Even before the dust settled from Appian World—the ultimate destination to learn about the latest in artificial intelligence, process automation, and digital transformation—Appian held its annual Partner Product Council (PPC) meeting to gather feedback on its latest offerings, while seeking input for future enhancements.
An invaluable platform for collaboration, feedback, and innovation, Appian's PPC stands out as a prime example of how engaging with partners can drive product excellence and customer satisfaction.
What is the Partner Product Council?
Appian recognizes the importance of fostering strong relationships with its partners to deliver exceptional value to customers. The PPC is a structured initiative through which Appian collaborates closely with select partners to gather feedback, share insights, and align on product strategy and direction.
According to Rachel Rater, Senior Manager, Product Management at Appian, the PPC represents a continuous endeavor aimed at cultivating collaboration between Appian and our partner ecosystem. “Gathering feedback from partners helps validate the product roadmap and ensures alignment with market needs and trends,” explained Rater.
Appian conducted the 6th annual PPC meeting immediately following Appian World, on Thurs., Apr. 18th at Appian headquarters in McLean, VA. Twenty technical leads from 12 partner organizations attended the event, which kicked off with a briefing by Chief Product Architect, Matt Hilliard, followed by breakout sessions on five product topics, and concluded with PPC members voting on their top enhancement requests via an Appian Portals application designed by Appian Engineering.
Utilizing our own platform to develop an app specifically tailored for gathering feedback from the Partner Product Council offers Appian a multitude of advantages. Firstly, it showcases the robustness and flexibility of our low-code automation platform in real-world applications, reaffirming its capabilities to partners and stakeholders.
By leveraging our own technology, we not only demonstrate confidence in our product, but also gain firsthand experience in its usage, allowing us to identify areas for improvement and optimization. Moreover, building such an app enables seamless integration with existing Appian workflows and systems, streamlining the feedback collection process and facilitating efficient analysis and action on the received insights. In fact, Appian runs on Appian and ultimately, this approach reinforces our commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and the continuous improvement of both our platform and partnership ecosystem.
The Power of Partner Product Councils
PPCs serve as invaluable platforms for collaboration, offering a range of benefits for both Appian and our partners. Following are some of the benefits we get from the feedback our partners provide:
1. Enhanced Product Quality: PPC meetings provide a forum for partners to share their firsthand experiences and insights into using Appian's platform. This feedback loop enables Appian to identify areas for improvement, address pain points, and enhance the overall quality of our product offerings.
2. Accelerated Innovation: By involving partners in the product development process, Appian gains access to diverse perspectives and innovative ideas. Partners often bring unique use cases and market insights to the table, sparking creativity and driving innovation within Appian's platform roadmap.
3. Strategic Alignment: Collaborating with partners through the Product Council ensures alignment between Appian's product strategy and the evolving needs of our customers and the market. This alignment is crucial for prioritizing feature development, optimizing resource allocation, and ultimately delivering solutions that resonate with end-users.
4. Customer-Centricity: Partners serve as trusted advisors who are deeply connected to their customers' business challenges and objectives. By actively involving partners in the product development process, Appian demonstrates its commitment to customer-centricity, ensuring that its solutions effectively address real-world needs and deliver tangible value.
5. Strengthened Relationships: Engaging with partners through the Product Council fosters strong, collaborative relationships built on mutual trust and respect. Partners appreciate being heard and valued as strategic stakeholders in Appian's ecosystem, leading to greater loyalty, advocacy, and long-term partnership success.
Partner Perspectives: Insights from Appian's Partner Product Council
Appian's PPC exemplifies the power of collaboration and innovation in driving product excellence and customer success. By actively engaging with partners, Appian not only enhances the quality and innovation of its platform but also strengthens relationships, fosters strategic alignment, and ultimately delivers greater value to customers.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, initiatives like the PPC will remain integral to Appian's commitment to innovation and customer-centricity.
"The Partner Product Council is more than a one-day event—it's an investment in the long-term success of Appian, its customers, and its partners,” concluded Ms. Rater.
Find out more about Appian’s partner ecosystem by vising our site.
