Autodesk Inc. (ADSK) enhanced several components of its 2011 Autodesk Partner Program in a bid to boost its sales by increasing the capabilities of its global resellers.
Autodesk’s global Partner Program was unveiled last year, with the intention of enhancing partner skills and thereby improving customer experience. The program enables resellers to provide better services, products and solutions to customers.
The recently announced enhancements include Platinum Tier, where customers are provided with top level industry expertise and satisfactory customer service. The Partner Program also provides a list of new prospects that could help Autodesk’s value-added resellers (VAR) to expand their businesses.
Autodesk Partner Program focuses on customer satisfaction and value. The core motive of the program is to help Autodesk customers find a complete set of solutions from their choice of partners.
Moreover, the Autodesk Partner Specializations and Certification Program includes role-based and demand-specific online training, with special focus on partner competence, potential and efficiency. The program has been a success since its introduction last year. More than 20,000 partner personnel have gained knowledge and received certifications in diverse fields.
The Autodesk Learning Central (ALC), an online learning portal launched last year, provides partners with the required training, specialization and certification, including examinations to help them develop their skills.
With the enhancements, Autodesk expects to automate and simplify its channel business and boost the output of the company’s reseller partners.
In our view, the company’s improvements and innovations in 3D design technology and product portfolio provides Autodesk a competitive edge. These innovations enable Autodesk to stay ahead of competitors like Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE), Parametric Technology Corp. (PMTC) and Avid Technology Inc. (AVID).
Over the long term, we remain optimistic on the stock and have an Outperform recommendation, given positives such as Autodesk’s operating margin leverage and strong revenues, stability in its end markets, the increased demand for 3D products, expanding market share, a diversified product pipeline, cost control and strategic acquisitions. However, foreign exchange fluctuations remain a headwind.
Currently, Autodesk has a Zacks #3 Rank, which translates into a short-term (1-3 months) Hold rating on the stock.
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