Systems and methods to automatically activate distribution channels provided by business partners

A partner relationship management system comprising:

• a memory having machine readable instructions stored thereon;
• and
• a processor to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising:
• processing a first machine readable evaluation indicator provided by a first host company computer and a second machine readable evaluation indicator provided by a second host company computer to determine whether to activate a distribution channel that is to be provided by a client company on behalf of a host company, the first and second machine readable evaluation indicators being determined based on first information obtained from the client company;
• and
• after the first and second machine readable evaluation indicators both indicate approval of the distribution channel, implementing the distribution channel by:
• establishing, over a communication network, a secure communication interface between the host company and a web application at the client company, the secure communication interface to carry second information describing characteristics, which are updateable in real-time, of host company services to be provided by the host company for distribution by the client company;
• configuring the distribution channel using a profile associated with the client company, the profile to provide the client company with access to real-time pricing data specified by the host company for host company services to be distributed by the client company, the real-time pricing data determined specifically for the client company by an application associated with the host company based on (1) a combination of profile information from the profile and (2) a priority specified for the client company by the host company, the combination of profile information being based on the first information and including service type information, service quota information, pricing discount information, and billing and compensation procedure information associated with the host company services to be distributed by the client company;
• and
• obtaining a screenshot of the web application that is based on at least some of the second information to validate operation of the distribution channel.

A distribution channel activator comprising:

• a memory having machine readable instructions stored thereon;
• and
• a processor to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising;
• sending a trigger to a host company department to initiate processing of first information, obtained from a client company offering to provide a distribution channel for a host company, to determine whether to approve the distribution channel;
• monitoring for receipt of an indicator from the host company department, the indicator to indicate that processing of the first information is complete;
• providing a notification to the client company indicating whether the distribution channel has been approved;
• and
• after the distribution channel has been approved, (1) establishing, over a communication network, a secure communication interface between the host company and a web application implemented by the client company, the secure communication interface to carry second information describing characteristics, which are updateable in real-time, of host company services to be provided by the host company for distribution by the client company, (2) configuring the distribution channel using a profile associated with the client company, the profile to provide the client company with access to real-time pricing data specified by the host company for the host company services to be distributed by the client company, the real-time pricing data determined specifically for the client company by a partner relationship management application associated with the host company based on (a) a combination of profile information from the profile and (b) a priority specified for the client company by the host company, the combination of profile information being based on the first information and including service type information, service quota information, pricing discount information, and billing and compensation procedure information associated with the host company services to be distributed by the client company, and (3) obtaining a screenshot of the web application that is based on at least some of the second information to validate operation of the distribution channel.

A tangible machine readable storage medium device comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

• triggering at least some of a plurality of host company departments to evaluate first information corresponding to a potential distribution channel to be provided by a client company for a host company;
• processing machine readable evaluation indicators provided by the at least some of the plurality of host company departments and representative of respective evaluation decisions associated with the at least some of the plurality of host company departments to determine an overall evaluation result;
• and
• after the overall evaluation result indicates approval of the distribution channel, (1) establishing, over a communication network, a secure communication interface between the host company and a web application implemented by the client company, the secure communication interface to carry second information describing characteristics, which are updateable in real-time, of host company services to be provided by the host company for distribution by the client company, (2) configuring the distribution channel using a profile associated with the client company, the profile to provide the client company with access to real-time pricing data specified by the host company for the host company services to be distributed by the client company, the real-time pricing data determined specifically for the client company by a partner relationship management application based on (a) a combination of profile information from the profile and (b) a priority specified for the client company by the host company, the combination of profile information being based on the first information and including service type information, service quota information, pricing discount information, and billing and compensation procedure information associated with the host company services to be distributed by the client company, and (3) obtaining a screenshot of the web application that is based on at least some of the second information to validate operation of the distribution channel.