Siemens PLM Software Awarded CRN’s 5-Star Partner Rating for Fifth Consecutive Year

Kerry Grimes, Siemens PLM Software’s Vice President for Global Solution Partner Sales, Receives Fourth Consecutive Channel Chief Award

PLANO, Texas — (BUSINESS WIRE) — April 4, 2011 — Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, today announced that the company was awarded CRN’s 5-Star Partner rating for the fifth year in a row and its Vice President for Global Solution Partner Sales, Kerry Grimes, received his fourth consecutive Channel Chief Award.

Siemens PLM Software was recognized as one of North America’s top information technology (IT) vendors in terms of the channel partner program it offers to solution providers who sell its products and services to end users. Siemens PLM Software was certified as a 5-Star Partner, acknowledging its commitment and strength of its programs for IT integrators, resellers and consultants. The recognition places Siemens PLM Software’s Channel Partner Program among top enterprise software companies.

Everything Channel’s CRN’s 5-Star Partner rating recognizes an elite subset of vendors who give solution providers the best partnering elements in their channel programs. The 5-Star Partner rating is bestowed on those vendor programs whose overall rating is among the elite. This lets solution providers know who is offering the best programs for their partners and allows them to see some of the distinguishing attributes.

“The companies listed on the 2011 Partner Programs Guide represent the best channel programs in the market today. Of those, only a few get our 5-Star award, based on their commitment to the channel, breadth of program offerings and services offered to their partners. Organizations, like Siemens PLM Software, understand that technology alone does not make for a successful channel program. By focusing on delivering a comprehensive partner program, vendors and solution providers can work together to drive business opportunities and revenue,” said Kelley Damore, VP and Editorial Director, for Everything Channel’s CRN.

Keys to Siemens PLM Software’s 5-Star Partner Rating

As part of the evaluation, Everything Channel reviewed Siemens PLM Software’s Channel Partner Program activities for 2010 and interviewed channel partners to determine how well the company met the needs of its partners.

In 2010, Siemens PLM Software produced and distributed global Rules of Engagement and launched extensive training activities for partners and internal channel managers. Siemens PLM Software also launched a new Siemens Partner Rewards Program which recognizes top performers. In addition, the company initiated a comprehensive global channel manager productivity improvement plan to increase the effectiveness of the channel manager role and working with Everything Channel’s Institute for Partner Education and Development (IPED), Siemens PLM Software holds regional marketing training workshops - applying industry best practices to partners' marketing activities.

VMH International, a rapidly growing Siemens PLM Software Channel Partner which assists companies in becoming more productive, innovative, and competitive by implementing industry-leading design, manufacturing, and technical communications software into their work processes, was one of the partners interviewed by Everything Channel.

“Siemens PLM Software’s Channel Partner Program provides us with the enablement resources we need to be effective in today’s competitive environment,” said Vern Heyer, CEO, VMH International, headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. “Siemens PLM Software understands the importance of using channel partners to reach out to more customers in more ways and more markets than ever before. Siemens PLM Software’s products are practical and cost effective to implement and they add immediate value to our customer’s product development processes.

“Siemens PLM Software continues to make significant strides to enable and reward the channel by providing extensive marketing support and by implementing new tools like the Siemens Partner Rewards Program for our sales team. Our marketing department benefits from the abundance of comprehensive marketing programs and collateral on the partner portal, along with the ability to share market development expenses with Siemens PLM Software through a streamlined submittal process. Siemens PLM Software’s management team genuinely cares about the partner companies and their success which translates into a great working relationship. A great channel program with a great suite of products for our customers means a successful revenue-generating program for the channel. We congratulate Siemens PLM Software on this 5-Star Partner recognition,” added Heyer.

“These awards are particularly gratifying because they recognize the success of our channel program, strong channel performance and enhancements of our partner program elements over the last year, including our latest addition, the Siemens Partner Rewards Program, a frequent flyer like program for partner sales representatives, which adds incentives and rewards for our reseller’s sales staff,” said Grimes. “We are seeing strong, accelerating contributions from our indirect channel. In the first quarter our total indirect license revenues grew more than 40 percent year over year and the indirect channel now represents more than 35 percent of our company’s total software license revenue. Furthermore, the percentage of our business coming from indirect has climbed every year since 2005 demonstrating strong acceptance in the channel and the customer markets that they serve. We are committed to the success of our channel partners and are grateful to our partners for enabling this recognition.”