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Accreditations and certifications can frequently seem like an unnecessary burden and expense, particularly for smaller companies. And the truth is that they sometimes are. So how significant are these badges and certificates for channel partners? Most people believe they are very important indeed. Emma Porter, head of human resources (HR) and legal at OGL Computer, describes them as “vital in our industry as they demonstrate expertise and knowledge”. Zane Schweer, director of marketing communications at Global Knowledge, says they are key for channel partners. “Their entire ability to drive their product line depends on their qualifications with OEMs, such as Cisco, Microsoft and AWS [Amazon Web Services]. Without them, they cannot sell,” he says. “You can also apply this down a level to supporting certifications that enable them to better support their customers, such as PMP [Project Management Professional] and ITIL [IT Infrastructure Library]. Being able to prove the calibre of people you have on staff to help customers ...