IBM has expanded its Smarter Commerce initiative to address the need of business partners in the software market. The tool can now help partners to address shifting buying patterns brought on by mobile and social computing, the company said. In addition to accessing sales, marketing and technical guidance, business partners can qualify to earn incentives of up to 50 percent of the software sales transaction, and receive zero-percent financing. Smarter Commerce is intended to help companies transform their business processes to respond more quickly to shifting customer demands. IBM estimates the Smarter Commerce market opportunity for software at $20bn. Through the new version of the initiative, partners can qualify for an assigned IBM relationship manager to provide day-to-day support, business-development funds to invest in marketing and events, and attend IBM business-development workshops and assessment tools. The zero-percent, 12-month interest-free financing is available through IBM Global Financing, to partners enrolled in the vendor's Software Value Plus Business Partner Program.
