Marketing teams rely on automation tools to track campaigns, and sales teams use CRMs to analyze customer journeys. In those lines of business, the focus on ROI is clean. Meanwhile, on the channel team side of things, there is often a lag when it comes to investment in purpose-built tools.

This oversight needs to change.

Imagine if you removed the automation tools from your marketing team. Beyond the howls of complaints that you’d hear from them, their ability to deliver results would almost certainly suffer. The same principle applies to channel teams, it’s just that they often don’t have the tools in the first place.

Purpose-built channel management tools automate routine tasks, such as tracking partner performance and managing deal registrations. By eliminating manual effort, these tools free up time for channel managers to focus on higher-value activities, like strategic planning and partner engagement.

Then you’ll have a more productive, happy, and effective channel team capable of delivering better outcomes in less time.

With that being said, it’s also important to understand that the right channel technology doesn’t just offer internal benefits. Partners love it too. However, simply rolling out new tools won’t guarantee success. Partners need to understand how these technologies benefit them directly.

A good modern channel solution will give you an at-a-glance understanding of what your partner is contributing, ensuring accurate and fair compensation. It’s also totally accountable, so the partner will understand immediately why they are getting what they are from you. By demonstrating these advantages, businesses can drive partner adoption and foster stronger, more productive relationships.

As anyone in the channel will tell you, we all know that transparent reporting and clear compensation structures are what generates trust. Furthermore, when partners see tangible benefits, they are more likely to engage with your program fully, leading to better outcomes for everyone. They key is in following on and doing more than simply say you’re taking action.

Are your partners consistently meeting the agreed-on targets and generating the kind of revenue that you need from them? Do you even know? That’s often the critical question at play because if evaluating this requires hours of manual data analysis, it’s a sign that your approach needs modernization.

There is channel technology that can automate key processes, such as deal updates and performance tracking. This provides transparency, which can then be provided to partners to help them stay on top of their pipelines and understand the potential revenue they’re driving.

This is important data to give to your partners. You provide them that, in real-time and an actionable format, and you create an environment that encourages accountability and effort. The result is a high-performing partner ecosystem that consistently delivers results.

He’s a key reason to invest in Vartopia: You enable businesses to track ROI across their channel programs with precision. From MDF to co-op funds and incentives, modern tools provide clear visibility into how resources are being used and whether they’re driving the desired outcomes.

You’ll be able to identify high-performing partners to invest in while reallocating resources away from underperformers. It sounds simple, but most channel managers are amazed by just how much they can redirect once they start getting those insights in.

Investing in modern channel technology signals to partners that your business is committed to excellence. Many partners juggle relationships with multiple vendors, and a significant number of these vendors still rely on outdated tools.

To put it bluntly, if you want the top-performing partners and a great reputation in the market you need to approach them with a unique and superior offering. Partners want to align with businesses that prioritize innovation, making your program the go-to choice in a crowded field.

You Can Take Channel ROI More Seriously Than You Probably Are Right Now

ROI shouldn’t be an uphill battle to properly articulate and track. Vartopia can provide the tools you need to transform your program, delivering measurable improvements in productivity, partner performance, and overall results.