Step Inside Step inside IBM Business Partner › app › uploads › 2018 › 02 › BPSH-Step... · 2018-02-20 · Welcome to Step Inside, a short guide on how you can take your

Step inside... IBM Business Partner Solution Hubs

The places for business growth

A world of possibilities

The evolution of IT partnerships

A proven track record of success

The hubs of opportunity

The direct expert connection

Step Inside...

Step inside... the places for business growth

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Welcome to Step Inside, a short guide on how you can take your digital solutions to the next level, in partnership with IBM and our Business Partner Solution Hubs.







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You’re an independent software vendor, service provider or systems integrator that wants every resource and piece of expertise available to you, so you can stay ahead of the game in a hugely competitive marketplace.

At the same time, customers are demanding better and more sophisticated solutions all the time, and keeping them satisfied doesn’t always come easy or cheap – but help is at hand.

All over Europe, providers and integrators like you are differentiating their offerings and reaching new markets through the network of IBM Business Partner Solution Hubs, accessible and free of charge to everyone who’s part of IBM PartnerWorld. In this guide, you’ll discover that wherever you are, the expertise you want is always nearby, whenever you want it. By entering our friendly, expert ecosystem of Hubs, you can:

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• Leverage technical expertise to add value to your solutions, and reduce your development and go-to-market time.

• Access the latest IBM platforms, including Cloud, Watson, Analytics and more, so you can solve complex technical issues without major financial outlay.

• Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the IBM industry leaders across Europe to market and sell your solutions.

• Use specialist lab environments to test your solutions.

Step inside... the evolution of IT partnerships







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The digital world never stops evolving, and it’s the companies that make a constant effort to keep pace with new technologies and bring in new skill sets that are getting ahead in their marketplaces. From the point of view of an Application Service Provider or a Cloud Service Provider, there are three key challenges on the horizon:

Step inside... the evolution of IT partnerships

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Meeting customer needs: These are becoming more complex every day, and one area where customers are particularly demanding of the modern provider or integrator is in their expertise. A Gartner survey found that more than 80% of B2B technology buyers have their most valued interactions with technical experts. That way, they can fully understand the situation within their industry, and the trends and disruption likely to affect them in the future from the people that know best.







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Technology in a ‘smart’ connected world: the innovation required for partners to effectively differentiate their offerings is becoming more and more sophisticated. According to an IDC study, by 2018 more than half of all software value will be monetised indirectly because it’s embedded in ‘smart’ devices and services. This brings a raft of technical challenges, including quality of execution, robust security management and regulatory concerns among others, challenges which service providers may find financially or technically difficult to meet on their own.

Higher standards of deployment: in the world of software applications, increased competition and increased product demand is putting more pressure on testing and deployment processes, according to IDC. There will need to be changes to the ways providers and integrators create test requirements, conduct their testing, and manage improvements and deployment. This is an area where external testing labs and facilities will be particularly valuable.

Step inside... the hubs of opportunity

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When you add value to your solutions, you aren’t the only one that can benefit: your clients benefit, too. They want constantly evolving and up-to-date services and solutions, such as the cognitive technology of Watson, that allow them to put users and outcomes at the centre of their world; staying essential by always reinventing and by solving old problems in new ways.







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To do that, you can use a resource that can help you solve complex technical issues, develop at speed, reach new markets and differentiate your solutions with new disruptive technologies: IBM Business Partner Solution Hubs.

Available free of charge to all IBM PartnerWorld members, the network of 13 Hubs across Europe enable you to leverage skills and experience across a broad spectrum of technologies. At the Hubs, you can access the full range of IBM technologies and make use of strategically located facilities.

This means you can architect proofs-of-concept, validate new solutions, get advice on tech and market trends, certify your applications to work with IBM technologies, attend technical workshops and seminars or host client briefings and demonstrations.

Whether you’re helping clients solve a specific issue like improving predictive maintenance to save costs, or architecting your SaaS application and building a scalable and resilient web app, our in-house experts have the knowledge you need.

Step inside... a world of possibilities

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I want to understand which IBM technologies fit my need…

With our Hub consultants, you can discuss your use case and they can propose the best technology that meets your imperatives and business objectives, as well as how to integrate it within your solution.

I want reliable and trusted technical expertise...

At the Hubs, you can collaborate and network with our technical community to leverage their extensive knowledge and experience, from analytics to artificial intelligence and from cloud computing to security. Alternatively, you can access our experts online to get help developing your in-house subject matter expertise.

I want my workforce to improve their subject matter knowledge...

You can take advantage of workshops and classes at the Hubs to get your technical staff trained and enabled on the latest technologies.

Taking advantage of the Business Partner Solution Hubs is about so much more than bringing IBM technology into your solutions and offerings. Together we can go much further, so you can bring even more expertise into your client meetings, your workforce knowledge base, your sales and marketing campaigns, and more. See how the Hubs can help you achieve your goals:

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I want to access the IBM product portfolio...

The Hubs give you access to the comprehensive range of IBM software and hardware so you can architect, build and test your applications, or demonstrate your solutions working in real-time to your clients.

I want industry support with its finger on the pulse...

Whether you’re looking to enter a new industry, or extend your reach within an existing one, we can help you access subject matter experts within IBM’s industry and client teams.

I want to give my company and brand greater credibility in the marketplace...

You can use the IBM roadmaps and technical expertise at the Hub to qualify for IBM “Ready for” marks to help broaden your marketing reach.

I want meeting facilities to wow my customers...

With the capabilities to host intimate client meetings, technical workshops and larger seminars, all the Hubs have the space, speakers and logistical support to host your guests, showcase your solutions and help make your events successful.

Step inside... a proven track record of success







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Step inside... a proven track record of success

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Misys: a financial software solutions provider that worked extensively with the Hubs to enable and performance test their Core Banking products. This led to successful client engagements in an environment where proven high performance is critical.

Metail: an ambitious start-up business that allows people to try fashion on-line, the magnitude and complexity of data integration was too vast for them to contemplate. But with support from the Hubs, they were able to create a prototype within just a few weeks.

Once you begin to explore the possibilities of the Business Partner Solution Hubs, you can think of us as an extension of your team; providing our facilities, technology, consultants and expertise free of charge to members of the IBM PartnerWorld programme. Over the years, we’ve helped countless companies realise their true potential across a broad spectrum of industries, including FinTech, retail, healthcare and more. Here’s some inspiring success stories from digital leaders just like you:







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Agility Multichannel: a Product Management provider that used the Hubs to integrate its product information management system with IBM WebSphere Commerce easily and commercialise the solution quickly.

TMaxSoft: a global software provider that accessed IBM’s high-spec hardware remotely, enabling them to push their Oracle-compatible database to its limits and open up new opportunities by achieving global certification in IBM’s directory.

Step inside… a Hub near you Wherever you’re located in Europe, there’s a Business Partner Solution Hub that’s handy for you. Our network of 13 hubs across 12 countries are situated in, or close to, major cities and transport links so that you can access our expertise and resources as easily as possible.

If there isn’t a Hub in your country or region, our facility in Nice will be happy to help you with your requirements, wherever you are in Europe. And don’t forget that our experts can assist online or even travel to your own premises if you aren’t able to visit us.

13£0Hubs across Europe

Cost for PartnerWorld’s members

Step inside... a Hub near you

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Step inside... the direct expert connection







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Step inside... the direct expert connectionTo start your partnership journey with IBM Business Partner Solution Hubs, discuss your goals and requirements, or to arrange a visit, use the details below to make contact with your nearest Hub today.

Chris Tripp

IBM Business Partner Solution Hub LeaderEmail: [email protected]

IBM Business Partner Solution Hub, Galileo Centre, Hursley Park, Winchester, Hampshire,SO21 2JN

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Step inside... and feel the experience yourself!

Discover more atwww.bpsh-hursley.co.uk

Documents

Step Inside Step inside IBM Business Partner › app › uploads › 2018 › 02 › BPSH-Step... · 2018-02-20 · Welcome to Step Inside, a short guide on how you can take your