Partner relationship management software

Business partnerships can yield substantial benefits, but miscommunication and mismanagement can impede progress for all parties. Effective communication is vital for these relationships to flourish, and partner management software can improve collaboration and support.

Just as customer portal software enhances interactions with your customers, partner portal applications strengthen relationships with your business partners. Read our guide to learn about the essential features and benefits of partner management software and how to choose the right solution for your business.

More in this guide:

• What is PRM software?
• PRM software comparison chart
• The 15 best PRM software
• Features of partner management software
• Benefits of partner portal software
• How to choose PRM software for your business
• Frequently asked questions
• Enhance partner relationships with Zendesk

Partner relationship management (PRM) software, also known as partner management software or partner portal software, is designed to help businesses manage and streamline their interactions with business partners. By automating and organizing partner-related processes, PRM software enhances the effectiveness of partnerships.

More specifically, PRM software:

• Organizes partner accounts and contact information
• Simplifies the process of integrating new partners into the company's ecosystem, providing them with training, resources, and access to information
• Offers integrated communication channels such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, forums, email, and live chat to ensure partners have a seamless way to contact your business
• Automates partner support
• Stores partner information and data securely
• Offers effective self-service support options

However, PRM software can cater to various use cases, so choosing the right provider for your specific goals is important.

Compare the following PRM tools to see which one is the best choice for your business and partner needs.

Software	Starting price	Free trial	Key features
Zendesk	$55 per agent/month (billed annually)	14 days	AI and workflow automation Security tools Knowledge base Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics Omnichannel ticketing system Native integration with the Zendesk customer service and employee service solutions
PartnerStack	Contact sales	Unavailable	Security tools Integrations Reporting and analytics
impact.com	Contact sales	Unavailable	AI and workflow automation Security tools Reporting and analytics
Impartner	Contact sales	Unavailable	AI and workflow automation Security tools Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics
Kademi	$800 per month	Unavailable	AI and workflow automation Security tools Knowledge base Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics
ZINFI	Contact sales	Unavailable	AI and workflow automation Security tools Knowledge base Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics Omnichannel ticketing system
Salesforce	$25 per user/month	30 days	AI and workflow automation Security tools Knowledge base Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics
ZiftONE	Contact sales	Unavailable	AI and workflow automation Security tools Knowledge base Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics
Crossbeam	$150 per month (billed annually)	Available	Security tools Knowledge base Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics
Allbound	Contact sales	Unavailable	AI and workflow automation Security tools Knowledge base Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics
Mindmatrix	Contact sales	Unavailable	Security tools Knowledge base Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics
Kiflo	$360 per month (billed annually)	14 days	Security tools Knowledge base Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics
GlassHive	$100 per month + $49 for additional users	14 days	AI and workflow automation Security tools Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics
Reveal	$0 per month (five users)	Unavailable	AI and workflow automation Security tools Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics
Channel Mechanics	Contact sales	Unavailable	Security tools Knowledge base Apps and integrations Reporting and analytics

Now that you know what PRM software is, let’s look at some of the partner relationship management tools available today.

1. Zendesk

Use case: AI-powered partner support and knowledge management

Zendesk offers a customizable partner portal and PRM solution that supports a variety of integrations, enabling you to tailor the software to your specific needs. It’s easy to use and works out of the box, so you can spend time building better partner relationships rather than configuring tricky software.

Partners can use a self-service portal to access important information in a knowledge base, share tips and tricks with one another via a community forum, and manage their support requests. AI-powered knowledge management tools enable partner management teams to ensure content within your partner portal is up to date. For instance, Zendesk Content Cues identifies content gaps based on trending support requests and flags low-performing content to update. AI can also help teams write partner help center content quickly.

Omnichannel ticketing empowers your team to support partners across any channel—including email, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and live chat—for seamless experiences. Zendesk AI is built into our ticketing system, providing partner management teams with real-time insights and guidance on ways to approach interactions. This way, agents can provide fast and personalized support. Meanwhile, Zendesk AI agents enable your business to provide partners with 24/7 support while giving your partner management teams valuable time back to build partner loyalty.

Additionally, Zendesk offers support software for CX, IT, and HR, allowing you to standardize support processes across your entire organization. With connected systems, teams can share insights, such as tracking shared customers between partner and customer service teams. This scalable solution provides a lower total cost of ownership than if you were to use multiple disconnected services.

Features:

• AI and workflow automation
• Security tools
• Knowledge base software
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Ticketing system
• Email management
• Live chat
• Slack
• Microsoft Teams
• Voice
• Forum software

Pricing: Plans start at $55 per agent/month, billed annually. A 14-day free trial is available.

Explore more Zendesk pricing plans.

2. PartnerStack

Use case: B2B SaaS partner management

PartnerStack is a partner management platform for business-to-business (B2B) software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies. With PartnerStack, businesses can provide partnership resources, reporting, and important announcements in a partner portal.

Businesses can use PartnerStack to configure automated, branded email campaigns to communicate with partners. The platform includes polling features, allowing businesses to solicit partner feedback. Additionally, companies can use PartnerStack to monitor partner performance using unique referral links to track metrics like sales, signups, and clicks. The platform also has native fraud protection, flagging suspicious activity and blocking rewards from being paid.

Features:

• Security tools
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Email campaigns
• Partner rewards

Pricing: Contact PartnerStack

Recommended reading: Learn how PartnerStack integrates with Zendesk.

3. impact.com

Use case: affiliate or influencer marketing

Partnership automation platform impact.com allows businesses to discover and manage partnerships with affiliates, charities, ambassadors, and more. The partnership platform includes chat functionality, enabling companies to communicate with prospective partners within its app. It also features automated workflows and messaging, letting businesses set up custom tasks and automated emails.

Additionally, impact.com offers reporting capabilities to track metrics like click-through rate. Businesses can use the partnership platform to set up electronic contracts to keep a record of partnerships. The software includes international payment currency features.

Features:

• AI and workflow automation
• Security tools
• Reporting and analytics
• Partner payments
• Electronic contracts

Pricing: Contact impact.com

4. Impartner

Use case: partner communication

With Impartner, businesses can create email campaigns and public-facing web pages to assist with the partner registration process. The PRM also allows companies to integrate branded newsletters and social media content into their partner portals for communication. Impartner lets businesses create and store co-branded assets in a central library, enabling them to share documents with partners while maintaining their branding.

Additionally, the PRM includes reporting and analytics functionality, so businesses can use pre-built or personalized dashboards to track metrics like return on investment (ROI), lead conversion rate, and average deal size. Businesses can also train their partners by creating certification programs that cover product details and sales strategies.

Features:

• AI and workflow automation
• Security tools
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Co-branding tools
• Certification programs

Pricing: Contact Impartner

5. Kademi

Use case: partner training solution

Kademi is a PRM software solution for managing partnerships and tracking sales performance. With Kademi, businesses can provide deal registration forms within their partner portal to capture sales data, such as their contact information and current deal stage. Companies can also motivate partners to achieve sales goals by incentivizing them with gift cards or rewards programs.

The PRM also includes partner training functionality so users can create online training courses with badge and award certificate features. The customizable training programs support text, images, and video and may take place on desktop and mobile devices. Additionally, Kademi lets businesses share customizable resources with partners. This allows companies to create content variations with different languages or file types.

Features:

• AI and workflow automation
• Security tools
• Knowledge base
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Training programs
• Partner forums

Pricing: Plans start at $800 per month.

6. ZINFI

Use case: cloud-based partner relationship management software

ZINFI is a cloud-based partner relationship management platform. With ZINFI, businesses can manage and create channel partner profiles, including information like partner type, company, and contacts. The partner management tool allows businesses to create co-branded email templates for their channel partners. Businesses can also develop and share digital assets with partners, including ebooks, images, and customer stories.

With ZINFI, businesses can also build custom training programs, which allows them to share training, assessments, and certification materials with partners. Companies can monitor partner progress within a ZINFI training program, such as Video Completion Tracking.

Features:

• AI and workflow automation
• Security tools
• Knowledge base
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Omnichannel ticketing system
• Training programs

Pricing: Contact ZINFI

7. Salesforce

Use case: sales software

Salesforce is a sales tool offering partner relationship management capabilities. With Salesforce, businesses can create co-branded marketing assets and share knowledge base articles with their partners. Businesses can also use Salesforce to track partner performance, including pre-built dashboards and reports for monitoring partner metrics such as deal size, wins, and opportunities.

However, some customers cite Salesforce as having a steep learning curve. This can make it difficult for partners to adopt the PRM software and require your team to dedicate more time to training them on how to use it.

Features:

• AI and workflow automation
• Security tools
• Knowledge base
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Deal management

Pricing: Plans start at $25 per user/month. A 30-day free trial is available.

Recommended reading: Learn how Salesforce integrates with Zendesk and how Zendesk vs. Salesforce compare.

8. ZiftONE

Use case: performance analytics

ZiftONE by Zift Solutions is a partner and channel management platform. With the PRM, businesses can create a partner portal that matches their branding and use customizable forms and templates for registering and onboarding partners.

Businesses can use ZiftONE to build partner training plans featuring quizzes and certification programs. The platform supports training materials, including videos, presentations, and PDFs. The PRM software also includes an analytics dashboard for tracking training progress, sales leads, and channel lifecycles. Additionally, ZiftONE allows businesses to track partner performance trends by month, quarter, or year.

Features:

• AI and workflow automation
• Security tools
• Knowledge base
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Partner segmentation

Pricing: Contact Zift Solutions

9. Crossbeam

Use case: partner pipeline comparisons

Crossbeam is a partner ecosystem platform that integrates with existing data sources such as spreadsheets, CRMs, or data warehouses. The platform offers account mapping features that allow businesses to compare their customer pipeline data with their partners to identify co-selling or co-marketing opportunities.

Businesses can create shared lists for their partners using this account mapping feature, showcasing accounts that they have in common with their partners. The platform also includes reporting and analytics features that give businesses visibility into their pipeline, including deal sizes, stages, and opportunity data.

Features:

• Security tools
• Knowledge base
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Account mapping
• Co-selling

Pricing: Plans start at $150 per month, billed annually. A free plan is available with limited seats.

10. Allbound

Use case: partner acquisition

Allbound is a partner relationship management platform with content management features. With Allbound, businesses can share customizable co-branded sales and marketing materials with their partners. Businesses can also create a content library and build custom learning tracks to guide partner training. They can even tailor their self-service training plans by partner type, vertical, or location.

The PRM platform incentivizes partners through performance gamification. Businesses can assign point values to actions like viewing and sharing content or completing courses. Partners can redeem the points for real-world rewards, such as gift cards.

Features:

• AI and workflow automation
• Security tools
• Knowledge base
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Gamification
• Lead distribution

Pricing: Contact Allbound

11. Mindmatrix

Use case: partner certification programs

Mindmatrix is PRM software featuring a customizable partner portal. With Mindmatrix, businesses can create personalized co-branded assets, such as proposals, sales presentations, and print materials, to share with partners.

The PRM also features a learning management system, allowing businesses to create and manage training and educational materials for onboarding new partners. Additionally, users can set up certification programs to incentivize partner training participation.

Features:

• Security tools
• Knowledge base
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Partner communities
• Multi-language support

Pricing: Contact Mindmatrix

12. Kiflo

Use case: customizable reward models

Kiflo is partner management software businesses can use to develop affiliate, referral, and reseller partner programs. The platform supports creating custom partner certification programs and onboarding plans.

With Kiflo, businesses can define customizable reward models, including how commissions are structured and paid out to different partners. Businesses may also use Kiflo to track partner performance through its reporting and analytics features. These features include insights into lead submissions, registered deals, and partner goals.

Features:

• Security tools
• Knowledge base
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Customizable rewards
• Partner program tiers

Pricing: Plans start at $360 per month when billed annually. A 14-day free trial is available.

13. GlassHive

Use case: marketing and sales solution for IT service providers

GlassHive is a partner marketing solution that lets IT service providers share sales and marketing materials with partners. With GlassHive, businesses can co-brand existing marketing assets with colors, logos, and contact information. The platform also allows companies to create a partner portal using a landing page builder.

Businesses can also use GlassHive to build custom email marketing campaigns. The software’s email builder allows users to access pre-made email templates or create their own using a drag-and-drop builder. Additionally, GlassHive supports A/B testing, enabling companies to test different subject lines or content within email campaigns.

Features:

• AI and workflow automation
• Security tools
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Email marketing
• Co-branding

Pricing: Plans start at $100 per month for one user and $49 for each additional user. A 14-day free trial is available.

14. Reveal

Use case: partner activity tracking

Reveal is a partner platform that connects to customer relationship management software and pulls in data like deal status, account owner, and more. The platform also features reporting and analytics features, letting businesses track their return on investment and revenue potential across partners.

With Reveal, businesses can access an activity feed that provides a weekly digest of relevant partner activities. The partner portal also includes account mapping features. These features allow businesses to compare their account lists with other companies to identify new partners and existing overlaps for co-selling opportunities.

Features:

• AI and workflow automation
• Security tools
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Account mapping
• Activity feed

Pricing: Plans start at $15,000 per year. A free plan for five users is available.

15. Channel Mechanics

Use case: incentive-based performance programs

Channel Mechanics is a partner portal software businesses can use to create a customizable partner portal that matches their branding. Businesses may also use the partner portal to share relevant content with partners, including pricing information and marketing collateral.

The software features customizable rewards programs, letting businesses create custom performance goals and incentives for partners using a points-based system. This includes performance metrics like the number of new leads, demo requests, registered deals, or revenue goals.

Features:

• Security tools
• Knowledge base
• Apps and integrations
• Reporting and analytics
• Performance goals
• Incentive management

Pricing: Contact Channel Mechanics

No matter which partner management software you choose, it should be equipped with the features you need. Here are a few of the top features to look for in PRM software:

• AI and workflow automation: AI agents, similar to advanced chatbots, can answer partner questions around the clock, while automated workflows can streamline partner support processes. This frees up the partner management team to focus on building better partner relationships.
• Security tools: Protect sensitive information, like pricing strategies, marketing plans, and customer data, from unauthorized access. Features like multi-factor authentication, encryption, and role-based access control ensure that only authorized users can see sensitive information.
• Knowledge base: Equipping partners with self-service capabilities allows them to find answers to common questions, product tutorials, and troubleshooting guides at any time of day, reducing dependence on your partner support team. This eases the burden on your resources and keeps partners moving forward, leading to a smoother partner experience.
• Integrations: Integrations can help your business connect your PRM to the tools you already use. Zendesk, for instance, supports a wide range of apps and integrations, from communication software like Slack to marketing tools like Mailchimp.
• Reporting and analytics: PRM software should offer reporting tools to help your business uncover important insights. For example, a PRM like Zendesk can help you discover which topics your partners inquire about the most. You can use that data to fill knowledge gaps and improve your partners’ experience.
• Omnichannel ticketing system: From live chat to voice, partners may have different preferences when seeking support. A ticketing system with omnichannel capabilities allows you to manage all channels simultaneously, so you can meet partners where they are and deliver more convenient service. Your system should also provide partner profiles that are accessible in each channel, allowing agents to personalize each interaction.

By selecting a partner management solution with the above features, your business can begin streamlining and improving your partner experience.

Partner portals are more than simple rendezvous points. The main benefits of partner portal and management software include:

• Reduced partner churn: Partner churn can often result from poor support and a lack of resources. Effective partner support is one of the best ways to combat partner churn. With partner portal software, you can reduce partner attrition with education and enablement resources like training videos and FAQ pages and ensure they always have a convenient way to reach your business.
• Streamlined collaboration: Whether your partner team needs to tag in your legal or sales team to fulfill a request, PRM software eliminates data silos between teams by providing direct avenues of communication and housing data in one place.
• Increased efficiency: PRM software provides tools that automate partner support escalations, ticket assignments, and other recurring tasks. This helps reduce the workload for your partner management team. Additionally, self-service features allow partners to answer questions and resolve issues without consulting the partner management team.
• Improved partner communication: Partners can conveniently reach you through various channels, like built-in messaging or support tickets, all within the familiar environment of the portal. The portal keeps a clear record of every conversation, allowing partners to easily track interactions and ensure nothing gets lost in the shuffle.

Although every business faces unique partnership needs, there are a few essential capabilities to keep in mind:

• Consider your goals: To find the right portal for you, determine what you need in a partner portal solution based on your goals. Are you looking to provide faster partner support? If so, then you’ll need a partner portal that allows partners to access help center content. Getting clear on your goals is the first step.
• Prioritize ease of use: If your partner management teams or partners are wasting time navigating a complex interface, it can lead to frustration on both ends. However, an intuitive and user-friendly portal empowers partners to locate what they need quickly, fostering self-sufficiency and productivity. Additionally, when partner management teams can execute their duties efficiently, workloads become more manageable, and quality improves.
• Assess the total cost of ownership (TCO): From developer needs to lengthy setups, some PRMs can become more costly than their licensing costs implied. Consider this: Zendesk is ready out of the box—no team of developers is required to get started. This helps your business save time and money.
• Test it with a free trial: Taking a product for a dry run presents a low-stakes way to evaluate its capabilities and compare it to other options to find the right fit for your needs.

Keeping the above considerations in mind can help you choose an effective PRM solution that quickly adds value to you and your partners.