Akamai leverages distribution partners like Arrow for more than just reach. They enable partners to use the distributor's technical resources for product demos and proofs-of-concept (POCs). This strategy allows Akamai to scale its technical sales support efficiently, avoiding resource constraints on its internal teams.

A genuine partnership is a long-term investment where a vendor empowers the partner to build and sell their own value-added services around the core product. This creates a deeper, more sustainable, and mutually beneficial relationship beyond simple reselling.

The shift from transactional to solution selling is difficult because channel economics are traditionally built on volume. Partners are hesitant to invest the extra time required for consultative selling when the immediate financial incentive isn't there. Vendors must bridge this gap with co-selling, co-creation, and enablement to prove the ROI of a value-based approach.

To scale into the long tail of mid-market partners, arm distributors with a 'better together' narrative. Instead of a standalone product pitch, they should explain how your offering enhances solutions partners already sell, making the conversation more relevant and scalable.

Beyond logistics, distribution partners provide critical go-to-market functions. They manage complex government buying vehicles (GSA, NASPO), handle local taxation and import/export complexities, and assist with partner recruitment and enablement, accelerating market penetration for software companies.

A partner's success is increasingly driven by 'how' they operate—specifically with service-led business models—rather than 'what' they sell. Partners diversifying beyond transactional resale into services are seeing the strongest growth and optimism, signaling a fundamental shift in the channel ecosystem's value drivers.

Distributors possess a long-standing "secret weapon"—a massive repository of clean, well-understood data on partner behavior and transactions. As AI becomes prevalent, distributors are uniquely positioned to leverage this data to provide superior business intelligence, solidifying their role in the channel ecosystem.

Eliminate separate distribution managers. By making Channel Managers responsible for the entire ecosystem—from distributors to partners—you ensure a consistent message and strategy, avoiding the information decay common in tiered channel models.

Pure Storage's Matt Walker attributes channel success to a five-part framework. It starts with the primary goal, pipeline, and is supported by having knowledgeable people, a strong product portfolio, simple processes for ease of use, and effective programs (incentives, discounts) to motivate partners and drive success.