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PhoneTree Authorized Partners
At PhoneTree, we believe that a Partners’ success is a success for PhoneTree. The strategy is to collaborate with Partners to help increase existing business, expand into new markets and accelerate the acceptance of the PhoneTree product line. To support this business philosophy, we offer membership into an exclusive partnership program. This comprehensive program is designed to benefit all of PhoneTree’s various Partner types. It offers technical, marketing and business benefits that are designed to help Partners grow their businesses. This program also provides a wealth of technical and marketing expertise to assist with PhoneTree product awareness. This program is global in scope and applies to all Partners.
What is a Partner?
A PhoneTree Partner is a reseller of PhoneTree Automated Messaging products, purchased at wholesale, per the terms of the PhoneTree Partner Agreement. Partners are accountable for maintaining established sales levels to be eligible for wholesale pricing, and are bound by the PhoneTree Partner Agreement Terms and Conditions.
Become a Partner
In select areas around the United States, our systems are offered by qualified dealers and Partners. If you are interested in learning more about these programs, we recommend you review our key criteria for selecting new dealers and Partners, and then submit a completed application.
Apply to become a PhoneTree Partner |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are your key criteria when evaluating
a prospective Partner?
A: Typically, PhoneTree Partners meet several, if not all, of the following key criteria:
• Experience selling, installing, and supporting telecommunications, data communications and practice management-related software.
• Experience selling into the healthcare industry, such as in the area of practice management and/or complementary product lines (e.g., electronic medical records, EDI, digital imaging).
• Pre-existing relationships with healthcare providers and organizations. These offer a tremendous advantage, although they are not required.
• A team balanced with sales, support/technical, and training personnel, with sufficient team members available to effectively sell, install, train and support the PhoneTree product.
• A demonstrated ability to sustain and grow a client base over time.
• Location in a geographic market with a medium to high concentration of potential PhoneTree clients.
• A plan of action we believe will help the Partner obtain aggressive sales and customer service/retention goals.
• Prior experience selling and supporting a similar or related product, such as an accounting product line for small businesses, is extremely helpful, but not required.
2. What is the application process?
A: The applicant completes and submits the Partner Application. The Channel Manager will review the application, and determine whether there is a match with our criteria, as well as with existing and planned sales territories. Based on the evaluation, we will respond to you by phone, e-mail or postal mail. In order to proceed, PhoneTree checks your business and credit references. Other due diligence is performed by both the applicant and PhoneTree, as needed. If due diligence is completed successfully, we provide the Partner with our standard Partner Agreement. The agreement is signed, training sessions are established, marketing materials are provided, and the new Partner begins selling PhoneTree products with support from the company.
3. Are exclusive territories available?
A: Typically a Partner's initial territory is non-exclusive. We select Partners who meet our key criteria, and therefore we believe our Partners will be successful selling, installing, training and supporting our products, even in a non-exclusive territory. Exclusive territories may be earned over the course of time based on a number of factors, including a sustained increase in sales volume over time, and strong positive feedback from the Partner's client base that the Partner understands the products, knows how to train and support clients well, and deals with clients (and PhoneTree staff) fairly and ethically. Nevertheless, we make every attempt not to compete with our Partners, to pass along leads to local Partners whenever possible, and not to saturate a geographic market with local Partners. While healthy competition is beneficial, it is in the best interest of PhoneTree and our clients that Partners who are truly adding value to our organization become — and remain — successful.
4. May I offer sales and support to existing DSI customers in my area?
A: Typically, we do not transfer accounts from one Partner to another, or between PhoneTree and its Partners. However, accommodations can be made if all parties involved agree the customer would be best-served by transferring their account to a new local Partner.
5. What are your other terms and conditions?
A: The other terms and conditions are described in detail in our Partner Agreement. This agreement is provided to Partners who meet our criteria, according to the process described in question #2 above.
6. Are there any costs associated with signing up as a Partner?
A: In some cases there is a small upfront investment. Any money collected will go directly on your account and will be credited against future sales.
7. What type of training do you offer Partners?
A: Training can be delivered at any time after the initial sessions, if the Partner adds new members to their team, if staff members need a "refresher course" in the product, if new products are developed, etc. Furthermore, PhoneTree will hold periodic Partner web seminars, which will be offered to Partners at no charge. These events will give Partners an opportunity to receive in-depth product training, hear presentations from product experts, and trade tips and best practices with PhoneTree's in-house sales and support staff, as well as with other Partners.
8. What additional assistance do you offer Partners?
A: In addition to our training services, we offer Partners assistance in a number of important areas:
• Product documentation and sales training materials. As new tools are developed (printed, electronic or web-based) they will be available to Partners.
• Access to a Partner hotline for sales support, which enables sales and support staff to obtain assistance while at a client's site and in need of a quick answer.
• An assigned account manager, who will be a central point of contact at PhoneTree for you, acting as a mentor to your salespeople, offering sales and product tips/best practices and being available for conference calls with clients when required.
• Assistance in preparing quotes and RFPs.
• Occasional cold and warm leads, generated from our website and other in-house marketing efforts and outside sources.
• Co-op marketing funds, to help subsidize the cost of certain pre-approved marketing efforts.
9. I don't want to become a full-fledged Partner, but am still interested. Do you have any alternative programs?
A: If you believe your firm will truly add value to the PhoneTree organization (example: sales-only, support-only, installation-only), but you don't think you meet our other key criteria, please indicate so in your Partner Application. We are always looking for new and creative ways to promote the PhoneTree brand.