LOC Global - Transportation Solutions

Get an Impartial Measure of Supply Chain Effectiveness

The LOC Validation Program™ has been set up to verify complementary solutions and drive them into the marketplace by confirming their technical, marketing, and sales readiness. Technical readiness is assured through validation testing and the completion of a technical research briefs. Marketing and sales readiness is promoted through joint publication of a data sheet explaining the solution’s business value. As LOC Global continues to grow it actively showcases its validated partners and their complementary solutions through a host of promotional programs targeted at existing and prospective customers and consultants.

Successful completion of the LOC Validation Program™ is mandatory for logistics, technology and content partners. Logistics, technology and content partners who fail to meet this requirement within the stated time frames will be ineligible for renewal the following year. The following table summarizes logistics, technology and content partner requirements for LOC Validation Program™ participation:

LOC Validation Program™ Requirements
Join LOC Partner Program				Only members of the LOC Partner Program in good standing can participate in the LOC Validation Program™. The program is intended primarily for logistics, technology and content partners. Other partners who have developed complementary products and services are also welcome and encouraged to participate. Consulting partners can submit any packaged and repeatable solution for validation.

Complete Development				Before validation testing can begin, the partner needs to complete solution development, including any software development, product documentation, and comprehensive quality assurance testing. LOC Partner Managers are available on a billable consulting basis to assist with any stage of solution design or development. However, these development activities completely precede, and are considered to be separate from the LOC Validation Program™. The LOC Validation Program™ does include, as part of the annual fees for logistics, technology and content partners, a full day design review session (usually conducted before detailed development begins) whereby LOC Partner Managers will review partners’ proposed solution development.

Provide Solution Components				In the case of technology and content partners, the partner needs to provide to LOC Global all of its own product collateral, including its product and the software and any necessary third-party hardware and software for validation testing.

Complete Registration Form				To initiate the validation process, the partner submits a registration form (available upon request).

LOC Validation Program™ Criteria (Sample)
Complementary Capability				The partner and LOC Global's products and services satisfy all LOC validation testing requirements and the solution works as specified without compromising capability available from either company operating separately.

Easy Startup				Correct and complete startup instructions are available that enable customers to startup the LOC Global and partner solution without hassle.

Adequate Documentation				Sufficient documentation on the solution needs to be available to ensure the success and satisfaction of startup consultants, managers, and end users.

Uncompromised Data				The solution must not compromise data integrity. For example, if both LOC Global and partner products and services share data that both can modify, then data modifications by either company must not circumvent the other’s data integrity rules. Also, the solution should not cause duplicate copies of data to exist in both partner and LOC databases unless it can be assured that data modifications propagate to all copies within required time limits.

Uncompromised Security				The solution should not compromise security or access control restrictions enforced by either company.

The LOC Validation Program™...and What It’ll do for Your Organization

The Benefit

The Results of LOC Validation Program™

Certificate

The LOC Validation Certificate represents public recognition that LOC Global has technically reviewed the solution and found it to pass scrutiny. The certificate enables the partner to give assurances to customers and sales prospects that its solution has passed LOC Validation Program™ testing.

Logo

A validated partner has the right to use the LOC Validation Program™ official logo with the validated version of the partner’s product or service. Upon successful completion of the LOC Validation Program™, this LOC Global sanctioned logo can be prominently displayed on all partner literature, on the partner’s Web site, at trade shows, and at other promotional opportunities.

Data Sheet / Technical Solution Brief

Successful completion of the LOC Validation Program™ involves the creation of the following key pieces of marketing and sales literature:

Data Sheet—describes the business value and architecture of the solution at a high level.
Technical Solution Brief—gives a more thorough explanation of the solution architecture, its startup requirements, and availability.

Validation Lab Report

A key benefit for the partner after successful completion of the LOC Validation Program™ is the confidential Validation Lab Report provided by LOC Global. This document identifies issues encountered during validation testing, and may include enhancement recommendations. The Validation Lab Report can be provided to LOC Global and partner product marketing and engineering organizations for appropriate actions. LOC Global and the partner’s technical teams hold this report strictly confidential.

Press Releases

Upon successfully completing the LOC Validation Program™, partners may issue a press release announcing the validated status of their solution.

Web Site Highlights

Validated partners receive special recognition on the LOC Global Web site. The Data Sheet and Technical Solution Brief are posted to the LOC Extranet for easy access by the LOC Global sales organization, customers, and other LOC partners.

Promotion to Consulting Partners

LOC Global's strategic and premier consulting partners play an instrumental role in the sale of LOC products. Communicating the business value of these complementary solutions offered by LOC-validated partners to top-tier LOC consulting partners increases awareness and sales opportunities for validated partners. LOC Global proactively pursues meetings with strategic and premier consulting partners to promote the benefits of LOC-validated partners.

Promotion to LOC Global Sales Force

LOC Global's sales force avidly seeks validated complementary solutions that they can recommend to customers when the appropriate opportunity arises. Confidence in the quality of complement is important for the sales team, since their compensation and ability to close business are tied to customer satisfaction. All the validated partners’ data sheets are made available to the entire LOC sales force. Additionally, sales force awareness is attained through coverage of the integrated offerings in LOC Global internal sales training.

Validation Benefits

The LOC Validation Program™ enables LOC Logistics, Technology and Content Partners to leverage LOC Global's credibility as an impartial measure of supply chain products and services in order to:

Achieve competitive advantage
Shorten the sales cycle
Increase revenue
Improve customer satisfaction

Policies

Pricing Policy. The LOC Validation Program™ fee is paid by all LOC Partners and is included in the yearly program fees. This covers LOC Validation Program™ administrative and management costs, and consulting costs of LOC Global technical managers and technical writers to review solution designs, conduct validation testing, and finalize both the data sheet and technical solution brief. Travel or other necessary incidental expenses are charged at cost.
Testing Lab Policy. At LOC Global's discretion, validation testing may be conducted at a LOC Global facility, at an independent testing lab, at a customer site, or at the partner’s facility.
Press Release Policy. Base level partners will only be permitted to do a press release regarding their formation of an alliance with LOC Global when their validation is complete. Strategic partners also are entitled to issue a joint customer success press release involving a validated solution. Before it is published on the wire, consistent with all partner press releases that mention LOC Global, the press release must be reviewed and approved by LOC Global. To initiate the review and approval process within LOC Global, partners submit their initial draft of the press release to their LOC Partner Manager.
Showcase Policy. From time to time, LOC Global showcases the progress and achievements LOC Global and its partners have made through the program to further ensure 100% Customer Satisfaction. Any qualified partner who has completed the LOC Validation Program™ may receive special mention in any announcements LOC Global elects to make regarding such validation.