have said you don't have the in-house equipment and skills necessary to efficiently conduct proof-of-concept development or extensive integration testing before you bring your solution to market or when you respond to a request for proposal. Through our centers, you have access to IT specialists who can provide hands-on support with proofs of concept, porting or validation through to performance testing. Furthermore, show potential customers that you've tested their environment at an IBM Innovation Center.
Your IT specialist will set up the hardware and software environment for you, so you can concentrate on making your solution the best it can be. If your local center doesn't have what you need, or if there's not one nearby, you can arrange easy remote access to the hardware or software you need for your engagement.
Go directly to the resources page of our IBM Innovation Centers and get started now. If you know what hardware and software you need help with, you'll be able to choose that directly from the list provided. Or, you can select "Request assistance now" and get started that way.
Once you complete the engagement, you can leverage the IBM Innovation Center for a hosted client briefing using our client events package. We provide the briefing venue, catering, and the IBM experts to support your event. All you bring is the customer.
Work smarter
Keeping your development skills updated is crucial to staying ahead of the game. We give you a variety of ways to invest in your skills and build your personal portfolio of capabilities—many of them right from the comfort of your office—through courses, workshops and seminars offered in the VIC.
You can learn what you want, when you want it, and how you want it. You can access interactive online courses on technical and sales skills, instructor-led workshops delivered over the Web, or traditional classroom based workshops and technical seminars. And you can choose from over 800 topics that matter to you, like SOA, WebSphere, Linux and more.
To get started, sign in to the VIC with your IBM ID and view the available online training.
Helping you reach higher
Our platforms, along with your solutions and skills, offer a powerful combination to your clients. We can help you quickly enhance your skills and solutions so you can get to market faster, generate more opportunities and be even more successful serving your client base.
Take advantage of these resources for a strong start to 2008!
Christopher Wong
Vice president of marketing and strategy, ISV and Developer Relations
IBM
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