re:Invent 2020 Recap: Partner Keynote Announcements

In case you missed it, here are the major announcements and newest competencies from the re:Invent 2020 Partner Keynote on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2020:

  1. AWS Saas Boost supports accelerated modernization efforts by removing the heavy lifting of taking existing applications into the cloud. SaaS Boost is available open-source as a ready-to-use reference environment that enables Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to accelerate the move to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). For businesses of all sizes, AWS SaaS Boost helps ISVs migrate applications to AWS with minimal changes at a more rapid rate.
  2. AWS ISV Partner Path: Beginning in January 2021, any AWS Partner with a software solution that runs on or is integrated with Amazon Web Services (AWS) can join the new AWS ISV Partner Path that helps customers identify AWS-reviewed solutions. It aims to accelerate the engagementISVs have with AWS and shifts focus from partner-level badging to solution-level badging to meet customer needs.
  3. Managed Entitlements are now available in AWS Marketplace. This simple and automated license tracking helps make governance, compliance, and distribution of software license entitlement management easier. This lets buyers monitor their software license entitlements, providing visibility that helps ensure accurate license usage tracking. ISVs can use AWS License Manager to create and manage user licenses for products used on AWS and on-premises. This is effective immediately for over 7,000 products currently listed in AWS Marketplace.
  4. Private Marketplace APIs: AWS Marketplace now enables buyers to manage their Private Marketplace using a set of publicly accessible APIs. The Marketplace helps customers navigate these products and ISVs in their journey to transform, modernize, and govern by curating a catalog of approved third-party software solutions available.
  5. The AWS Service Catalog App Registry serves as the central repository to define and associate resources to better manage applications. Maintain a single source of truth with the integration of AppRegistry into application development processes to create application definitions and resource collections. Builders can define AWS CloudFormation stacks, metadata that describes partner-built AWS applications, descriptions, and attribute group associations. This helps ensure critical information like organizational ownership, data sensitivity, and cost center are up to date for IT leaders and business stakeholders. It also makes the procurement process simpler and more seamless for customers and ISVs.
  6. Professional Services in AWS Marketplace makes is easier to find and buy services to configure, deploy, and manage third-party software. Itallows partners to reach customers in new ways since they can now publish services in the same place as software, simplifying the contract process for buyers and sellers. For sellers, this new feature gives sellers an opportunity to reach new prospective customers by listing professional service offerings as individual products or bundle with existing software products in AWS Marketplace using pricing, payment schedule, and service terms independent from the software. For buyers, gaining access to professional services gives more choice to multiple trusted sellers and a much easier way to manage payment of both software and services provided.
  7. Newest Competencies Announced:
    • Mainframe Migration Competency: This recognizes AWS Partners with proven technology, customer success, mature practices, and a track record in migrating both mainframe applications, workload migrations, and data to AWS.
    • Public Safety & Disaster Recovery (expanded to include Technology Partners): This competency signifies specialized and dedicated AWS Technology Partners that help customers improve preparation, response, and recovery from emergencies and disasters.
    • Energy: This highly specialized designation will showcase AWS Partners who have completed a thorough technical validation with AWS and demonstrated continued success in supporting unique energy needs.
    • Travel & Hospitality: Partners with this competency help customers accelerate their digital transformation efforts across marketing and sales, customer experience, core operations, finance, human resources, and IT departments for travel and hospitality organizations build a resilient business and accelerate innovation.