Esri Startup Program Orientation: Technical Alignment

[Katie_Decker]

This blog follows Patterns for Success in the Orientation Series

Esri Startup Program ArcGIS Technical Alignment

(How to Best Partner with Esri)

ArcGIS alignment is a topic that includes a set of core business objectives that keep Esri teams, partner teams, and customers all moving in the same direction, together.  It’s a major focus area within Esri’s Partner Network because it casts a vision about our company’s product road map with our business / licensing strategies so that business partners know the direction Esri is heading. It's key for Esri and Esri Partners to be aligned and work together to keep commitments that we are making to our customers. Plus the following characteristics are where real business value is delivered to the markets. 

ArcGIS Alignment Characteristics

The first two are critical to be an 'aligned partner' and will help our partners maximize channel development with Esri. 

• Leverage Esri's developer APIs/tools and ArcGIS Platform of market-leading location services as a platform as a service (PaaS). Integrate location into your apps and business systems with the most comprehensive and high-quality set of location services, data, and mapping tools available. 
• Use unique ArcGIS identities (and user types) for every person (employee and contractor) that will access the platform and Authentication in ArcGIS.
• Use ArcGIS as a system of record—store and maintain all geographic information within geodatabases. Hosted feature services meet this requirement too. What we're looking to achieve is having Esri partners store all of their geographic / location data within ArcGIS.

These are additional characteristics that are important to Esri as well:

• Connect to ArcGIS with other systems, platforms & data sources. This means going beyond surfacing maps and layers in these systems. It’s just as important to invent new tools that bring data back into ArcGIS. 
• Create and register an array of useful information products (using web maps) easily discovered in the Portal. Review our developer licensing FAQ.
• Enable every employee and contractor to easily discover, use, make, and share maps from any device, anywhere, any time.
• Ensure customer success by providing ongoing, routine assistance starting with initial operating capabilities, guidance and advice, and ongoing technical support.
• Our core sales teams deliver immediate value to the customer by first configuring ArcGIS, and then when appropriate they work with aligned 'go-to partners' to extend the core offerings through customized apps and solutions.

One of the keys to success for partnering with Esri is having champions inside an industry sector / vertical. Once alignment is achieved, typically a wide array of marketing activities happen. It's all about finding that win/win/win alignment for the customer, the partner, & Esri.

With these characteristics in place, the goal is to always stay deeply committed to customers and drive innovation in ways that will bring customers positive experiences and returns on their technology investments – both partner products and core Esri products.  In sharing these objectives, we invite the entire partner network and developer community to always build solutions in line with these characteristics and objectives and stay committed to customers by helping them be successful.

Learn more about Esri's ArcGIS Capabilities: esri.com/software/arcgis/patterns

To make sure that Esri partners have the best solution architecture in place to support partner alignment, product/market fit, and best solution architecture patterns, we recommend speaking to an Esri solution engineer or professional services resource.

Always stay up to date on the latest Esri ArcGIS Platform information here: esri.com/software/arcgis & ArcGIS for Developers.

Blog Return: Patterns for Success. Restart: Orientation Blog Series.

• Program Benefits
  • Event Benefits
• Acceptance & Onboarding
  • Access Your Software
  • Access EPN Partner Benefits
• Patterns for Success
• ArcGIS Technical Alignment