It sounds so great on paper. ISVs are heads-down making their product be the best it can be, while solution providers are out there understanding individual businesses, matching needs to products and developing trust and rapport with customers. Each makes the other successful.
But it doesn’t always work out that way. Channel conflict, miscommunication, skepticism and lack of commitment often prevent these relationships from developing, much less expanding to meet full potential. Most companies report at least some experience with failed partnerships.
And then there are the relationships that succeed wildly, with close alignment in culture, talent and values leading to a deep level of trust and mutual admiration. When ISVs and solution providers join forces, the result is often more than the sum of its parts, pushing beyond the original parameters for how the two parties can help one another. These partnerships discover innovative products, experience rapid growth, and even spin-off businesses.
