The training is open to all Zyxel partners and enables them to undertake free product training at times to suit them, without having to travel to a training centre which can be time consuming and costly. This form of training is intended to support a fast growing partner base; since launching ZyPartner at the start of 2007, Zyxel has grown its partner base by 30 percent to 322, and by the end of the year it intends to increase this number to 500.
"We have a growing number of partner registrations, and with that an increased demand for training. Over 100 partners have already attended our entry-level training courses since February this year," said Lee Marsden, channel director, Zyxel. "It's important to us that our partners build their knowledge of our products, solutions and opportunities thus enabling them to provide the best service to customers. Online training provides a simple way for them to get qualified without the all the costs usually associated with vendor certification."
Previously, resellers would attend sales and solutions training days at the Zyxel head office in Bracknell, followed by a series of predominantly technology focused ZyTech courses. Zyxel identified the need for intermediate training sessions to better prepare resellers for the ZyTech courses, and the online modules will provide this by acting as a bridge between the two sets of pre-existing training. The online training is modular and focuses on key product sets in Zyxel's portfolio, including security, VoIP, wireless and broadband appliances.
"It is important that resellers feel they are able to undertake training in their own time so that they don't have to make a heavy time and cost commitment. We have chosen to offer this training as we understand the value of providing both solutions focused and product focused training so that resellers can really get to understand the Zyxel offering," concluded Marsden.
Resellers can participate by logging into the training area of ZySpace - the successful Partner Portal site launched earlier in the year. All partners will receive a certificate on completion of every module. Furthermore, if more than 5 courses are successfully completed by the partner it will bring them a step closer to getting a higher partner status, which, of course, carries additional benefits, such as partnership funds and dedicated technical support.