Enterprise software company, Salesforce, is calling on independent software vendors (ISVs) amid the launch of its new AppExchange partner program.
Salesforce said the new program, which replaces its current ISV Partner Program, builds on its latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), through Einstein, in addition to its Trailhead guided learning platform, which aims to accelerate ISVs in the build, selling and marketing of apps in the Salesforce marketplace.
Currently, the AppExchange marketplace houses more than 3,000 solutions for sales, services and marketing and the software vendor said it is lowering the baseline percent-net-revenue (PNR) model for all new AppExchange Partner Program partners from 25 per cent to 15 per cent.
To accelerate time-to-market, Salesforce said the new partner program will also include several new on-boarding tools to streamline a partner’s journey from idea to app, including new payment tools that support Single Euro Payments and Automatic Clearing House (ACH), in addition to credit cards.
The company said it will also open up application programming interface (API) support for its Channel Order App, so partners can connect their payment systems directly to Salesforce and automate their order submission process.
In terms of its new technical tools, Salesforce DX aims for new levels of productivity, collaboration and control by offering developers GitHub integration, scratch environments and an improved integrated development environment.
Free Heroku access additionally allows developers, ISVs and startups to build apps in the language of their choice.
In addition to a free developer org, partners will also receive Heroku credits that can be used toward purchasing dynos and add-on services.
The new program comes as Salesforce Ventures - the vendor’s corporate investment group - is offering a new $100 million Salesforce Platform Fund.
Following the Salesforce Lightning Fund launch last year, the new fund invests in entrepreneurs and companies who are building “intelligent and transformative” apps and components on the Salesforce Platform and are extending the power of Salesforce for its customers.
Salesforce Ventures will also partner with other venture capital firms to identify joint investment opportunities.
According to Salesforce partner, LevelEleven chief executive, Bob Marsh, the software platform has offered the company “instant credibility.”
LevelEleven is a sales activity management system that reinforces the fundamental behaviors that lead to closing business.
“Right out of the box, the system has enterprise-grade security, uptime, mobile access, a full reporting suite and a robust open API,” he said.
“Because our technology helps keep salespeople focused on what matters—and, most importantly, builds world-class front-line sales managers - customers get more value from their investment in Salesforce. So we both win. That's the definition of a strong partner ecosystem.”
Similarly for geo-productivity platform, MapAnything chief executive, John Stewart, working with Salesforce offered accelerated business growth.
MapAnything is a geo-productivity platform in Salesforce that assists sales, service, and marketing teams increase revenue and boost productivity.
"MapAnything has been part of the Salesforce Partner Program for eight years now. It has enabled us to accelerate our time-to-market, giving us the ability to create amazing geo-productivity apps and connect with customers in new ways,” he said.
“Salesforce is a company that shares our vision for innovation and growth, while also providing us with an easy-to-access and comprehensive program that helps us connect with an expanding customer base.”
