Benefits and relationships
Software Value Advantage Plus (VAP)
Overview
Here you can apply to the Value Advantage Plus (VAP) initiative and view/update
existing VAP applications.
The Software Value Advantage Plus (VAP) incentive offers discounts on the price
of IBM software to Business Partners who offer applications and services based
on that software, which they have modified in order to increase their value
to an end user customer.
Please note, as a Business Partner, you must derive at least 30% of your software
revenue from the sale of your own assets or intellectual property, which is
the value you have added to the completed solution. An example of a value add
solution is if a Business Partner uses Lotus/Domino software to provide an application
designed for libraries, customized to meet their specific needs for categorizing
books and articles in their system. They have added to the value of IBM software
through the solution they then offer to end users. IBM encourages them by providing
them with discounts on the software licenses purchased.
After being accepted into the VAP initiative, you may either purchase IBM software
at a discount from a value added Distributor (VAD) or receive a fee from IBM
for being an Influencer, if the customer purchases their software fulfillment
directly from ibm.com.
Navigation
To view a list of country enterprises that have and have not yet applied
for VAP:
- Select the "Value Advantage Plus" link
- A list of country enterprises that have and have not yet applied for VAP
will be displayed on this screen.
To apply:
- Select a link for the desired country enterprise you wish to sign up
- Click on "I Agree" link to advance to the VAP form
- Input the required information into the form
- "Save"
- You will be taken to a confirmation page and given a confirmation number
- Please retain the confirmation number for all future inquiries on the transaction.
There are two other areas you will need to provide information:
- Navigate to VAP Solutions and click on "Add a Solution" to provide details
on your primary solution area
- Input the required information into the form
- "Save"
- You will then need to navigate to Customer References (you must have at
least 3 customer references for solution) and click on "Add a Customer Reference"
- Input the required information into the form
- "Save"
- You will be taken to a confirmation page and given a confirmation number
- Please retain the confirmation number for all future inquiries on the transaction.
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