ESRI Business Partner Program
 

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I start my business partner relationship if my company is a new business startup or is new to GIS?
In most cases, participants in the Business Partner Program have extensive experience using ESRI software or data and have been an established business for more than one year. So, it may be best to take some additional steps before submitting an interest form. For instance,
  • Many of our software products are available for free evaluation periods. Some can be downloaded, while others are available through shipment. Investigate our software products pages for ordering information on specific products or contact your local ESRI regional office to learn more about ESRI technologies.
  • Consider enhancing your skills by enrolling in ESRI instructor-led training courses or visiting the Virtual Campus for online course information.
  • ESRI offers free access to an authorized logo for inclusion on your Web site. See our Web Link and Logo License Agreement for additional information.
Do I need ESRI software experience to become a business partner?
It is generally necessary to have experience with ESRI software. The level of recommended experience may vary depending on the partner category (consultant, value-added reseller, developer, data solution VAR, etc.)
Do I need to be an existing licensed user?
Along with ESRI software experience, it is advantageous and usually required to have already invested in ESRI technology before applying.
Is an initial and annual program fee required for each program authorization?
No. The initial and annual program fees apply to overall program participation regardless of how many program authorizations you received.
What about global opportunities?
If your company is located in the United States, then you will be applying to the ESRI, Inc. Business Partner Program, which is domestic in nature. If your organization is located outside the United States, please contact your local distributor to apply.
What are some of the components of a successful business partner?
  • Actively initiates ongoing two-way communication with the ESRI regional offices Industry Solutions team, and Business Partner team
  • Specializes in an industry market area
  • Offers a mixture of software, data, and hardware to meet end user needs
  • Offers training for ESRI software, related technologies, and its own product offerings
  • Continually focuses on staff training to ensure an extensive understanding of the current ESRI software releases
  • Maintains an updated company profile with ESRI to ensure end user and ESRI access to current information and contacts
  • Consistently devotes best efforts to remarket, promote, or otherwise encourage licensing of ESRI software to end users
  • Represents, displays, and demonstrates ESRI software prominently and fairly at all times in comparison with other software programs
My company is an order fulfillment shop. Is the ESRI Value-Added Reseller Program right for me?
No. ESRI requires VAR partners to be experienced ESRI software users and offer a broad range of services to meet customer needs. The resale of ESRI software is typically an incidental part of the value-added services provided.
Can I have my own resellers or independent distribution channels for ESRI software?
No. The business partner agreement is strictly between our two companies. VAR partners are restricted from distributing ESRI technology by any mechanism other than your own personnel performing activities in the name of your company. VAR partners are not permitted to distribute through third parties.
If approved for the ESRI Value-Added Reseller (VAR) Program, will I automatically be authorized to resell all ESRI technology?
No. Although the number of products available for resale is fairly extensive, VARs are typically authorized to resell only those products that fit their business model and experience level. By design, the products available for resale are limited to selected desktop applications and extensions (e.g., ArcGIS Desktop family), selected map server products (e.g., ArcIMS family and RouteMAP IMS), and selected developer tools (e.g., MapObjects family). ESRI's enterprise tools (e.g., ArcSDE, ArcEditor, ArcGIS Server, and ArcInfo) are excluded from the VAR Program.
My organization's stand-alone solution reads ESRI software formats. Does this product qualify us to participate in your Developer Program?
Developer partners create commercial off-the-shelf solutions that are based on ESRI software technologies. For instance, they may develop a commercially available extension to ArcGIS. Since your solution is not based on ESRI technology, the product does not qualify your company for the Developer Program. However, if your solution complements or adds value to ESRI technology, then you may want to consider submitting an interest form for the Complementary Technology Provider Program.
As a consulting firm, we develop custom applications for individual end users. As such, we also refer to our offerings as software development. If we apply to be a business partner, which program is best suited to our current offerings?
The Consultant Program is best suited for your needs. This program focuses on supporting companies that provide custom application development, data collection/conversion and migration, systems integration, and more, while utilizing ESRI technologies.
We offer commercially available data in shapefile, coverage, Spatial Database Engine (ArcSDE), and a variety of other formats. Is the Data Provider Program right for us? Or should we apply to the Value-Added Reseller Program?
Because your organization offers data in ESRI software native data formats, the Data Provider Program is a good place to start. If in the future you want to resell ESRI software in conjunction with these datasets, then you may want to apply to the VAR Program.
My company provides hardware and/or software technologies that complement ESRI technology, but are not based on ESRI software. Which program is right for us?
The Complementary Technology Provider (CTP) Program is best suited for your business model. CTP partners provide technologies that add value and complement ESRI technology but are not based on or require a link to ESRI technology. CTP partners offer technologies for a specific industry area or general geographic information system needs.
We offer a variety of industry-focused services and are interested in reselling ESRI data products such as Community Tapestry and Community Coder. Should I submit an interest form for the Value-Added Reseller Program or the Data Solution VAR Program?
The Data Solution VAR (DSV) Program is the best fit. ESRI provides DSV partners with the tools required to be successfully positioned to resell select ESRI data products in hard copy or digital formats. DSV partners offer value-added services, data or solutions that require data on a customer-by-customer basis (project) and may include, but are not limited to
  • Implementation planning
  • Database development
  • Application development and programming


To submit an interest form, go to
Who do I contact for more information about the business partner program?
If you have questions about the program, please contact your local regional business partner development manager or e-mail buspartners@esri.com.

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