Broadcom major channel partner shakeup

Yes, it is highly likely that CDW will continue to be a Broadcom partner, particularly concerning VMware solutions. 

Reasons for this likelihood

• Award Recognition: CDW has recently been recognized by Broadcom with two Partner Awards for their contributions and accomplishments with Broadcom's VMware software, including the VMware Highest Performer and Largest Deal in the Americas awards for 2024.

• Long-Standing Partnership: CDW and VMware have a history of successful collaboration, with CDW being named Global VMware Partner of the Year in 2023.

• Focus on Value-Based Partnerships: Broadcom has indicated a strategy of focusing on and deepening relationships with partners who are committed to delivering valuable customer experiences and are making significant investments in their VMware capabilities. CDW's performance suggests they align with this strategy. 

However, it's important to note Broadcom's recent changes to the VMware partner program:

• Reduced Partner Pool: Broadcom has significantly reduced the number of authorized VMware partners and the new program will be invitation-only, according to Channel Insider and Techzine Global.

• Impact on Smaller Partners: Many smaller partners, particularly those serving mid-sized and SMB customers, have been excluded from the new program, according to GraphOn.

• Focus on VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF): Broadcom's strategy emphasizes larger, private cloud-first deployments built on VCF, according to Civo.com. 

Despite these changes, CDW's history of success with VMware, recent award recognition from Broadcom, and strong commitment to the partnership strongly suggest their continued inclusion as a Broadcom partner for VMware solutions.

Broadcom and VMware partner program changes and impact on CDK Global

Broadcom's acquisition of VMware has led to significant restructuring of the VMware partner program, impacting many existing partnerships, including potentially CDK Global. 

Here's what is currently known:

• Broadcom has transitioned the VMware partner program to an invitation-only model called the Broadcom Advantage Partner Program.

• This new program is designed to significantly reduce the number of authorized partners.

• Current VMware partners who were not invited to the new program have received (or will receive) notices of non-renewal.

• These non-invited partners can continue to service existing contracts until October 31, 2025, but cannot enter into new agreements or renewals. 

CDK Global, as a major player in automotive retail technology, previously leveraged VMware solutions, and as such would have been affected by these changes to the partner ecosystem. 

Important to note

• The information available online does not explicitly state whether CDK Global has been invited to the new Broadcom Advantage Partner Program or not.

• It's important to monitor official announcements from both Broadcom and CDK Global for any updates on their partnership status.

In the interim, businesses utilizing VMware products through a partner should actively verify their partner's status with Broadcom to ensure service continuity. 

Yes, Windstream is expected to continue its partnership with Broadcom, specifically within the context of VMware solutions. 

Here's why:

• Long-standing partnership: Windstream has been a partner to VMware (now Broadcom) since 2016, providing SD-WAN technology to customers. (Your Trusted Advisor from Halolution was in fact part of the Design, Build, Deploy and senior mentor for many Engineers on the NIE team up until 2024)

• Positive outlook on the new program: Windstream's CTO, Art Nichols, expressed enthusiasm for the new Broadcom Advantage Partner Program for VeloCloud Titan Partners, citing benefits like exclusivity, license pooling, and a comprehensive service creation partnership.

• Commitment to collaboration: Nichols emphasized their anticipation of continuing the collaborative partnership and empowering more businesses in the future. 

While Broadcom has made changes to its VMware partner program, including reducing the number of authorized partners, it appears that Windstream has been retained as a partner, especially in the context of VeloCloud solutions. Windstream's positive statements indicate their intent to maintain this relationship.