Vendor overhauls Backup Exec software to improve ease of use

Symantec has listed improving “ease of doing business” for its partners as an urgent focus for the fourth quarter.

The vendor is revamping its Back-up Exec storage software so users can install it instantly and aims to extend this model to some of its other mature products. Currently, partners must buy the product on a web site before the user can enable it.

Jason Ellis, vice president of EMEA channel sales at Symantec, said ease of doing business was a common gripe of partners at Symantec’s most recent quarterly partner feedback session.

“We’re trying to remove some of the complexity for partners so they can focus on selling, rather than on processes,” he said.

“In our more mature solutions we’re looking to simplify the whole licensing process.”

Ray Ottey, partner manager for Symantec Gold partner Netstore, said: “Symantec seems to be getting a handle on streamlining processes. We’re seeing a simplification in licensing and would like to see more.”