Cloud marketplaces have emerged as game-changers in the business landscape, offering a centralized platform for organizations to discover, procure, and sell a wide range of cloud-based solutions. These marketplaces, such as AWS Marketplace, Azure Marketplace, and Google Cloud Marketplace, have transformed the way businesses operate, providing unprecedented opportunities for growth and innovation.
In this blog post, we will delve into the world of cloud marketplaces, understand their significance, explore the challenges organizations face in managing their marketplace listings, and discover how WorkSpan Marketplace Accelerator solution is simplifying the management of cloud marketplace listings.
What are Cloud Marketplaces?
Cloud marketplaces are online platforms where cloud service providers offer a vast array of software solutions, ranging from SaaS applications to infrastructure components, to customers looking to harness the power of the cloud. These marketplaces act as a centralized hub, connecting buyers and sellers, enabling organizations to discover, compare, and purchase cloud-based solutions from multiple vendors within a single ecosystem.
Why are Cloud Marketplaces Important?
Cloud marketplaces play a pivotal role in today's business landscape for several reasons. Firstly, they provide customers with a convenient one-stop-shop to explore and procure a wide range of solutions, saving time and effort in vendor evaluation and negotiation.
Secondly, cloud marketplaces allow sellers to access additional customer budget since their solutions sold on the marketplace might allow end customers to burn down their committed spend.
Furthermore, marketplaces foster innovation by encouraging collaboration between vendors, partners, and customers, enabling the creation of integrated solutions and enhancing the overall customer experience.
Canalys expects that by 2025, cloud marketplaces will grow to over US$45 billion, which is double our pre-pandemic forecast and represents an 84% CAGR.
Cloud marketplaces have transformed the way organizations buy and sell software solutions, presenting unparalleled opportunities for growth and success. However, the complexities and challenges associated with managing cloud marketplace listings can hinder organizations' ability to fully leverage this ecosystem.
Here are a few common challenges faced by companies:
- Significant technical and operational lift required to publish a transactable cloud marketplace listing.
- Delays in marketplace rollout and campaigns
- Missed marketplace deals and access to end customers’ cloud spend commitments
- Reduced visibility and support from cloud hyperscaler field teams on co-sell deals
WorkSpan Marketplace Accelerator
To help companies launch and expand their cloud marketplace go-to-market, WorkSpan has released the Marketplace Accelerator which is a service offering designed to simplify and accelerate the publishing of your transactable listings on the AWS Marketplace and Azure Marketplace (solution is coming soon for Google Cloud Marketplace).
With in-depth knowledge of marketplace requirements and best practice methodologies, WorkSpan helps you with all aspects of publishing your listings, from preparing your marketplace content and developing API integrations to conducting end-to-end testing and providing support after go-live. You own and control your marketplace listings, with WorkSpan providing support to accelerate time-to-market while minimizing resources and lift required from your team.
WorkSpan’s Marketplace Accelerator helps you drive growth and business benefits including:
- Launch marketplace go-to-market motions and private offer capabilities in several weeks, not months
- Minimize time and resources required by your team to publish and support marketplace listings
- Unlock access to cloud spend commitments of end customers
- Increase co-sell deal volume and support from Cloud Provider field teams
- Streamline procurement and close deals faster with end customers
Conclusion
WorkSpan Marketplace Accelerator seamlessly aligns with the needs and goals of organizations seeking to excel in the cloud marketplace ecosystem. For more information visit the Marketplace Accelerator Solution for AWS and Microsoft website or contact WorkSpan.
Kijoon leads WorkSpan’s business unit focused on AWS, Microsoft, and other cloud ecosystems. Prior to WorkSpan, he was VP of Marketing at SAP responsible for SAP HANA marketplace and applications for ecosystem collaboration, nextgen planning, IOT, and consumer engagement. He was also a co-founder of a digital health startup. Kijoon received his MBA from Stanford and B.S. from UC Berkeley.
