Partner portal software

Effective communication with partners is vital for businesses working in tandem. While partnerships can provide great pay-offs, miscommunication or mismanagement between teams can hold both teams back.

To improve collaboration, companies use partner portal software to ensure alignment. Just as customer relationship management (CRM) solutions improve client-based processes, partner portal software aims to accomplish the same with business partners.

Whether you’re newer to partner portals or researching software options, you can jump to the section that’s most relevant to you below:

Partner portals are management solutions that allow businesses to streamline collaboration with their partners in a centralised platform. Portals create partner ecosystems – online communities where you can share business insights and retool core operations. By sharing information through the portal, business partners can align their services and branding.

Partner portals help business partners work together more efficiently. Companies can use a partner portal to:

• Share information not intended for customers or the public
• Host training resources relevant to specific tasks
• Relay sales and marketing results
• Link to other tools
• Create an internal help desk
• Demo solutions
• Track leads
• Register new partners
• Store technical support documents

Who uses partner management software?

Partner relationship management (PRM) platforms are critical tools for companies working together. Businesses can use partner management software to create a unified view for their partners. Alternatively, they can create a shared space for closely related teams.

PRMs enable you to build a partner-facing internal knowledge base, improve workflows and automate tasks. More specifically, PRM software helps businesses that need to:

• Organise partner accounts and contacts
• Streamline deal registration, lead distribution and training
• Automate time-consuming tasks
• Address operational inefficiencies or process gaps
• Improve their collaborative processes
• Share information securely

While small businesses may not immediately need partnership management tools, they can still benefit from them as they scale because PRM systems help evolve and streamline processes.

Navigating different PRM platforms and finding the best one for you should take time and due diligence. To help kickstart your process, we’ve rounded up some of the top partner portal platforms below:

1. Zendesk

Zendesk offers full partner portal functionality to help centre users. It’s a one-of-a-kind solution to relationship management with your partners. Thanks to extensive features like data-sharing and a self-service platform, your partners can sit in the driver's seat.

Zendesk client portal software provides a dedicated hub for partners to manage support requests and access a shared knowledge base. View permissions let admins create custom user segments in Guide, while agents can flag an article that needs review or updating within the Agent Workspace.

With Content Cues and scheduled publishing, Zendesk knowledge admins can identify gaps in the knowledge base and keep their finger on the pulse of article popularity. Agents can also create the single source of knowledge your partners rely on. Finally, thanks to its mobile support and affordable service, Zendesk offers the most competitive partner portal on the market.

Pricing:

• Suite Team: $55 per agent/month
• Suite Growth: $89 per agent/month
• Suite Professional:$115 per agent/month
• Suite Enterprise: $169 per agent/month
• Customised: Varies based on features; learn more.

Plans billed annually.

Free trial: 14 days

Features:

• Multibrand theme customisation
• Content Cues
• Team and scheduled publishing
• Flag and create knowledge
• Article view permissions
• Reporting features
• Mobile device support

2. PartnerStack

PartnerStack focuses on partner channels for B2B SaaS companies. Instead of honing in on direct sales, PartnerStack diversifies a business’ channels for faster growth. By leaning into a multichannel approach, users generate more qualified leads and explore new avenues of support.

PartnerStack accommodates a wide range of business partnerships. Whether you need a reseller, agency, affiliate or influencer, the platform can accommodate you. It also offers an easy-to-read interface that any business can understand.

Pricing:

• Pricing varies based on features and goals; available upon request

Free trial: None

Features:

• Automation support
• Affiliate payout system
• Lead management
• Affiliate and customer tracker
• Bulk email tools
• Reporting and analytics
• Promotional offer management
• Multichannel management

3. impact.com

Since its inception in 2008, impact.com has combined media and relationship management in one platform. The software sets its sights on advertisers who want to expand their affiliate marketing approach. Impact.com leverages proactive messaging and automated workflows to improve productivity at any scale. Its performance metrics and reports track customers from your partner’s online portal.

The platform goes a step further by recommending tools based on partners’ goals and pain points. Thanks to its focus on advertisers, impact.com offers solutions tailored to keep partners productive, informed and on-brand.

Pricing:

• Contact sales

Free trial: None

Features:

• Partner onboarding and migration support
• Recruitment tools
• Automatic payment processing
• Event trackers
• Learning management system
• Cross-channel reporting
• Fraud monitoring tools

4. Impartner

Impartner helps businesses track and manage their relationships with other companies. With its focus on organisation, the platform tracks and measures partnership KPIs. Streamlined reporting ensures every relationship stays on track for a high ROI. This optimisation drives revenue for distributors, resellers and partners at every step.

Impartner comes packed with standard partner programme management features. Users can manage communications, projects and agreements from their dashboard. Finally, portal partners can apply their tools from a single view to track every channel detail and promote growth.

Pricing:

• Varies based on features; learn more

Free trial: None

Features:

• Opportunity management
• Role-based permissions
• Action tracking
• Shared calendars and workflows
• Lead and content management
• Better performance metrics
• Email outreach tools

5. Partnerhub

Partnerhub helps digital agencies and SaaS companies manage their relationships. The partner software offers solutions to find, vet and form as many partnerships as possible. Unlike other platforms, Partnerhub works like a dating app for partners. In place of standard PRM features, users log on to bridge SaaS companies and digital agencies.

Instead of focusing on reports and specific channels, Partnerhub strives to improve operations overall. You can integrate it with popular CRMs and automated marketing solutions. Together, they enhance features for managing partners. Users also gain access to features like document sharing, automated messaging and referral tracking.

Pricing:

• Free for digital agencies and tech companies

Free trial: None

Features:

• Partnership recommendations
• Partner referral tracking
• Cooperative campaign management
• Shared workflows
• Shared growth projects
• Access to a marketplace of vetted partners

6. Kademi

Kademi is a PRM product designed for B2B companies. The all-in-one tool combines out-of-the-box partner management tools with code-free customisation. Users can drag and drop features with its partner portal editor. Kademi’s flexibility helps each partnership form unique solutions.

The platform can accommodate distributors, resellers, referrals and affiliates. Kademi also goes beyond standard PRM features. It offers sales partnership software, learning management solutions and payment handling to each portal partner. This range of features provides comprehension with less specialisation.

Pricing:

• 1,000 active partners: $500/month
• 3,000 active partners: $1,250/month

Free trial: None

Features:

• Partner enablement and onboarding tools
• Segmented partner data
• Automated engagement tools
• Deal registration
• Sales incentives
• Channel partner training

7. PartnerPortal.io

PartnerPortal.io is a web-based platform that helps agencies and software companies manage their partnerships. With its emphasis on business portals, users can onboard, register, collaborate and message their partners. Advanced features handle financial tasks, such as distributing commissions.

PartnerPortal.io lets users rely on the features they need and ignore the rest. Whether you require partner programme management or a portal, the platform will meet you halfway. Thanks to the intuitive interface, training partners to use the software takes little time.

Pricing:

• Basic: $0
• Plus: $399/month
• Growth: $999/month

Free trial: None

Features:

• Brand customisation
• Automated payments and lead tracking
• Partner success metrics
• Ecosystem and partner revenue data
• Simplified commission payouts
• Permissions-based resources

8. TUNE

Among the many partnership software options, TUNE stands out for its simplicity. The software works to streamline recruitment and onboarding for your most valuable partners. It helps businesses leverage low-risk, high-reward channels. The volumetric approach doesn’t suit all companies, but those tailored to this service swear by it.

Content publishers, affiliates, influencers, agencies, mobile app makers, performance networks and tech providers can all use TUNE. The platform’s Connect features help businesses discover and meet diverse partners. From there, you can curate high-quality media to grow your business.

Pricing:

• Bootstrap: $599/month
• Scale: $1,599/month
• Contract: varies based on features

Free trial: 14 days

Features:

• Partner programme customisation
• Tracking tools
• Ecosystem management features
• Partner discovery tools
• Mobile device support
• Fraud protection

9. Partner Fleet

Partner Fleet offers a turnkey marketplace platform that simplifies going to market with partners. Using the platform, businesses can drive the adoption of integrations and various partner services. As a result, companies can launch white-labeled partner marketplaces without dev support in a few weeks.

Partner Fleet also offers standard PRM tools. Users can boost sales among partners' management teams, align departments and grow. Businesses see the most ROI by creating interconnected websites, partner portals and marketplaces. Best of all, the platform lays out this data in its partners’ online portals.

Pricing:

• Varies based on features

Free trial: 14 days

Features:

• Built-in partner directory
• No-code partner marketplaces
• Collaborative campaign management
• Partner onboarding and enablement features
• Co-selling opportunities
• Website and app marketplaces

10. ZINFI

ZINFI helps businesses establish core PRM processes across their sales channels. Across verticals, the software helps companies recruit, onboard and provide market and sales enablement to partners. ZINFI assists various channel partners, including agents, dealers, franchisees and resellers.

ZINFI’s unified channel management approach leverages various SaaS applications. Its partner portal works as a line of communication between vendors and a diverse partner base. All of this comes packaged with the core PRM tools businesses expect.

Pricing:

• Starts at $375/month

Free trial: 14 days

Features:

• Onboarding management
• Partner contact and lead tracking
• Learning centres
• Deal registration
• Channel data management
• Price and quote configuration

Partner portals go beyond exchanging data. The main benefits of partner portal software include reducing partner churn, streamlining communication, improving partner satisfaction and agent efficiency and evolving your business based on analytics.

1. Reduce partner churn by making partner onboarding easier

Similar to staff churn, partner turnover can be mapped, in part, to poor training and a lack of resources, especially with a complex model. While there are many ways to combat partner churn, effective onboarding is one of the best. With partner portal software, you can reduce partner attrition with education and enablement resources like:

• Training videos
• Technical articles
• Frequently asked questions

2. Streamline collaboration between teams

When two businesses partner, aligning the individual teams is key. Balancing legal, sales, customer support and IT staff procedures requires choosing the right technology partner to help streamline collaboration.

PRM software eliminates data silos between teams by providing direct avenues of communication and unifying data in one place. These features let partners collaborate on requests, share tickets and refine data across departments.

3. Improve partner satisfaction by providing a centralised place for partners to get help

The best partner portal software helps your business partners find needed resources. Rather than exchanging emails or mailing documents, partners can log in for quick access to help. A partner portal works as a one-stop shop for:

• Finding help centre articles
• Using 24/7 help centres
• Submitting various requests in one place
• Checking on the status of their requests

4. Improve efficiency by reducing agents' workloads

PRM software often comes packaged with macros that automate internal escalations, reassignments and recurring tasks. These automations help your agents focus on more pressing tasks. Additionally, self-service features allow partners to answer questions and resolve issues without consulting an agent.

When Agoda partnered with Zendesk, it saw partner satisfaction and employee experience ratings soar. Thanks to our help desk, Agoda also experienced improved query routing and gained deeper business insights. Additionally, its self-service station saw 100,000 views in October 2021 alone.

5. Evolve with the right data

You can’t overstate the importance of finding a great partner – leverage portal data to grow together. You can do this by:

• Collecting data from your PRM’s internal analytics and reporting tools
• Sharing the findings within your partner portal software
• Implementing changes based on your initial findings
• Reviewing how your productivity changes after reforming your process

While partner portals are invaluable, they aren't the only PRM tools available. You can see the best relationships with partners by leveraging additional tools with your portals. Other features to keep in mind include the following:

Custom themes to match your brand(s)

While brands work as a customer-facing identity, they aren't always a reflection of an entire company. Some businesses control multiple brands and need different themes for each help centre. Depending on your software and pricing plan, PRMs let you set up distinct pages for every brand.

Platforms like Zendesk go a step further by supporting logos and custom themes. This customisation ensures that you can create help centres that match your brands.

Single sign-on options and article view permissions

If your business has an expansive help centre, you need a way to route partners to relevant pages. At the same time, you don't want to compromise your security. Configuring single sign-on creates a seamless experience between your website and the help centre. It also authenticates users and verifies partners' permissions before giving them access to internal documents.

You can leverage article view permissions to route partners to relevant documents, too. Rather than open the floodgates to all content, view permissions restrict what your partners can see. Zendesk organises view permissions into four categories:

• Visible to everyone: includes anyone who visits your help centre and does not require sign-in
  
• Signed-in users: includes internal and external users who create an account and sign in to your help centre
  
• Agents and admins: includes staff members only, so you can create content that is internal-facing
  
• Custom user segmentation: restricts viewing access to specific users based on tags, organisations or groups by applying custom user segments

Self-service and AI

Instead of relying on your support agents, you can resolve partner issues with automation and self-service features. Not only will this keep your ticket volume low, but you can also reuse these features for every partner you take on. When partners submit a request for support on a platform like Zendesk, AI can suggest:

• Relevant help centre articles
• Useful partner community forums
• Chatbot-generated responses for FAQs

Unified workspace for your partner support team

Your partner support team needs a centralised workspace to manage your relationships. More often than not, your agents must deliver support across multiple channels like email, text and phone calls – a unified workspace helps them do so. By placing all your channel information in one place, your team can quickly track, manage and respond to partner requests.

Analytics on partner performance

Most businesses have access to data reports and analytics from third-party tools. While CRMs provide client data, PRMs offer the same kind of partner data. PRMs deliver direct reports and analytics on the ROI of each partnership. You can diagnose operational issues and leverage your reports for data-based solutions.

PRMs collect data on:

• Active pipeline value
• Activity across channels
• Opportunities per partner
• Deal registrations and closures
• Partner satisfaction

Although every business faces unique partnership needs, finding a reliable portal is possible. By following these steps, you can take your partner relationship management to the next level:

1. Evaluate your needs: Businesses need a portal suited to their scale and operations. To find the right portal for you, consider if your focus leans toward sales, support or marketing. From there, note your pain points and the biggest issues your partners have mentioned.
2. Identify the most useful features: After taking stock of your business, review the features partner portals offer. Do you need a place to connect and share information? Alternatively, do you need a larger array of PRM tools?
3. Consider integrations: As your partner network and business expand, you may need to add new tools, features and integrations to set you up for success early on. Even if your portal doesn’t provide every tool you need, platforms like Zendesk offer integrations that help your portal grow with you.
4. Design your ideal onboarding and training process: Sometimes, it pays to work backwards. After narrowing your list of options, consider how you’d onboard partners with each solution. If a portal fits your optimised process, it may be worth trying.
5. Implement a portal and measure its ROI: After using your portal for a few months, compare your ROI before and after implementing the software. If your partner network hasn’t improved, you may need to try new features or invest in a different platform.

A portal should offer a fast time to value, too. When Keen partnered with Zendesk, the advantages of the software were apparent right away. Shortly after implementing Zendesk, Keen reduced its first reply time by 39%. Upgrading to Zendesk also helped Keen evolve alongside partners who actively upgraded their own technology. Whether Keen’s call volumes spiked to 1,400 or 4,000 a month, Zendesk helped the company keep pace.

Partner portal and PRM software offer both new and familiar features to established businesses. To help you better understand these tools, we’ll answer FAQs about partner portal software and PRMs.