Technology Reseller v39

COLLABORATION technologyreseller.co.uk 39 they’ve really got behind,” says Craven. “A lot of other partner programmes are very much about revenue and that’s not fair to smaller channel partners that are really dedicated and put everything behind the brand but are never going to be turning over millions.” She adds that the response of existing partners has been excellent, with nine out of 10 already signed up. Not that this surprises her. “There’s no reason why anyone wouldn’t sign up for it because it is 100% benefit – we are not asking partners to do anything additional to what they do already.” New products At the same time as launching its new partner programme, EPOS has been expanding its product portfolio in interesting ways, bringing new cross-sell and up-sell opportunities. New products that really stand out are the Adapt 200, Expand Vision 3T and Expand Capture 5. n Adapt 200: Craven describes EPOS’ first mid-market wireless Bluetooth headset certified for Microsoft Teams as a ‘game- changer’ for the company. “This is the product we have needed in our portfolio. When we have gone and shown it to people, there has been a lot of excitement. The pre-orders for it are like nothing I have seen before,” she says. n Expand Vision 3T: This video bar certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android and suitable for meetings with up to seven people is EPOS’ first video collaboration device – the first of many. “You have to have video now,” says Craven, “With the shift to hybrid working, everything in the office is going to be about meeting spaces and the meeting room environment. All businesses are looking for technology to help them with collaboration, and that is going to be the main focus for audio brands as well.” n Expand Capture 5: Already launched in the US, and available here in Q3, Capture 5 is a speakerphone for Microsoft Teams Rooms that also captures and transcribes meeting audio. Thanks to built-in AI and enhanced voice pick-up, Capture 5 is able to identify different speakers and attribute transcribed comments to the right person. In addition to its headset and conferencing devices, EPOS has been developing apps and management software, like EPOS Manager provided free to every customer, that make it easier for IT departments to personalise settings and manage and administer a corporate headset estate. Craven adds that further product innovations are likely to come from being part of the Demant Group. “They have got some amazing technology around hearing aids and very much see EPOS as the place to invest in moving forward, in terms of both technology and headcount.” In the meantime, she urges resellers to make the most of the company’s new partner programme, which has been designed to help them increase their engagement with EPOS and profit from the company’s expanding product line- up: “There is still a huge opportunity for partners and resellers in this market and we want to help them in every way we can to take advantage of that opportunity, and one of the best ways we can do this is through the Amplify programme.” www.eposaudio.com a partner of ours you have to be pre- approved so we already have the crème de la crème on board as partners. This new programme is about making sure we keep developing our relationship with them. This is something we have done in individual countries in an informal way for quite a time now, offering market development funds, dedicated account management, local marketing support, but we have never had a formal process for it, delivered on a global basis,” explains Craven. “Partners are tiered by revenue and by engagement level. This means that smaller partners have as much opportunity to become a Gold or Platinum partner as the large multi-national partners that we have. It is not about how much you are trading with us, how much revenue you are doing, it is about your growth potential as well. If someone is a Silver partner now, we want them to be a Platinum partner in the future. The Amplify programme very much supports this, with dedicated e-learning, full training, marketing tools, everything a partner needs to be able to move up.” In devising Amplify, EPOS asked partners what they did and didn’t like about other programmes and on that basis have made improvements, like a more structured deal registration process, or introduced things it didn’t have before, like an NFR programme to ensure partners get samples of new products before anyone else. “We’ve really listened to what partners want Amplify to do, and the fact that we’re not just basing it on revenue but also on engagement level is something Winning formula Aston Martin’s return to the F1 track after an absence of more than 60 years is being supported by EPOS, which, as Global Audio Partner, is providing the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team with cutting-edge sound and communication tools for use in the factory and at trackside. EPOS President Jeppe Dalberg-Larsen said: “Formula One today is about so much more than speed – it’s about unleashing human potential through technology, innovation and state-of-the art engineering – pillars that are at the very heart of what we do at EPOS. More than in any other sport, Formula One demonstrates the importance of sound excellence and that seamless communication holds the power to enhance both team performance and individual achievement. We can’t wait to harness our shared expertise to mark a new era in Formula One racing.” www.eposaudio.com Expand Capture 5