From your distributors and dealers to your resellers and franchisees, they all keep your supply chain functioning and contribute to your company's overall goals. As a result, it is in your best interests to give them the most extraordinary channel partner training possible.

Businesses today have enormous reach. A customer on the opposite side of the world can pick up or order your product and deliver it within a week. However, accessibility does not always equate to sales. Before an end client considers making a purchase, partners must be able to connect with them and solve their needs. That is where channel partner training comes in.

However, because they are not directly employed by you, you cannot simply deliver your internal training programs and expect a direct knowledge transfer or confidence boost.

This article will define channel partner training and outline the important elements of developing an effective training program.

What Precisely Is Channel Partner Training?

Training your channel partners gives them the knowledge they need to work effectively with your whole network. It entails educating them on your product, services, and brand, the requirements of other channel partners, rules, and how to offer your product or services.

It is crucial to arm your network with the information needed to service clients effectively, earning loyalty and evolving into a brand champion in the process.

Just because they aren't on your payroll does not mean they aren't a valuable member of your team. These third parties are an extension of your staff and represent and promote your brand in local markets.

Working with partners to increase their knowledge provides benefits that extend to all aspects of your business, spanning sales and market reach to development possibilities.

As a result, you will invest in your channel partners by providing extensive channel training. Partner enablement demonstrates that your company is prepared to go out of its way to keep them running at its peak.

Best Practices For Developing A Successful Channel Partner Training Strategy

Determine Channel Training Requirements

First, obtain a clear idea of what your partners require. Some partners, like franchisees or vendors, may require general training in marketing. Whereas, sales representatives and distributors may require more direct product training, like how to use the product's various features.

Determine the appropriate type of training for your channel partners by conducting regular surveys to uncover frequently encountered challenges. In short, allow the demands of your partners to lead your program design process.

Align Partner KPIs With Company Objectives

Without KPIs (key performance indicators), you will have no proof that your training programs are effective. However, simply having KPIs for your partners isn't enough. They must be in line with the objectives of your firm.

If you want to boost customer retention by 30% in the current fiscal year, make it plain to your channel partners that this is the desired outcome of taking your training session.

Aligning your channel training with your company KPIs will also assist you in assessing the ROI of your training program because you will be able to compare performance improvement after training to your goals.

Determine The Most Effective Training Strategy

There are several methods for training channel partners, but they can be majorly divided into two categories: traditional and online.

Traditional learning's dynamic in-person interactions cannot be totally recreated, but there is a significant resource cost to assembling big groups of individuals with varying skill levels and work schedules for traditional classroom training and conferences. Our new normal has rendered this strategy outmoded for the foreseeable future.

Because of the advantages of eLearning, it is the best method for corporate training. It is less expensive and more practical than sending learners to seminars and workshops. Employees can take online courses at their own pace and from any location. Your organization can have the best of both worlds when combined with periodic live training events, such as blended learning.

Select The Best Platform

If you only have a few channel partners, workshops could be an excellent method to create partner camaraderie. But what if you have a lot of partners, and they're scattered all over the globe?

An LMS (learning management system) can make a significant difference in this scenario. LMSs allow channel partners to engage with your training content and evaluations at their pace without traveling or taking time away from their jobs.

Your pick of LMS for channel partner training will be influenced by considerations such as your budget and the features you require, such as quizzes. Examine the different options and assess how well they fit your needs for the price. 

Make Communication Simple

Consider how you can incorporate communication into your partner interactions and channel training.

Use LMS tools like direct messaging in forums and discussions to make asking inquiries quick and easy. This can also allow channel partners to interact and learn from other partners.

Making it simple to raise questions (and receive prompt responses) increases the likelihood that your online courses, sales manuals, product information, and other resources will be accurately interpreted.

Gamify The Training Courses

We already know that gamification can help motivate learners. Online learning, mainly through an LMS (learning management system), makes gamification components, such as leaderboards, point and leveling systems, and digital badges for accomplishments, possible. Gamifying courses creates enjoyable incentives and friendly rivalry, which encourages students to perform their best.

Break Key Concepts Into Bite-Sized Bits

Instead of dropping many lengthy courses on your channel partners, you can progressively dole out little morsels of educational information focusing on one lesson at a time. They have full-time jobs and must meet deadlines. Microlearning will fit into their schedules more readily while emphasizing the most critical principles learners need to understand.

Renew And Update

Your partner training program, no matter how fantastic it is, is not a set-and-forget proposition. Your partners may need to be notified of changes to your products or regulatory changes.

Technological innovation has the potential to increase industrial standards, and new skills must be acquired in order to remain competitive. Maintain your partners' training courses' relevancy and success by periodically upgrading them.

Conclusion

To develop a channel partner program, start by carefully examining what you want to achieve through partners.