Building a Partner Program from Scratch

Building a Partner Program from Scratch

The 2026 Strategic Guide to Connecting Enablement, Engagement, and Revenue Outcomes from Day One.

28%
of Total Company Revenue Driven by Mature Partner Programs

6x
More Revenue Earned by Certified Partners vs. Untrained

60%
Larger Deal Sizes Achieved Through Partner-Sourced Deals

$3.4T
Partner-Delivered IT Market in 2023, Over 70% of Global Total


The Three Pillars of a Successful Program

Structure your program around these interconnected areas to ensure a solid foundation from the start.

1

Engagement

Are partners actively using your resources? Track portal logins, training completions, and content downloads to measure active participation.

2

Readiness

Do partners understand your product positioning well enough to sell? Readiness is the bridge between training and actual selling capability.

3

Revenue Outcomes

Is engagement translating to pipeline and closed-won deals? This KPI closes the credibility gap and proves program ROI.

The Power of Partner-Sourced Deals

While partner referrals may seem small, their revenue impact is disproportionately large.

10%
of Pipeline

31%
of Revenue

8 Essential KPIs to Track From Day One

Bridge the gap between enablement activity and revenue impact with these core metrics.

1. Partner-Sourced Revenue
Tag deals in your CRM to segment by partner tier, region, or motion to identify what’s working.

2. Deal Registration Volume
A strong signal of partner confidence. A sudden drop indicates friction in your process.

3. Time to First Deal
Measures how quickly newly onboarded partners begin generating revenue.

4. Onboarding & Training Completion
Partners who complete onboarding and training quickly tend to sell faster. Aim for a 10% lift Q/Q.

5-8. Engagement & Satisfaction
Track content adoption, portal logins, and partner satisfaction scores (PSAT) to spot problems before partners churn.

The Measurement Imperative: Bridge the Gap

Most programs fail by not connecting enablement activities to revenue. The data shows a clear divide between the challenge and the reward.

89%
The Challenge
of partner marketers experience barriers to measuring partner engagement.

+48%
The Reward
Higher partner-influenced revenue growth for data-driven programs.

Market Trends Shaping 2026 Partner Programs

Stay ahead by integrating these emerging expectations into your strategy.

🎯

Specialization is Mandatory

Generalist partners will lose market share. Buyers demand partners who deeply understand their specific workflows, risks, and industry needs.

🤖

AI-Driven Enablement is Expected

Partners now expect intelligent tools for forecasting, workflow optimization, and strategic planning, not just simple product training.

💰

Vendor Investment is Scaling

Industry leaders like Cisco ($80M) and IBM are dramatically increasing investment, signaling that enablement is now a strategic imperative.

Ready to Build Your Partner Program?

Let’s build a program that connects enablement to revenue and drives predictable growth.

Schedule some AWESOME and let’s talk >

Scroll to Top