Partner Federation

What is a partner federation?

A federation is an association or group formed by the coming together of different entities or states for a shared purpose. In a business context, a partner federation is a collaborative network of business partners, often from different organizations, that work together towards common goals or objectives. These often relate to growing revenue, improving the customer experience, extending the capabilities of your products, or increasing your market reach.

Partner federations can take many different forms, such as:

• Technology ecosystems: Technology companies often form federations with other software developers, hardware manufacturers, and service providers to create comprehensive solutions or ecosystems. For example, a smartphone manufacturer like Apple partners with telecom providers and app developers to create a thriving app ecosystem.
• Channel partner networks: Organizations with indirect sales channels, such as distributors, resellers, and wholesalers, form partner federations to expand their market reach and provide customers with faster service and more comprehensive solutions. You’ll see this in play with Microsoft, who has a huge network of independent software vendors (ISVs) that extend the capabilities of its core products to better meet customer needs.
• Global partnerships: In international business, partner federations can involve companies from different countries working together to enter new markets, share distribution networks, or combine resources to compete globally.

Partner federations prioritize cooperation and communication, so all parties can grow faster together. Partners within a federation share resources, knowledge, and customers to achieve objectives that might be challenging or impossible to accomplish individually.

Related content:

Partner Ecosystem | Partner-First Strategy | Partner Network