Definition
Partner tiers are levels within a partner program that give more benefits to partners who meet higher requirements. Tiers are often named with metals or words like registered, silver, gold and platinum. Requirements usually include revenue, certifications and customer satisfaction. Benefits can include bigger discounts and more support.
Tiers give partners a reason to invest more in a vendor. They also help the vendor focus limited resources on the partners most likely to produce results.
Tier rules vary a lot between programs. Some are based mostly on revenue. Others weigh skills, services or customer outcomes. Many vendors review tier status once a year.
In practice
A partner moves from silver to gold after hitting its annual revenue goal and certifying two more engineers, which raises its discount and gives it access to MDF.