PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
Panasonic Toughbook has overhauled its European channel strategy with the launch of Elevate, a new partner programme designed to bring greater structure, predictability and financial clarity to rugged mobility resellers. The initiative introduces a formal tiered model, deal registration, expanded training and certification, and performance‑linked incentives, marking the most significant shift in the company’s channel‑first approach in three decades.
Elevate establishes three reseller levels – Authorised, Expert and Elite – alongside a certified ISV track and a dedicated framework for distributors. Central to the programme is a new deal registration system that gives partners clearer commercial visibility when submitting opportunities, including access to premium discounts that support more stable pipeline planning.
Panasonic has also expanded its training provision through Basecamp, its partner education platform. The curriculum is designed both for newcomers to rugged mobility and for established Toughbook specialists, with pathways covering Rugged Foundations, Winning with Toughbook and Technical Expertise. Completion unlocks certifications and digital badges that partners can use to demonstrate capability, as well as additional deal registration benefits.
Elite partners gain access to joint business planning, quarterly reviews and channel recruitment initiatives, with performance‑based rebates available for those meeting agreed revenue targets. Distributors will operate within a dedicated structure supported directly by Panasonic account teams.
The programme launches during a wider period of investment for Toughbook in Europe as it marks its 30th anniversary. Recent developments include new Service and Solutions Centres in Cardiff and Budapest, the expansion of its Mobile‑IT‑as‑a‑Service offering, and the introduction of AI‑enabled rugged devices built on its Engineered for Motion design philosophy.
“Elevate gives our partners the commercial structure, predictability, and financial incentives they need to build their business with confidence. At a time when predictability matters more than ever in the channel, Elevate gives partners the stability to plan, invest, and grow,” said Damien Fernandez, European Partner and Channel Manager at Panasonic Toughbook.
