GoForward! is Siemens’ support programme for sales and service partners; an integral part of Siemens’ relationship with its partners. A set of new online tools will be available in early 2009 to allow resellers to create effective online marketing programmes without significant cost, as online communications becomes an imperative part of the sales process.
The new Digital Channel will allow Siemens resellers to easily create dual-branded websites with Siemens that automatically update with any changes to content, such as product revisions, saving time and ensuring accurate information is always available. Website analysis tools are also available to allow resellers to monitor visitor preferences, track interests and analyse subscriber and customer preferences. Resellers can prepare wider-reaching prospect email campaigns and promotions that complement existing traditional marketing.
The Virtual Marketplace can be used to generate and manage well-defined sales opportunities via an easy-to-use online interface. It provides a continuous flow of new business leads, offering sales leads that resellers can purchase. It is also possible to “rate” the telemarketing agencies that provide the leads, ensuring that resellers gain access to the best, most accurate information.
In addition to these tools available for Partners, a Global Partner Locater will also be available online to help prospective customers to find local accredited and registered Siemens Partners online quickly and easily.
Siemens is also offering cashback to legacy product owners who choose to upgrade to open converged communications, HiPath Open Office or HiPath 3000, as well as the buyback of old telephone handsets as part of the programme. This will not only help end users to justify the cost saving and efficiency benefits of converged communications but, crucially, will drive sales.
“A significant proportion of our customers buy through the channel and the internet is now an integral part of any sales and marketing strategy. By offering our Partners a series of “out of the box” marketing tools, we hope to make it easier to create effective online campaigns to not only generate sales leads but also sustain momentum by making all activity as targeted and effective as possible”, says Leon Mangan, director, Indirect Channel, Siemens Enterprise Communications, comments: “The reseller market is an incredibly important market for Siemens and we are keen to support our partner community; the combination of cashback and enhancements to our GoForward! partner programme mean that resellers are set to have a strong trading year in 2009.”