New deal registration to avoid channel conflict

Many organizations across a number of industry segments struggle with channel conflict. One of the ways to help reduce channel conflict is to develop a program that registers deals and in turn a customer (or partner) that registers a deal recieves some type of payback or incentive for registration. In the high tech industry, the way to support this and track it is to approve deals and then issue a code that is used during an actual transaction. So a partner that places an order with a distributor but receives a deal registration from a vendor can reference the approval code. The distributor can also reference the approval on the order and the POS file and then a complete tracking of the cost to the revenue is provided and fed back to the GL of the manufacturer through a POS or EDI feed. With the right technology, this can be easily accomplished.

MSFT launches new "license tracking tool"

MSFT has just launched a new partner and customer program called customer connection center. It is intended to help customers and partners keep track of their licensed software. The new program will match underdeployed customers with solution providers. The program is a cross between lead management and big brother and anti-piracy. MSFT is really big on anti-piracy programs in the EMEA so it seems they are trying to capitalize on this in the US.