Partner Management

Salesforce Partner Management: 7 Top Recommendations to Scale Efficiently in 2025

Salesforce is powerful, but out-of-the-box partner management has limits. Here’s how to scale smarter — with less friction.

⚡ TL;DR

In 2025, Salesforce remains a strong platform for managing partner programs — but Experience Cloud is too slow, complex, and expensive for most SaaS companies. That’s why teams are turning to Introw, a no-code PRM that integrates natively with Salesforce. Introw streamlines onboarding, deal registration, partner collaboration, and commission tracking — all without requiring partner logins or dev resources. This guide covers 7 best practices for scaling partner management inside Salesforce using Introw.

In 2025, ecosystem-led growth is a key priority for SaaS teams.

In a fiercely competitive landscape, relying solely on your direct sales team and internal resources is no longer enough. 

SaaS companies increasingly recognize the power of strategic partnerships to drive scalable, sustainable revenue. 

Indeed, by tapping into partner ecosystems, companies can expand market reach, accelerate customer acquisition, and increase trust through third-party validation. 

But in order to efficiently manage and scale partnership programs, you need the right tech stack. 

In 2025, this means a partner relationship management system that seamlessly integrates with — and is embedded within — your CRM. 

Introw is an attractive option for Salesforce users. 

This no-code PRM platform empowers teams to manage partner collaboration within a fully customizable portal — while keeping everything synced in Salesforce, eliminating the need for manual updates or disconnected tools.

Embedded partner management streamlines workflows, enhances collaboration, helps you deliver engaging partner experiences and eliminates the need for partners to switch platforms, ultimately driving higher adoption and performance.

It turns the CRM into a central hub for direct and partner-led growth, ensuring tighter integration with core sales processes, better data accuracy, and real-time visibility. 

⬇️ In this guide, we'll take you through our top recommendations for scaling your partnership program through Salesforce. 

What Makes Salesforce Powerful for Partner Management?

So, first up — why should you opt for partner management in Salesforce? 

Here are four major Salesforce partner relationship management features:

1. Unified CRM With Shared Visibility Across Sales, Marketing, And Support

Salesforce's Experience Cloud PRM is fully integrated within its CRM platform, providing a centralized system where sales, marketing, and support teams can collaborate seamlessly. 

The Salesforce partner management software allows for real-time sharing of sales leads, marketing campaigns, and support cases with partners. 

It aims to ensure consistent and efficient communication across all departments. ​

2. Custom Objects, Fields, and Relationship Tables

Salesforce offers the flexibility to create custom objects and fields.

This is super useful when it comes to partner relationship management. 

Indeed, these handy customizations enable businesses to tailor their partner management processes to their specific needs. 

Furthermore, they facilitate complex data modeling and allow for the precise tracking of partner interactions and performance metrics. ​

3. Native Automation And Workflow Support

In 2025, automation is a must if you wish to remain competitive. 

Fortunately, Salesforce delivers with a whole host of built-in automation tools via Sales Cloud. 

For instance, users can create workflows that streamline partner onboarding, deal registration, and lead distribution. 

These automated processes reduce manual tasks, enhance efficiency, and ensure that partners receive timely updates and support throughout their engagement lifecycle. 

4. Huge Ecosystem Of Partner-Focused Integrations

Partner relationship management on Salesforce is made much easier by the platform's extensive AppExchange.

Here you'll discover a vast array of partner-focused integrations, with access to thousands of prebuilt applications and consultant offerings. 

This extensive ecosystem allows businesses to extend their capabilities, incorporating tools for PRM, marketing automation, analytics, and more, to enhance partner collaboration and drive revenue growth. 

While Salesforce is an excellent option for partner management — especially if it's already your CRM — when it comes to PRM, it's worth looking beyond Experience Cloud. 

Experience Cloud is expensive, dev-heavy, and slow to implement. 

What's more, it can be way too complex for smaller organizations or those with smaller partner programs.  

Instead, take a look at Introw.

This slick no-code PRM platform integrates seamlessly with Salesforce, enabling rapid deployment and off-portal collaboration with no extensive setup. 

Introw delivers off-portal collaboration tools such as Slack integration, so partners no longer need to log into Salesforce directly to engage through shared channels or receive updates. 

At the same time, Introw is embedded within Salesforce, so your CRM remains your single source of truth. 

7 Salesforce Partner Management Recommendations for 2025

Ready to take your partner program to the next level with Salesforce partner relationship management via Introw?

Here are seven best practices to follow. 

1. Simplify Partner Onboarding with Auto-Detected Records

Introw simplifies partner onboarding by seamlessly integrating with Salesforce to auto-detect partner records. 

Upon connecting Salesforce to Introw, the PRM platform automatically syncs partner data from the CRM and kicks off workflows automatically. 

It identifies partners by filtering accounts labeled as 'Partner' or based on your custom configurations. 

This automation eliminates manual data entry, ensuring a swift and accurate setup. 

Once detected, Introw enables you to build no-code onboarding workflows that guide partners through essential steps like profile completion, content access, and deal registration. 

These workflows are tracked and synced with Salesforce, maintaining your CRM as the single source of truth and enhancing the efficiency of your partner onboarding process. 

2. Enable Fast Deal And Lead Registration (No Partner Logins Needed)

Introw enables fast deal and lead registration without requiring partners to log in to Salesforce. 

This streamlined approach accelerates partner engagement and ensures all submissions are tracked within your CRM.

Here's how it works.

Partners submit deals via secure, custom-branded forms created within Introw.

These forms are linked directly to Salesforce and automatically map submitted data — like company, contact, and deal details — to the correct custom objects, such as Opportunities or Leads. 

Furthermore, Introw's native Salesforce integration ensures real-time syncing, eliminating manual data entry and reducing friction for partners. 

3. Collaborate Natively On Salesforce Objects (No Experience Cloud Needed)

Introw lets users collaborate directly on Salesforce objects — like Opportunities, Contacts, or Accounts — without Experience Cloud. 

Through Introw's native Salesforce integration, partners can:

  • Leave comments
  • Upload files
  • Share updates via Introw's interface

Meanwhile, all this activity is automatically synced to the corresponding Salesforce records.

This keeps every note, document, and status update tied to the right object in your CRM, ensuring full context and traceability without requiring partner logins. 

By eliminating the need for Experience Cloud, Introw reduces complexity and cost while enabling seamless, real-time collaboration between internal teams and external partners — all within your existing Salesforce environment.

4. Launch Branded Partner Portals Without Code

With Introw, users can launch fully branded partner portals in Salesforce in minutes — no coding required. 

These portals are dynamically generated and personalized based on partner type, deal stage, or custom Salesforce fields. 

Introw pulls data directly from Salesforce to tailor each partner's experience, displaying relevant content, contacts, and opportunities. 

Businesses can also customize branding, messaging, and segmentation rules to reflect their identity and target different partner segments. 

Unlike traditional Experience Cloud setups, Introw's no-code approach simplifies deployment while offering powerful functionality, empowering teams to quickly deliver a professional, secure, and scalable partner experience directly integrated with their Salesforce data.

5. Automate Commission Tracking And Payouts

Want to save time on commission and payments while also ensuring your partners are accurately rewarded? 

Introw automates commission tracking and payouts by tapping into real-time Salesforce data.

Once connected, Introw monitors key objects like Opportunities or custom revenue fields to determine commission eligibility. 

Users can configure rules to automate when and how payouts are triggered — no manual input required. 

Moreover, partners gain visibility into their commission status through branded, no-login-required portals. 

All activity is synced back to Salesforce.

6. Track Revenue And Engagement From The CRM

Introw enables users to track deals, revenue and partner engagement directly from Salesforce by syncing real-time CRM data into intuitive dashboards. 

Leveraging connected objects like Opportunities, Accounts, and custom fields, Introw surfaces deal flow, partner performance, and key engagement signals — such as submitted deals, shared files, and comments.

These insights are then visualized in real-time dashboards that require no manual updates or separate tools. 

This gives you a vital overview of which partners are most active and where revenue is being influenced, making it easier to optimize partner programs based on accurate, live performance and engagement metrics.

7. Keep RevOps Happy With Two-Way Data Sync

Introw keeps RevOps aligned by enabling two-way data sync with Salesforce, ensuring the CRM remains the single source of truth while powering enhanced partner-facing workflows. 

When partners submit deals, leave comments, or share updates via Introw, all activity is instantly synced to the correct Salesforce objects — like Opportunities or Contacts. 

Furthermore, any updates made in Salesforce are also reflected in partner-facing views, maintaining real-time consistency. 

This eliminates manual data entry, reduces errors, and ensures that every internal or external interaction is captured and tracked centrally. 

RevOps teams gain full visibility and control, while partners enjoy a seamless, user-friendly experience without needing direct CRM access.

Why Introw Is the Ideal Salesforce PRM Integration

Introw is purpose-built to enhance Salesforce with seamless, secure, and scalable partner relationship management — without disrupting your existing CRM workflows.

If Salesforce is already your CRM, choosing Introw for your PRM needs is a no-brainer. 

Here are seven reasons why: partner relationship management on Salesforce

  1. Fully certified Salesforce integration: Introw meets the highest standards for security, functionality, and compatibility, providing a seamless connection with your Salesforce CRM.
  2. Works alongside your current setup — no replacement, just superpowers: Introw enhances your existing Salesforce environment by introducing sophisticated PRM capabilities without requiring a complete system overhaul or replacement.
  3. No-code setup in minutes: Users can quickly implement and customize the intuitive platform in minutes, eliminating the need for technical expertise or lengthy development processes.
  4. All data stays in Salesforce (deals, contacts, properties, custom objects): Introw ensures that all partner-related data remains within your Salesforce environment, preserving data integrity and centralizing all information.
  5. Partners never need a Salesforce login: Introw encourages partner enablement by allowing partners to collaborate and access necessary data without requiring them to log into Salesforce, simplifying the user experience and increasing partner engagement.
  6. ISO27001 and GDPR-ready: Introw complies with ISO27001 and GDPR regulations, ensuring that all partner data is securely managed and your organization meets global data privacy standards.
  7. Real-time partner collaboration on every Salesforce object: Introw facilitates real-time collaboration on every Salesforce object, including Opportunities, Contacts, and custom objects, keeping all interactions up-to-date and integrated for better decision-making.

🚀 Ready to launch your Salesforce Partner Portal in minutes? → Book a Demo

Conclusion

Salesforce is already your customer engine — now it can be your partner engine too.

Don't overbuild with Experience Cloud when Introw gives you instant value: faster launches, better adoption, and cleaner CRM data.

📈 Want to scale partner revenue inside Salesforce? Get a personalized Introw demo

FAQs

Still curious? Here are some quick answers to help clear things up.

Contact us

Can I Manage Partner Relationships In Salesforce?

Absolutely! Salesforce is a popular tool for managing partner relationships — and there are a few options. You can opt for Salesforce's Experience Cloud, which has extensive partner relationship management capabilities. This allows businesses to manage the entire partner lifecycle — from onboarding to collaboration — using tools like lead distribution, deal registration, and customizable partner portals.However, Experience Cloud is expensive, dev-heavy, and slow to implement. And for smaller organizations or partner programs it can be far more than they need. This is where Introw comes in. With Introw — a sophisticated but efficient and agile PRM system — you can scale smarter with less friction. Integrate Introw with Salesforce, and you can seamlessly operate partner management from inside Salesforce, connecting easily with your channel sales partners, tech partners and resellers.This no-code PRM platform allows for rapid deployment and off-portal collaboration, enhancing partner engagement without requiring extensive setup.

What Is Salesforce PRM And How Is It Different From Introw?

The PRM in Salesforce is a powerful solution built on Experience Cloud, offering deep customization and native integration within the Salesforce ecosystem. However, it often requires months of implementation, heavy resourcing, and ongoing dev support — with some deployments taking up to 12 months to go live.Introw, by contrast, is a no-code PRM platform that integrates instantly with Salesforce. It’s designed for rapid deployment — live in minutes, not months — and enables off-portal collaboration via tools like Slack and email. No dev lift. No learning curve. Just clean CRM sync and partner visibility from day one.

Do Partners Need Access To Salesforce?

When it comes to partner relationship management from Salesforce, partners typically access a dedicated portal within the Salesforce Experience Cloud. Introw PRM eliminates the need for partners to log into Salesforce directly by enabling off-portal collaboration through shared channels and automated updates — while still offering a fully customizable, partner-facing portal experience.This helps any partner connect with your business more quickly and easily, boosting engagement.

What's The Cost Difference Between Experience Cloud and Introw?

For a partner relationship management PRM - Salesforce partner relationship management pricing starts at $10 per login per month or $25 per member per month for more storage, more customized objects, and more API calls per day. Meanwhile, Introw is free to use with one partner. This rises to $329 per month for ten third party partners on the basic plan (best for start-ups and SMEs) or $499 for ten partners on the pro plan (best for companies where partnerships are a key revenue driver). 

How does Introw integrate with Salesforce custom objects and properties?

Partner relationship management software Introw provides native, two-way integration with Salesforce, allowing users to link custom objects and properties such as Opportunities, Leads, and Cases. This setup enables automatic syncing of partner activities and revenue attribution, ensuring that Salesforce remains the single source of truth. ​

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Partner Management

Partner Enablement Guide 2025: Best Practices to Empower Your Partners

Adèle Coolens
Marketing & Partnerships
5 min. read
24 Jun 2025
⚡ TL;DR

Partner enablement is essential in 2025. If you provide partners with the proper knowledge, resources, and tools, they'll make more sales and drive more revenue . This guide explains what partner enablement is, why it's important, and how to build an effective partner enablement strategy for your SaaS company.

If you want your partnership program to succeed, you must build a strong partner enablement strategy. Doing so will ensure your channel partners have the knowledge, resources, and support they need to close deals.

But what is partner enablement? How is it different from partner onboarding? And most importantly, how do you build a partner enablement plan that scales?

We'll answer these questions (and many more) in this article to help you build a better partner sales process for your SaaS company. Let's get started!

What Is Partner Enablement?

Partner enablement is the act of enabling partners to sell on your behalf.

It's done by giving channel partners access to product details, marketing materials, and sales training to improve partner performance and ensure revenue growth.

Think about the sales enablement process you put your sales reps through. An effective partner enablement strategy is similar, but designed for external partners (like resellers, distributors, and affiliates) instead of internal teams.

It's important to note, partner enablement is different from partner onboarding

Partner enablement is an ongoing process. You must continually train and support your channel partners for them to be effective. Partner onboarding is a one-time event that introduces new partners to your company so they can start selling.

One more thing: There are different types of partner enablement.

There's product enablement, which teaches partners about the products and services you sell. There's marketing enablement, which teaches partners the best ways to promote your products and services. And there's sales enablement, which teaches partners specific sales techniques to close deals.

Successful partner enablement strategies include elements of all enablement types.

Why Partner Enablement Is Critical in 2025

Now that we know what partner enablement is, let's talk about why it's essential.

There are many reasons to invest in a channel partner enablement strategy. The most important ones are brand identity, customer satisfaction, and revenue growth.

  • Brand Identity: Your partners are brand ambassadors. If you don't enable them to market and sell your products effectively, they might misrepresent your brand. This could have a negative impact on your company's reputation.
  • Customer Satisfaction: Your partners interact with customers on your behalf. Effective partner training and sales resources - the things a strong partner enablement plan provides - will help your partners deliver better customer support that increases customer satisfaction and retention.
  • Revenue Growth: Your partners will sell more products and services when they're properly trained and supported. They'll retain existing customers for longer periods of time as well. These two things will lead to more revenue and success for your company - both now and in the future.

A large partner network isn't enough. You need to provide said partners with ongoing support if you want them to close deals and drive revenue. Fortunately, a proper channel partner program will enable partners to succeed.

Core Elements of a Scalable Partner Enablement Strategy

What does an effective, scalable partner enablement strategy look like? Let's dive into four core elements so you can build more successful partnerships in 2025:

1. Onboarding That Activates (Not Overwhelms)

As we alluded to, onboarding is a partner enablement best practice. 

The key is to welcome resellers, distributors, and affiliates into your partner ecosystem in a way that inspires them to take action - not overwhelms them. Progressive learning paths, tailored to specific partner types and available in your partner portal, let partners get up to speed at their own pace.

With Introw, building these onboarding flows is simple and requires zero code. And with our soon-to-launch LMS, you can go a step further by embedding short quizzes and enabling partner certification right in the portal. 

For many programs, certification is the final step - partners must complete it before they’re fully enabled and able to sell your solution. It’s a win-win: you know your partners are truly prepared, and they gain the confidence to succeed from day one.

2. Centralized, Always-On Content Access

Your partners should have 24/7 access to channel partner sales enablement content. This will help them learn about products or study sales techniques in their own time. 

If possible, co-brand all sales enablement content. Or better yet, work with each partner to create unique materials they can use to close deals.

When partners have exactly what they need to make sales, and customers trust said partners like they would your internal sales team, they'll generate more revenue.

We also suggest syncing content into partner workflows. That way your partners always have access to proper sales collateral. This is often the difference between a sale and a missed opportunity. Support your partners and they'll support you!

With Introw, your partners can always get the content they need via email or Slack. Off-portal access makes it incredibly easy to facilitate deals in real time. And with the Introw AI Agent, partners can interact with enablement materials and ask questions about your product or sales process - getting instant, AI-powered answers 24/7, right when they need them.

3. Real-Time Collaboration

The best partner enablement strategies account for co-selling workflows.

If you're unfamiliar with the term, co-selling is when two companies work together to position, promote, and sell complimentary solutions to the same target market.

Co-selling can be incredibly effective for SaaS companies - if it's done right. To make it work for your brand, design mutual action plans (MAPs) that outline responsibilities. Then give partners access to deal threads to track potential sales.

Also, asynchronous workflows are critical. Partners should be able to communicate with each other conveniently. This will reduce friction and increase sales.

Introw facilitates co-selling in multiple ways.

First, the platform lets you build structured co-sell motions and track them by CRM stage, partner type, and target account segment. Then, channel partners are easily onboarded and given off-portal access to the platform.

Once a partner is working on a deal, they can easily register it using simple forms in the partner portal. The deal is created automatically in your CRM and attributed to the right partner, so nothing slips through the cracks. From there, you can co-sell in real-time, collaborating on deals and moving faster together.

Finally, Introw provides you and your partners with shared dashboards to track partner enablement metrics like win rate, sales velocity, and total revenue.

4. Embedded Performance Insights

Last but not least, commit to tracking partner performance.

Which partners generate the most leads? Which close the most deals? Which drive the most revenue? Create scorecards for every partner and grade them regularly.

Why is this important? Because you can't improve what you don't measure.

When you know what your partners excel at, you can put them in positions to succeed. When you know what they struggle with, you can suggest training materials or sales techniques to increase success.

You're probably wondering, "Which metrics should I track?" We have a few ideas:

  • Activation Rate: The percentage of partners who reach a specific milestone in your partner onboarding process. Ideally, this number will be close to 100%.
  • Time-to-First-Deal: The time it takes a new partner to close their first deal. 
  • Content Engagement: The percentage of partners who use your sales collateral in the sales process. (Can also refer to the percentage of customers that consume sales content throughout the sales process.)
  • Partner-Sourced Revenue: The amount of revenue your partners generate for your company. Try to measure this on a partner-to-partner basis.

These metrics should be easily accessible in your partner relationship management (PRM) tool. And, if you use an app like Introw, automatically synced with your CRM.

Step-by-Step Framework to Launch a Partner Enablement Program

It doesn't matter if  your title is "partner sales manager," "partner development manager," or something else. You can use this simple, step-by-step partner enablement framework for your SaaS company. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Define Your Partner Personas

Start by categorizing your partner types. Said types might include resellers, referral partners, managed service providers (MSPs), and tech alliances - or all of the above.

Every partner type has different needs, goals, and enablement touch points. By separating them, you'll be able to customize your onboarding flows, content, and metrics. The result? More prepared partners who drive more revenue.

For example, Introw users often build partner-type-specific experiences to boost sales. When this happens, their partners tend to close more deals in less time.

With other tools, this would be almost impossible. Our users would have to hire a team of developers to make it happen. Thanks to Intro's no-code flow builder, partner managers can quickly build individualized flows for every partner type.

Step 2: Align Enablement Goals With Revenue KPIs

If you judge partner success by "activity" you'll be disappointed in the outcome.

Your partner enablement strategy should map to specific pipeline, activation, and revenue goals. Think: time-to-first-deal, partner-sourced pipeline, or deal velocity.

  • Time-to-First-Deal: The time it takes a new partner to close their first deal
  • Partner-Sourced Pipeline: Leads and sales a partner generates for your brand
  • Deal Velocity: The speed at which a partner negotiates and finalizes a sale

Introw integrates seamlessly with Salesforce and HubSpot. As a result, the mutual action plans (MAPs) you create inside Introw, as well as the deal tracking tools you use to monitor partner performance, appear directly inside your CRM account. No manual data entry is needed, which saves time and reduces errors.

Step 3: Build an Always-On Enablement Hub

Next, create a centralized resource hub that partners can access at any time.

Your resource hub should include product details and training, sales playbooks and guides, deal registration links, and anything else your partners need to make sales.

This is important: Allow partners to view, download, and use resources without a login. The best partner enablement strategies meet partners where they work. Forcing them to remember another password creates unnecessary friction.

This is easy to do with Introw. Our platform standardizes off-portal access, which means users can speak, teach, and otherwise engage with their partners via email or Slack. These conversations are then synced to their CRM for future reference.

Step 4: Operationalize Key Workflows

Now you need to create and implement partner-oriented workflows.

What does this look like? It depends on your unique business and the objectives you want to achieve with your partner program. But here are a few ideas:

  • Automate lead and deal registration
  • Automatically send MAPs for timely review
  • Setup notifications to streamline co-selling activities
  • Receive notifications when partners contact your team

These things will help you and your partners stay aligned on goals. And because so much of it will be automated, the potential for human error is almost zero.

Take Introw, for example. Once you're set up with our platform, deal registrations, MAP approvals, and partner communication will happen natively inside your CRM, not in a disconnected portal. This will streamline your workflows and boost sales.

Step 5: Track Partner Engagement and Optimize

Remember, enablement doesn’t stop after onboarding.

Measure content engagement, response times, deal progression, and follow-up activity. Then use these insights to improve your materials and workflows.

Also, we suggest asking for partner feedback to learn what works and what doesn't. You can then use their advice to optimize processes and ensure mutual growth.

Introw simplifies performance tracking via built-in engagement metrics, Slack nudges, and CRM-linked reporting. In other words, Introw gives you the data you need, inside the platforms you already use. This makes it much easier to optimize partner enablement strategies and processes in real time.

Avoid These Partner Enablement Mistakes

We won't lie to you, implementing strong partner enablement tactics takes time and effort. But you can streamline the process by avoiding common mistakes.

  • Portal-Only Access: Partners should be able to access enablement content in multiple ways. Restricting them to a password-protected portal is not wise.
  • Generic Content: While you can't create custom content for every partner, you can tailor content to specific partner types. This is a realistic way to ensure partners have the knowledge and resources to close deals. 
  • Misalignment: Your partner enablement strategy should align with your SaaS company's overarching pipeline and revenue goals. Track metrics that support your objectives. Popular examples include time-to-first deal, partner-sourced revenue, and deal velocity.
  • No CRM Visibility: The data inside your partner portal, from simple conversations to deal registrations, should be visible in your CRM. That's why you should use a partner enablement tool with seamless integration options.

Final Thoughts: Partner Enablement Is a Revenue Lever, Not a “Nice to Have”

Partner enablement is essential in 2025 - and will continue to be for years to come.

If you support your partners via proper onboarding processes, relevant content, real-time collaboration, and consistent tracking, they'll drive more revenue.

Introw simplifies partner enablement. With our platform, you can build fresh experiences for every partner type, integrate with Salesforce or HubSpot to align on goals, create off-portal content hubs, and track essential metrics.

Sign up for a demo to see how Introw can improve your partner enablement efforts.

Partner Management

Partner Onboarding Checklist: Everything You Need to Get It Right

Géraldine Vander Stichele
Growth
5 min. read
18 Jun 2025
⚡ TL;DR

Partner onboarding is extremely important. Unfortunately, most SaaS companies fail to onboard partners effectively, which leads to poor relationships and subpar revenue numbers. The good news is, a channel partner onboarding checklist is all you need to improve your onboarding programs. In this article, we outline 10 steps to build a successful checklist for your SaaS brand.

Are you disappointed in your SaaS company's partner program?

You’re not alone. Most companies have confusing onboarding flows, scattered resources, and no clear path to a partner’s first deal. The result? Partners feel lost, engagement drops, and it takes far too long to see any real revenue from your partner program.

Good news: you can fix these problems with a channel partner onboarding process.

Keep reading to learn why B2B partner onboarding matters, how to onboard new partners successfully, and tools to dramatically improve partner performance.

Why B2B Partner Onboarding Matters More Than Ever

First impressions define relationships.

If a partner thinks your SaaS company is unorganized or unsupportive at the beginning of your partnership, they'll keep thinking it until the partnership ends.

An effective onboarding process will improve the partner journey from day one. How so? By ensuring each partner has the training, tools, and support they need.

Put simply, a strong onboarding process will increase partner engagement, boost deal velocity, and reduce churn—all of which will lead to higher revenue numbers.

A 10-Step Channel Partner Onboarding Checklist for 2025

How do you build a partner onboarding program that works?

While we can't make guarantees, the 10-step partner onboarding template below will give the best chance to succeed in this area. Let's dive in…

Step 1: Define Partner Types and Journeys

Every partner is different. This is especially true in regard to partner types.

Referral partners are not the same as reseller partners, who are not the same as tech partners. Each has different goals, and thus, needs different onboarding workflows.

Before you do anything else, understand the partner types your SaaS company works with. Then map out an effective, repeatable journey for each.

Tools like Introw make this easy. Our platform has a no-code flow builder that will help you quickly customize onboarding workflows based on partner types. Just as important, Introw includes automation features to streamline engagement.

Step 2: Share Clear Role Expectations & GTM Alignment

What do you want your partners to actually do?

Should they generate leads for your company's sales team? Should they work with your sales reps to walk prospects through the entire sales process? Should they sell independently via affiliate links? There are plenty of options.

Once you define partner roles, set timelines and key milestones. This will help you monitor partner progress and evaluate partner performance in an objective way.

Note: you don't have to set roles, timelines, and milestones for individual partners in your partner program. Instead, aim to define these things for each partner type.

Step 3: Provide Fast, Flexible Training Access

The best partner onboarding programs include effective training materials.

This begs the question, "What does effective partner training look like?" Simple: effective partner training is bite-sized, asynchronous, and easily trackable. 

  • Bite-Sized: Your partners don't have time for manuals or lengthy videos. Your training materials need to deliver quality information fast.
  • Asynchronous: Your partners have busy schedules. Asking them to attend training at specific times is unrealistic. Your training materials should be asynchronous so partners can consume content when they have time.
  • Trackable: Your partners are easily distracted. Your training materials should be trackable. That way you always know where they are in the training process and can keep them on track. This will ensure mutual success.

You might be wondering, "How do I deliver all these training materials?" There are multiple ways, but tools like Introw allow you to store and deliver content at scale. You can also invest in a full-fledged learning management system (LMS) if needed.

One more thing: Avoid gated content at all costs. Your partners aren't leads. Asking them for contact details in exchange for content will only lead to frustration.

Step 4: Set Up Deal Registration and Lead Sharing

Your partners are trained and ready to make sales. Now what?

Now you need to set up deal registration and lead sharing processes. If you don't, your partners won't be able to fill your pipeline with prospects or generate sales.

Every partner that goes through your SaaS company's onboarding process should know exactly how to submit leads, register deals, and receive feedback quickly.

With Introw, users can connect deal registration procedures directly with their Salesforce or HubSpot accounts, which will then provide them with real-time alerts. Introw is also equipped with AI to handle conflict resolution quickly and effectively.

Step 5: Assign Internal Partner Owners

Quick suggestion: take partner relationship management seriously.

How does this apply to the partner onboarding process? Ensure partners have clear points of contact within your SaaS company. Someone they can easily reach out to for advice, product information, and the occasional bit of encouragement

This will lead to better outcomes. Your partners will get the data they need to close deals. And your company will benefit from the revenue said partners generate.

Step 6: Establish Communication Channels

How will you communicate with your partners?

You could handle all partner questions via email. Or create a dedicated Slack channel to share updates. Or invest in some kind of company intranet tool.

As long as your chosen channel is easy for partners and channel managers to use - and allows for asynchronous communication—you should be good to go.

Introw was built with effective communication in mind. Our platform integrates with Slack and replies are auto-synced with Salesforce or HubSpot - no login required.

Step 7: Share Enablement Content

Make sure every partner has access to enablement content within their dedicated partner portal. We're talking about product docs, pitch decks, and case studies.

These materials will help your partners educate customers, make sales, and drive revenue for your SaaS company. As such, they're essential to partner performance.

In an ideal world, your enablement content will be tailored to specific use cases, regions, and/or products. This will make it easier for partners to use the right materials at the right times. The result? Greater business growth. Win!

Step 8: Introduce Mutual Action Plans (MAPs)

We asked you to consider goals and timelines in "Step 2" of this partner onboarding checklist. Now it's time to pursue those goals via mutual action plans.

A mutual action plan, sometimes referred to as a MAP, is a document that describes how you and your partners will achieve specific objectives in a systematic way.

Work with partners to determine goals, steps to accomplish them, and expected timelines. That way you're all on the same page and can pursue objectives together.

Introw users can access MAPS directly inside their Salesforce or HubSpot accounts, which ensures visibility for all parties and promotes strong collaboration.

Step 9: Track Activation & Engagement Metrics

You have to track metrics to build an effective partner onboarding program. The question is, which metrics should you track. Here are the most important ones:

  • Content Engagement: Has the partner completed the necessary training courses? Have they viewed your enablement content? Top performing partners know these things lead to more sales and success.
  • Deal Registration: How many deals has the partner registered? At the end of the day, partner success is determined by revenue generated. The more each partner drives, the better—for them and your SaaS company.
  • Co-Selling Behavior: Are your partners open to co-selling opportunities? Co-selling is a proven way to close deals at a consistent clip. The best partners take advantage to hit their sales targets on a regular basis.

Also worth mentioning, logins do NOT equal success.

You want partners to consume training programs, engage with your enablement content, and register new deals. Simply logging in to your partner portal doesn't drive revenue. As such, the metric doesn't signal a successful partner.

Step 10: Schedule Checkins and Optimize

Finally, schedule ongoing meetings with every partner.

These regular checkins will give you the chance to evaluate partner pipeline, assess partner progress toward goals, and educate partners to ensure future success.

We suggest 30, 60, and 90 day checkins with new partners. That way you can address questions, offer advice, and otherwise make sure your partners have a solid foundation. After 90 days, schedule quarterly business reviews (QBRs) instead.

You should consider incentive programs as well. This will encourage partners to work harder, which will only help to improve your partner program.

The Tech Stack You Need to Automate and Scale Partner Onboarding

As you might expect, the right tech stack can make all the difference when building a strong partner onboarding process. But which platform should you choose for your SaaS company? Look for a tech stack that offers:

  • A CRM-Native Setup: Make sure your tech stack connects seamlessly to your CRM. That way you don't have to manually transfer data between systems.
  • Off-Portal Collaboration: Make sure your platform allows you to interact with partners outside of the portal. This will reduce frustration for partners.
  • No-Code Workflows: Make sure your tool is no-code. That way your team can build new partner workflows in a flash, even if they can't write code.
  • Partner Engagement Tracking: Make sure your tech stack allows you to track partner engagement metrics. This will help you evaluate and optimize performance.
  • Modular Partner Flows: Make sure your platform lets you easily customize partner workflows. That way you can tailor each one to a different partner type.

Introw was purpose-built for partner onboarding in 2025.

Our platform integrates perfectly with Salesforce and HubSpot, allows for off-portal collaboration, and includes important partner engagement metrics.

It's also no-code, so you can design custom workflows for every partner type. And you can do it in minutes, even if you've never coded before.

Sign up for a free demo today to see if Introw is right for your SaaS company.

Final Thoughts: Your Onboarding Checklist = Your Partner’s Launchpad

An effective channel partner onboarding process is essential in 2025.

Without one, your partners won't have the information and support they need to generate leads and close deals. This is why so many partner programs fail.

After reading this article, you know exactly how to build an effective partner onboarding process. Just as important, you know what to look for in a partner onboarding tool. Combined, this knowledge will help you grow profits via partners.

Partner Management

9 Powerful Kiflo Alternatives for Scaling SaaS Partner Programs in 2025

Adèle Coolens
Marketing & Partnerships
5 min. read
11 Jun 2025
⚡ TL;DR

Kiflo PRM isn't right for every SaaS company. In fact, many choose alternative platforms that include CRM-native integrations, better forecasting and reporting capabilities, and improved user experience features. But which alternative should you choose? Each of the nine PRMs in this article will help you to build better partner programs in 2025.

Kiflo is a popular partner relationship management (PRM) tool. But if you're reading this article, you've probably realized it's not the best option for every SaaS team.

This is especially true for scaling startups with growing partner programs.

Sure, Kiflo is easy to use, has valuable features, and is reasonably priced. But it does NOT include important RevOps features or allow users to create off-portal user experiences. It's not CRM-native either. These limitations make it a subpar option for scaling SaaS businesses.

Not to fear! In this article, we analyze nine Kiflo alternatives to help you choose the right PRM for your SaaS and grow partnership revenue ASAP. Let's dive in…

Why SaaS Teams Look for a Kiflo Alternative

Interested in a Kiflo alternative?

It's probably because Kiflo doesn't offer CRM-native integrations, has limited forecasting and reporting capabilities, and/or lacks important user experience features.

Let's explore each of these limitations in greater detail:

No Native Native CRM Integrations

Kiflo doesn't integrate directly with CRM platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot.

To make these connections happen, users have to invest in a tool like Zapier. But this solution falls short, as it often causes duplicated work and fragmented data, while preventing deal sync. 

Not to mention, it costs more money to implement and creates an extra level of complexity. As such, scaling SaaS brands should choose a PRM with native CRM integrations.

No Customizable Partner Portal

Kiflo doesn’t let you fully customize the partner portal experience. As your program grows, you’ll need to tailor onboarding, branding, and workflows to fit different partner types and tiers. 

With Kiflo’s one-size-fits-all approach, you can’t create a unique experience for your resellers, referral partners, or MSPs — which means less engagement and more friction for your partners.

No Off-Portal Collaboration

Kiflo requires partners to log in to the portal for every interaction - whether it’s registering a deal, accessing resources, or providing updates. 

There’s no support for frictionless, off-portal collaboration (like replying via email or Slack with automatic sync to your CRM). This creates extra steps, slows down partner engagement, and can result in missed updates or delayed deals. 

9 Best Kiflo Alternatives in 2025

Kiflo helped you build a new partner program.

Now that said program is up and running, you want to enhance productivity, facilitate seamless collaboration, and drive more sales. You know you need a new PRM to achieve these things.

Which PRM should you choose? One of the nine Kiflo alternatives below will fit the bill:

1. Introw — Best CRM-Native PRM for SaaS Teams

Introw is one of the few PRMs that was built with CRM integration in mind.

It connects seamlessly to Salesforce and HubSpot and allows SaaS companies to collaborate off-portal. Just as important, the platform is no-code, so integrations and other features can be set up in minutes.

In addition, Introw helps simplify partner onboarding and deal flows, automates engagement tracking for hundreds of partners at once, and powers co-selling - all directly inside your CRM.

Key Features:

  • CRM-first, so all data stays inside your CRM
  • Real-time deal registration, forecasting, and MAPs
  • Slack and email sync for timely notifications and reminders
  • Modular workflows for referral, co-sell, and reseller partners
  • No-code setup, so anyone can customize their PRM software

Request a demo to see if Introw is right for your SaaS brand!

2. PartnerStack — Best PRM for Growing Affiliate Sales

PartnerStack connects users to affiliates, resellers, and referral partners through a user-friendly interface. This simplifies the management process and leads to more sales.

The tool also includes advanced features and automation capabilities that can be used to improve marketing efforts and better recruit new partners.

Unfortunately, PartnerStack has limited CRM visibility, which creates friction for users.

Key Features:

  • Recruit new partners
  • Train partners effectively
  • Track every partner sourced lead
  • Issue partner commissions automatically

3. Partnero — Best for Influencer-Focused Growth Strategies

Partnero was specifically designed to help companies create affiliate and referral programs.

It enables users to track links and coupon codes, offer goal-based rewards, and use sophisticated commission structures. It also integrates seamlessly with popular tools.

It should be noted, however, Partnero was not designed for co-sell SaaS motions. If that's an important aspect of your company's sales approach, consider a different Kiflo alternative.

Key Features:

  • Create affiliate, loyalty, and email newsletter referral programs
  • Offer a variety of dynamic rewards and keep partners engaged
  • Track partner performance and make data-driven decisions
  • Integrate with popular tools like PayPal and WooCommerce

4. Channelscaler — Best for Large Enterprises

Channelscaler is the combination of two leading PRM tools: Allbound and Channel Mechanics. Together, the two tools create a capable solution for large companies.

Use Channelscaler to create partner portals, host content libraries, train new partners, offer a variety of incentives, close and track sales, integrate with other apps, and more.

As you can see, Channelscaler has a lot to offer, but you'll pay to use it. The platform is more expensive than other solutions. Sadly, you'll also have to deal with a rigid user experience.

Key Features:

  • Build and manage a content library
  • Develop learning tracks and certifications
  • Manage market development funds (MDF)
  • Easily distribute leads and register new deals
  • Access detailed channel insights and reports

5. Tolt — Best for New Affiliate Programs

Tolt is all about affiliate marketing for SaaS companies.

After registration, customers can use Tolt to create branded portals for their affiliates, analyze important metrics related to their affiliate programs, and streamline affiliate payments.

While Tolt is a strong option for new affiliate programs, it lacks advanced PRM features. For example, Tolt doesn't offer deal registration tools. Its forecasting features are also weak.

Key Features:

  • Easy setup
  • Quick affiliate onboarding
  • Intuitive interface and reporting tools
  • Integrations with multiple payment apps

6. Impartner — Best for Global Organizations

Impartner is an extremely robust platform for global enterprises.

Does that sound like your company? Then you'll likely enjoy Impartner's many features, from personalized partner onboarding to advanced performance tracking and incentive management.

Just know that these features are often difficult to implement. If you're looking for an intuitive, user-friendly solution to manage your partner program, look elsewhere.

Key Features:

  • Personalized partner onboarding
  • Partner training and certification
  • Advanced performance tracking
  • Incentives and rewards management
  • Integrations with other top tools

7. Impact.com — Best for Influencer-Focused Growth Strategies

Impact.com was made to accelerate growth via affiliates, social media influencers, media publishers, and pretty much every other partner type. (Though, it really shines with influencers.)

Use the platform to recruit partners, encourage engagement, track performance, automate payouts, and optimize results. In other words, manage partnerships through the entire lifecycle.

Impact.com is a strong PRM software, but it wasn't built specifically for SaaS brands. Software companies that want to drive results via partnerships might want a more tailor-made tool.

Key Features:

  • Discover and recruit potential partners
  • Track partner engagement and performance
  • Create contracts and pay partners automatically
  • Optimize partner programs based on in-depth analytics

8. Rewardful — Best for Small, Bootstrapped Teams

Rewardful offers "All-in-One Affiliate Management Software for SaaS".

Once users are set up with the platform, they can build custom affiliate portals, set different commission structures for different partners, track and settle payments, and more.

While not as fully featured as other PRMs, Rewardful is easy to use and affordable, which makes it a solid option for small, bootstrapped teams in the SaaS space.

Key Features:

  • Build a user-friendly portal for affiliates
  • Track performance via links or coupon codes
  • Set up mass affiliate payouts through PayPal or Wise
  • Build no-code integrations with Stripe, Paddle, and more

9. Partnerize — Best for Enterprise Direct to Consumer Sales

Finally, Partnerize connects brands with retailers, influencers, affiliate marketers, and more. The goal? To build complete partner programs that increase sales and drive revenue.

Partnerize gives users the ability to find potential partners, collaborate with them on sales, track their performance with real-time analytics, and send commission payments at scale.

Partnerize can be used by any SaaS company with the means to pay for it. But it's best suited to large organizations that focus on ecommerce and/or direct to consumer sales strategies.

Key Features:

  • Tap into Partnerize's database of 1M+ potential partners
  • Analyze metrics to see which partner strategies work best
  • Build custom commission structures based on desired outcomes
  • Issue prompt payments to partners in their preferred currencies
  • Integrate with top commerce, content, and influencer solutions

How to Choose the Right Kiflo Alternative

We know what you're thinking, "All of the PRMs above sound great! How do I choose the best Kiflo alternative for my company?" We're glad you asked. Here are three suggestions:

Prioritize CRM Compatibility

A PRM will not replace your CRM. The tools should work together to boost revenue for your company. Look for Kiflo alternatives that prioritize CRM compatibility and connect to the CRM you already use. This will help you avoid information silos and make more sales.

Focus on Channel Revenue, Not Just Signups

Partner signups are great - but only if they produce revenue. Choose a Kiflo alternative that will support your company's specific partner journey, from onboarding to closed deals. Doing so will help you create better partner experiences that lead to more sales, revenue, and success.

Evaluate UX for Partners

Speaking of partner experiences, the best Kiflo alternatives support off-portal collaboration, so partners can close deals without logging in to a PRM. They also offer real-time visibility, so partners always know how many sales they've made and how much money they'll earn within a given time period. These things may sound simple, but they keep partners engaged. And engaged partners drive more revenue. As such, they're essential to a strong partner program.

Introw: The Best Partner Relationship Management Tool for SaaS Companies in 2025

There are plenty of good PRMs on the market. But Introw leads the pack because it's CRM-native, built for RevOps alignment, and helps users to create better partner experiences.

Put simply, Introw integrates directly with powerful CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce, which means partners can use CRM data to increase sales. Just as important, the sales partners make via Introw portals are automatically logged in your CRM - no more manual data entry!

Introw also allows users to work off-portal, supports asynchronous workflows via Slack and/or email, enables modular and scalable partner flows, and includes real-time forecasting.

Plus, Introw offers transparent pricing that almost every scaling SaaS company can afford. Request a demo of Introw today to see if it's right for your company's partnership program.