topic Re: NI Partner Program rejection in BreakPoint

NI Partner Program rejection

dfmb — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 21:14:40 GMT

So, apparently passing the CLD exam, having customer purchase orders in hand for doing LabVIEW development work for NI hardware customers, and having 15 years of LabVIEW application development experience is not sufficient to be accepted into the NI Partner network. I believe I meet the requirements, but today I got the rejection letter from the NI Partner Program that they don't think I would be a good fit.

Am I stuck paying the full LabVIEW license fees north of $4,300/year to develop cRIO applications for these customers instead of the paying for the reduced rate for the NI Partner Software license? Sure, I can pass the additional costs on to the customer, but isn't this exactly what the Partner program is supposed to be for?

Any suggestions for how to move forward, because this rejection is costing a fair amount of $$$.

Thanks

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

wiebe@CARYA — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 08:29:27 GMT

Sorry in advance, not too helpful.

AFAIK, NI started mentioned years ago (pre-corona) they really want partners to be >7 (5?) people companies.

You can still buy a perpetual license. Last I heard (recently) NI is working on making that option more obvious.

It's still top $$ and doing 'partner work' you probably want all recent versions...

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

dfmb — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:30:25 GMT

If they indeed want partners to be companies with 5+ people, that would have been nice to know before I paid $300 to take the CLD exam. I think the only perpetual license at this point is the Debug and Deploy license, which has limited functionality.

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

wiebe@CARYA — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 21:36:34 GMT

@dfmb wrote:

If they indeed want partners to be companies with 5+ people, that would have been nice to know before I paid $300 to take the CLD exam. I think the only perpetual license at this point is the Debug and Deploy license, which has limited functionality.

From what I know, atm it's hard (impossible) to see that the normal license is available as perpetual license, and there's no way to order it online. You might even find the right channels to get one. But I've heard some succeed and NI is working on making it a normal option. You might have to ask the right person at NI, or all persons you know at NI.

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

_Bryan — Fri, 03 May 2024 20:41:37 GMT

wiebe@CARYA wrote:

@dfmb wrote:

If they indeed want partners to be companies with 5+ people, that would have been nice to know before I paid $300 to take the CLD exam. I think the only perpetual license at this point is the Debug and Deploy license, which has limited functionality.

From what I know, atm it's hard (impossible) to see that the normal license is available as perpetual license, and there's no way to order it online. You might even find the right channels to get one. But I've heard some succeed and NI is working on making it a normal option. You might have to ask the right person at NI, or all persons you know at NI.

I was just reading this thread and did a Google search and it came up with this link https://www.ni.com/en/shop/labview/select-edition.html

Near the bottom of the page is a section "LabVIEW Perpetual Development Licenses Available by Request" and a request quote button.

That will take you to this page: https://www.ni.com/en/forms/perpetual-software-licenses-labview.html

I put in for a quote to see what they say.

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

_Bryan — Mon, 06 May 2024 14:38:52 GMT

First reply from NI for the perpetual license quote:

Let's talk about this, can we set up a 30 minute phone call to discuss?

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

jcarmody — Mon, 06 May 2024 17:08:31 GMT

I feared that they'd want to understand why you want a perpetual license. If it's because of some regulatory requirement, maybe that's OK. If it's so you don't have to buy into the subscription, that's another story!

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

_Bryan — Mon, 06 May 2024 22:24:49 GMT

@jcarmody wrote:

I feared that they'd want to understand why you want a perpetual license. If it's because of some regulatory requirement, maybe that's OK. If it's so you don't have to buy into the subscription, that's another story!

I replied saying I just need the quote for now and will reach out if I have any questions. I figure it is a tactic to try and talk you out of the perpetual license.

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

wiebe@CARYA — Tue, 07 May 2024 06:26:16 GMT

@_Bryan wrote:

@jcarmody wrote:

I feared that they'd want to understand why you want a perpetual license. If it's because of some regulatory requirement, maybe that's OK. If it's so you don't have to buy into the subscription, that's another story!

I replied saying I just need the quote for now and will reach out if I have any questions. I figure it is a tactic to try and talk you out of the perpetual license.

NI\Emerson might actually have a genuine interest in the reasons customers prefer a perpetual license.

A subscription will provide more income (for R&D of course) on paper, but not if they loose customers over it.

I can imagine in a big corporation it takes data to pursue management to change direction. This could be a way to get such data.

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

Gregory — Wed, 08 May 2024 16:19:07 GMT

I also requested the quote for perpetual license, and they got it to me pretty quickly without any questions.

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

_Bryan — Wed, 08 May 2024 17:08:56 GMT

@Gregory wrote:
I also requested the quote for perpetual license, and they got it to me pretty quickly without any questions.

I did get a quote in about 2 days after I emailed back. Surprised (not surprised) by the quote, but what are you going to do? Decisions......

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

Jacobson — Wed, 08 May 2024 17:18:32 GMT

@Gregory wrote:
I also requested the quote for perpetual license, and they got it to me pretty quickly without any questions.

What was the amount? Last I remember perpetual was 2.5x the cost of subscription, is that still the case?

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

Gregory — Wed, 08 May 2024 18:30:25 GMT

I probably shouldn't share the exact amount since the quote is confidential. But no, it was quite a bit more than that.

Re: NI Partner Program rejection

JÞB — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 18:05:09 GMT

National instruments used to have an alliance partner program for certified LabVIEW Consultants. That never got off the ground very well and, unfortunately NI never really used any of us to assist with sales refs in the area. Frankly, I allowed 8-Ball Consulting to lapse because few of the reps used me. I did provide 1 "Proof of Concept" that was really the DONE SOURCE for 1 customer that then bought the hardware and LabVIEW. A 2hr effort with the brand new Continuous Measurement and Logging Project Template on a simulated device (including walk-through documentation)

Single developer Partners each have/had a specific reason NI wanted them. 8-Ball Consulting and Radius Tek are 2 examples I know of. Both Mark and I had proven track records of significance to building NI sales. Mark with incredible platform instructor skills! I could boast about the 14 VSTs dropped into Positive Train Control for the first item test suite of test sets. Each of us were already recognized LabVIEW Champions as well when the Certified LabVIEW Consultant Partners program launched. With NIs move away from field sales, I see that program as likely dead.

That doesn't mean that there aren't ways around it! Funny enough, 8-Ball Consulting once "Hired" a developer that I worked with primarily because he wanted to attend a session at NI Week on Alliance day! (NOTE: never tell your boss you hired your coworker - he promptly fired me)