Backup and recovery software producer Acronis has unveiled its new channel program for Australia and New Zealand, including a partner portal (http://partners.acronis.com.au/) that will allow resellers and distributors instant access to support tools and resources. The company has over 200 Australian partners and over 25 in New Zealand, all of whom will immediately have some degree of access to the portal.

The portal is based on a three-tiered membership model, with access privileges granted on the basis of sales targets and a commitment to certain training initiatives.

“It's a global initiative, but we've designed it, built it and got the access rights,” said General Manager for Acronis Australia and New Zealand Bill Taylor-Mountford of the portal, which has been highly localised for partners in the region.

The portal, which went live in mid-February, provides 24-hour access to sales and marketing material, support solutions, and detailed informational materials that provide a comprehensive insight into Acronis solutions.

“For Soft Solutions, the value of a partner portal is simple: maximum information in one place so we can quickly answer the questions customers are asking,” said Chris Fitzgerald, Managing Director of Acronis partner Soft Solutions. “Having a local portal makes it just that much more relevant to New Zealand customers, so we very much appreciate the effort Acronis has gone to in creating this resource.

Acronis is looking for additional partners in the region who may wish to take advantage of the support the portal provides, and Taylor-Mountford contended that Acronis' recent and continuing success makes it a strong proposition. It experienced triple-digit growth and profitability last year from the 2007 financial year, and looks set to continue in the year ahead. “In Australia and New Zealand our plans are set for another year of huge growth as we continue to take more and more market share from the traditional, more expensive market offerings available,” said Taylor-Mountford.