Training and certification courses to strengthen and bolster the expertise and credibility of the Trusted Advisor
We are in the era of the Trusted Advisor driven by the accelerated rate of change in technology and the need for most organizations to seek guidance in next gen technology decisions. As change agents, Trusted Advisors help end customers navigate the pace of change by understanding technology foundations and trends, agnostically evaluating a customer’s business needs, and by leveraging best practices for selling specific solutions. To help our Trusted Advisors train like pros, AVANT has launched a new certification program for today’s most innovative technology solutions. The four new courses are strategically designed for Trusted Advisors new to a technology or in need of a refresher, and are easily accessible for all AVANT Pathfinder users starting today!
“Many of our highest performing partners expressed an urgent need for agnostic technology and sales trainings to enable Trusted Advisors to confidently navigate the constantly changing market,” said Shane McNamara, Executive Vice President of Engineering and Operations. “As a result, we gathered partner feedback and dedicated countless resources to creating a Trusted Advisor certification program for some of today’s hottest technologies. Housed in our brand-new Trusted Advisor Academy, the certification courses will empower our partners to help customers make the best next generation technology decisions for their business.”
The new certifications focus on UCaaS, CCaaS, Security and BaaS / DRaaS technologies. Once participants complete all required modules and quizzes, they earn a certification badge to showcase their knowledge and expertise. These badges can also be used in email signatures, LinkedIn profiles, and company websites to add credibility to their Trusted Advisor consultancy and define their brand.
AVANT is dedicated to empowering our Trusted Advisors and enabling them to navigate the constantly changing industry with exceptional resources. This academy demonstrates the commitment to our partners and was designed with input from our world-class engineering and sales teams.
Technology Foundations and Trends
Each certification course begins with a technical overview of the technology solution enabling Trusted Advisors to have confidence in both general and technical conversations with customers, establishing their knowledge and credibility. Though the technical overviews differ slightly for each course, you will find:
- Brief history of the technology
- Explanation of the “as a service” solution
- Comparison of deployment options
- Case studies
- Definitions for foundational terms
Technology Agnostic Evaluation
After Academy members learn an overview of the technology solution, the courses explore technology-specific selling and evaluation strategies for customer conversations.
Here are the sales components participants can expect to find:
- Specific business drivers and benefits
- Conversation starters for various stakeholders
- Common objections and suggested rebuttals
- Introduction of the Trusted Advisor role
- Structuring a pitch
Leverage Best Practices
A technical understanding of the solution and a well-structured pitch are effectively used by leveraging partner resources. To ensure our Trusted Advisors are the best in the business, each certification course includes videos that focus on AVANT-powered resources, including, but not limited to:
- Interactive Quick Assessments
- Dynamic Matrices
- Research and Analytics
- Special Forces Summit Content
The new Trusted Advisor Academy is debuting with courses that focus on UCaaS, CCaaS, Security and BaaS / DRaaS, and more new content is already in the works! In the coming months, Trusted Advisors will also be able to earn a Pathfinder certification that highlights the functionality and practical use of AVANT’s IT decision-making tool that empowers you to make informed decisions.
Already a Pathfinder user? Get started today on your Trusted Advisor certification, powered by AVANT!
If you don’t have access to Pathfinder, reach out to your Channel Manager or contact AVANT at [email protected] about becoming a Trusted Advisor!