Box.net, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based privately-held service provider of collaboration tools for managing and sharing data online, yesterday launched a global reseller program to help extend its overall market reach and presence.
Karen Appleton, vice-president of business development at Box.net, said the almost four-year old company currently has over 2 million users using the company’s collaboration service. Box.net offers a Web-native system that allows users to store data and documents on a cloud-based platform which is hosted by Box.net. Because users don’t have to host their own data using their infrastructures, it reduces their overall overhead costs, Appleton explains.
Data can be accessed 24/7, enabling users to share, access and collaborate on any files they need on an anytime, anywhere basis. Box.net’s cloud based solution has been designed to fit the needs of any type and size of business that has a need for online storage, she added.
The reseller program was launched with the intention of expanding to further grow the company, Appleton said. In addition to its inside sales team, which sells Box.net’s services, and now with its recently announced reseller distribution channel, Appleton says the company anticipates that partners will be a significant contributor to the company’s overall revenues.
“Much of our business comes from outside of the U.S. although we do have a significant base of users in Canada,” Appleton said. “We now have two resellers from Canada who have signed up to work with us. Having relationships with partners is critical to Box in order to capitalize on the entire population of business users.”
David Corcoran, vice-president of sales at Batipi, a Toronto-based reseller of online conferencing technology, said partnering with Box.net will help open up business opportunities by bringing collaboration services into the workplace.
“Box enables employees to collaborate with files online and with other employees and businses partners outside of the organization,” Corcoran said. “Because it’s a software-as-a-service, there are no set up fees, hardware or software to install.”
The reseller program from Box.net is designed to provide resellers with the tools, training and resources needed to succeed in the cloud computing, online storage space. Through the program, resellers can take advantage of sales training documentation, training, Webinars, marketing materials, and a reseller portal, which can be accessed 24/7.
“We want partners who are willing to work with us and who will be aggressive in reaching out to their base of users,” Appleton said. “Cloud based services haven’t become mainstream yet, so we want to work with partners who are on the cutting-edge.
Mike Cardamone, business development manager at Box.net, said the company offers resellers wholesale prices on Box.net’s Enterprise services, so partners are able to set the final pricing to their end-users.
“Wholesale prices can range depending on the size of the deal,” Cardamone said. “But resellers can generally expect to see between 65 and 100 per cent margins, which are attractive.”
Appleton says Box.net’s plan for the New Year is to continue to aggressively reach out to work with every reseller who wants to work with the company.
“My message to partners would be, ‘let’s talk and see how we can help you add to the products and services you offer so you’re providing best of breed solutions to your clients,’” she said. “Our solution is serving a global need because everyone needs access to their data, which is critical.”