Tech Data has expanded its digital Cloud Practice Builder programme to include interactive solutions-focused paths and vendor-specific enablement programmes.

These new additions offer technology solution providers with a single source for growing diversified cloud practices by quickly assessing, mapping and building expanded practice or solution focus areas.

“Our partners are looking for new ways to expand their businesses and take advantage of high-growth opportunities, as evidenced by the 900-plus customers who have participated in digital cloud practice builder since its launch in October,” says Tech Data global cloud solutions senior vice president Sergio Farache.

“Our latest additions to the programme enhance our customers' ability to build and diversify their cloud practices.

Through the interactive solutions-focused paths and vendor-specific enablement programmes, customers will understand where their greatest opportunities lie, develop a roadmap and start quickly building new practices in as few as 90 days – a process that historically could take five months or more.

Developing new practices can be challenging for any technology solution provider, so Tech Data's new interactive paths simplify complexity to provide customers with an understanding of where and how they can drive greater cloud growth.

These include paths for vendor-specific or business-outcome-focused solution practice areas.

As an example, Tech Data's vendor-specific Microsoft enablement paths help partners develop their Microsoft-based practices, from launching a cloud service provider (CSP) practice to advancing their practices with Azure or Microsoft Modern Workplace.

Tech Data's solutions-focused paths, on the other hand, guide customers along three possible focus areas – core cloud, cloud data protection or modern workplace – and ultimately direct customers to enablement through Tech Data's own pre-architected, click-to-run solutions, like ones for enabling cloud backup.

Vendor-specific path example: Azure Express

Tech Data's initial Microsoft programme, called Azure Express, is available in the U.S. currently with plans for rollout in other regions around the globe.

Created in partnership with Microsoft and offered exclusively through Tech Data, this programme enables resellers to quickly ramp up and take advantage of high-demand cloud applications while creating new profitable business opportunities using Microsoft Azure.

Working with a dedicated programme manager who guides customers through a series of “sprints” each quarter, Tech Data partners learn how to deploy and manage the Azure platform.

Each sprint has a specific milestone that the reseller must attain, and each sprint is time-defined to ensure that partners remain on pace with the accelerated schedule.

In addition to Azure Express, within Cloud Practice Builder, partners can also discover new, robust and interactive enablement paths to specialisation, competency and greater ROI with top cloud providers, including Microsoft, AWS and Google.