By Jesse Berst

 

We have been saying for years that smart grid vendors will ultimately need lots of "apps" in their "apps store" to be one of the long-term winners – that is, they will need to offer customers lots of pre-integrated, ready-to-roll solutions that run on top of their base platform.

 

There are at least three ways to collect useful, powerful applications: 1) build, 2) buy or 3) borrow.

 

The build and buy crowd. For years, companies such as ABB, GE and Siemens have been building smart grid solutions and aggressively buying companies to fill in gaps.

 

The build and borrow crew. Companies with more of a Silicon Valley attitude have been building and buying as well, but they are increasingly looking to "borrow" solutions via third party developers. Just as Apple recruits developers to build apps for their apps store, so too these companies seek pre-integrated, pre-certified solutions that run on their platforms.

 

Everybody partners to a degree, but some are more aggressive than others, including Cisco, Echelon, Itron and Tendril. But if I had to choose the company that is out in front, I'd name Silver Spring Networks (SSN). That #1 position was further solidified today with the announcement of a major revamp to its partnering program.

 

I will let you click here if you want addiitional details, but here are a few highlights:

 

·         New toolkits for ensuring integration and interoperability

·         Three formal tiers: Associate, Premier and Platinum

·         An enhanced partners-only portal

·         Enhanced co-marketing programs

 

Supporting a developer network is a difficult and ambitious agenda. Done right, however, it greatly amplifies a company's influence and appeal. For instance, strong developer programs have been instrumental to the success of Microsoft, Apple and Cisco.

So it's no wonder that SSN understands this success formula. It is a Silicon Valley company with refugees from many of the tech titans. As SSN Director of Product Marketing Michelle McLean told me: "Partnering is part of Silver Spring Networks' DNA. From day one, we came to the market with a platform approach, so we are constantly looking for ways to make our system 'pluggable' with other solutions."

 

You can click to view SSN's current partner lineup (currently more than 80 companies). And you can click here to read the press release with additional details.

 

The comment form below awaits your opinions. Utilities: Do you value vendors more if they have a big library of add-on apps? Vendors: Which other companies are doing a good job of running a partner program?

 

You may also be interested in…

More Silver Spring Networks smart grid news

Smart grid platform wars: Echelon snags first application for its energy control platform

An 'apps store' for utilities?

 

Jesse Berst is the founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News.com, the industry's oldest and largest smart grid site. A frequent keynoter at industry events in the U.S. and abroad, he also serves on advisory committees for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Institute for Electric Efficiency. He often provides strategic consulting to large corporations and venture-backed startups. He is a member of the advisory boards of GridGlo and Calico Energy Services.

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Current Comments (3)

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Who are you betting on long term?

Funny, you line up partners then you eat them for revenue... We saw this as the Internet began in the Cad-Cam area.. we saw this in the Internet Network Management area.. and others.... So are you now betting on Silver Spring's? I'd put my money on another larger CA based company who really knows how to route IP.

mike trust - 06/12/2012 - 07:19

SSN Partner Program

From the utility perspective, adding functionality that empowers customers with convenience and control features that help them achieve their economic and comfort goals offer the value proposition that benefits the customer and the utility.

Paul Kalv - 06/12/2012 - 08:46

Regional Solar Market Transformation Initiative

This is an ideal partnership for 21st Century Telecom,Inc.

William A. Branham - 06/12/2012 - 13:17

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