Bull's Eye Awards: Cloud Computing Program of the Year - CHALLENGER
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Zoho
With a name like ZAPP, the Zoho Alliance Partner Program had better deliver,
and indeed, the cloud applications provider has been quietly and steadily
growing, adding new resellers from around the world, and adding capability to
its robust API program. With nearly 200 resellers and counting as of
earlier this year, Zoho is building a solid cloud computing channel, and the
Sunnyvale, Calif., company expects to see steady partner growth in 2010.
Zoho has had to keep ZAPP flexible in order to serve
regionally based reseller partners worldwide who are providing a range of
services, from CRM to consulting practices. While their approaches differ,
most are focused on helping their customers make the leap from desktop
applications to either a hybrid desktop-cloud approach or to a purely Web-based
applications environment.
According to Ian Wenig, senior director of Strategic
Alliances at Zoho, ZAPP has been concentrating on making integration of various
Zoho applications as easy as possible, with a host of free APIs that allow
partners to integrate Zoho services into their own existing Web portals or
applications. The APIs have helped Zoho extend its distribution channel by
letting external parties access Zoho functionality without having to develop similar
apps on their own. End users simply sign up from a partners' site and have
access to basic applications. Zoho is currently expanding the API
program to offer advanced, multitiered functionality.
"I am very pleased with the progress being made, particularly
because we are forging new ground in the SaaS arena, creating what I believe to
be a unique ecosystem with some advanced features that no one else is
offering," says Wenig. "We are committed to our partners and will be
focused on executing on our strategy of addressing a globally diverse customer
and partner base employing the latest technologies and business models."
For all of these reasons Zoho has earned the Channel Insider
Challenger Bull’s Eye Award for Cloud Computing Program of the Year.
