At VMware Partner Exchange 2014, VMware announced multiple program enhancements, new competencies and a simplified reward structure to drive greater consistency, predictability and profitability for its Solution Provider, Service Provider and Distribution partners.

Starting in May, partners will be able to join the VMware Partner Network without having to identify what specific program they want to join, allowing greater flexibility for growth.

VMware is also introducing an Enrolled tier, which will allow new partners to join the VMware Partner Network, be trained on VMware solutions, and then select the best program based on their business priorities. The Enrolled tier will replace the current Registered tier.

VMware is also launching the Elite Partner Initiative, which will provide a unique introductory market opportunity for qualified VMware partners capable of leading early adoption and investment in the newest VMware technologies and markets, such as VMware NSX™ and VMware Virtual SAN. Elite partners will possess deep technical skills, an established solution practice, and highly advanced resources to engage closely with VMware on new product strategy, customer wins and deployments.

Beginning in May, partners will be able to satisfy tier requirements by attaining any solution competency, reducing the partner's upfront investment cost, while better diversifying and differentiating their unique offerings and skill sets. With this change, VMware partners will now need to have two sales (VSP) and two pre-sales (VTSP) accreditations for all solution competencies.

In addition to these changes, beginning in May, VMware will offer a new Cloud Provider Solution Competency and VMware vCloud Hybrid Service SolutionCompetency.

In order to enable VMware partners to build their unique practices and businesses, several solution competencies are also being transformed:

- Infrastructure Virtualization Competency will become the Server Virtualization Competency.

- The Management Competency will become the Management Operations Competency, and will focus on VMware vCenter Operations Management Suite.

- The Cloud IaaS Competency will evolve to the Management Automation Competency, and will focus on vCloud Automation Center.

"The enhancements we are making to our award-winning partner program are designed to make it simple for partners to continue to grow their business with us in a way that is consistent, predictable and profitable. The technologies we are bringing to market with our partners is driving the software-defined enterprise, built on the pillars of the software-defined data center, hybrid cloud, management and end-user computing solutions," said Dave O'Callaghan, SVP, Global Partner Organization, VMware. "VMware Partner Exchange will empower partners with actionable, real-world insights, strategies, and tools to deliver business value and gain a competitive advantage, as together we 'master the new reality' of IT."