Inductive Automation Integrator Program Guidelines

Last Update: August 04, 2023

Being part of the Inductive Automation (IA) Integrator Program is easy for qualified system integrators. As system integrators progress through higher levels of certification, program benefits increase. In order to advance through the program, each integrator must demonstrate competency and enthusiasm for the product. The intent of these levels is to encourage integrators to seek out the training and experience required to become experts in Inductive Automation software.

IA values our system integrators, and we care about their success and ability to provide customers with a great solution. One of our core values is to empower our integrators to make their job easier and more productive.

We respect that each integration firm has its own business practices and models, and we strive to work with each member of our integrator program fairly. It is our goal to support our entire integrator base; we do this by remaining neutral and not recommending one specific integrator over another, instead opting for end-users to make their own choice. We provide a searchable index of all our integrator program members on our web site called the Integrator Search to aid this process.

The Integrator Search gives end-users the ability to filter search results to find the best integrator for their needs. Once they find the integrator they want, end-users are directed to that integrator's website to contact them directly; this is the process by which we generate leads for Integrator Program members through our website. Each member of the Integrator Program can create a profile highlighting their specific qualifications, such as their Ignition certification level, specializations, experience, and location. Members of our Integrator Program can maximize their incoming leads by filling out their profiles with the vital information that highlights their unique experience and expertise.

Additionally, we want to respect the existing end-user relationships cultivated by the members of our Integrator Program. We do this by registering that customer with their integrator's accounts in our system. To help us keep this information up to date and avoid any conflict of interest, we ask all our Integrator Program members to let their IA account representative know as soon as possible about these existing customer relationships. We will also inform integrators at that point if there is already a current relationship between that customer and another member of our integrator program. We believe that the best way to resolve potential conflicts and leverage our resources to serve our customers is by making this information transparent.

Integrator Program discounts are earned through the work of a participating integrator in selling Ignition to their customer and providing integration services for the Ignition software they sell. To ensure that quotes from participating integrators qualify for the Integrator Program discount, it is important that they link their customers to their accounts as soon as they begin working with them. Here are a few examples of quotes that do not qualify for the Integrator Program discount: quotes in which the integrator is reselling Ignition licenses only, or quotes in which the customer has already bought Ignition from IA and is being referred to an integrator for services, or quotes in which the customer already has a Master Agreement in place.

Level One

Registered Integrator

Qualified integrators¹ who may not have satisfactorily completed the free online Inductive University training course and Core certification status may still receive free technical support.

Level Two

Credentialed Integrator

Qualified integrators¹ who have one or more persons who have satisfactorily completed the free online Inductive University training course and have received their Inductive University credential for the latest software version may receive the Credentialed Integrator discount, free technical support, and may be listed as a Credentialed Integrator on the Inductive Automation website.

Level Three

Certified Integrator

Qualified integrators¹ who have one or more persons who are Core Certified may receive the Certified Integrator discount² and free technical support, and may be listed as a Certified Integrator on the Inductive Automation website.

The Requirements for Certification are as Follows:

Certification requires passing the Ignition Core Certification Test or attending the Ignition Core course and completing the associated labwork. There is no additional fee for certification once enrolled in a course.

Level Four

Gold Level Certified Integrator

Qualified integrators¹ who have one or more persons who are Gold Certified may receive the Gold Integrator discount² and free technical support, and may be listed as a Gold Certified Integrator on the Inductive Automation website.

The Requirements for Gold Level Certification are as Follows:

Certification requires passing the Ignition Gold Certification Test or attending an Advanced Ignition course and completing the associated labwork. There is no additional fee for certification once enrolled in a course. An Ignition Core Certification is a prerequisite.

As new versions of Ignition are released and certifications reach their expiration date, Integrators are required to keep their Ignition knowledge current by attending a shorter update class or taking a test that covers pertinent new material. Gold Certified Integrators are not required to attend separate update classes for Core and Gold Certification levels.

Level Five

Premier Integrator Program

Qualified integrators¹ who have one or more persons who are Gold Certified, who have demonstrated a high level of competency by completing numerous successful implementations and by having very satisfied customers, who are active on the forum, and who are enthusiastic about Inductive Automation software and are actively selling it, may receive the Premier Integrator discount² and free technical support, and may be listed as a Premier Integrator on the Inductive Automation website. Premier Integrators may also qualify for sales engineering support, including: lunch-and-learn opportunities, unique one-on-one program consultation, technical demos, and pilot projects. Premier Integrators may be eligible to participate in co-marketing efforts with Inductive Automation.

Business-Practice Standards Required for Premier Integrators

Inductive Automation Premier Integrator status is a highly esteemed and sought-after level awarded only to integrators demonstrating a high level of commitment, professionalism, and competency using Ignition software. In return, Premier Integrators may be rewarded with marketing opportunities with Inductive Automation. Premier Integrators must be committed to our values and the four pillars our company is built on.

The Premier status is the elite of our Integrators and, as such, they have proven their Partnership with IA through their technical expertise, and their continued successful Ignition projects which include supporting their existing projects along with driving new projects regularly through their own channels.

The Inductive Automation website provides an Integrator Search page to encourage Ignition customers and prospects to select qualified integrators for projects. Integrators are listed in order of their Integrator Program status, with Premier Integrators listed first.

Premier Integrators must actively sell Ignition to end-users and work with Inductive Automation to promote and spread the use of Ignition software. Senior management at Premier Integrator companies must fully endorse and promulgate Ignition software throughout their company and enthusiastically promote it to their end-user base.

Premier Integrators must maintain effective communication with their respective account executives concerning end-users and marketing plans. They must also be willing to help Inductive Automation with case studies for the Integrator’s end-users.

Premier Integrators must consistently produce high-quality work using Ignition and must be able to identify numerous successful projects with very satisfied end-users. This requires in-depth knowledge of the software, earning the credentials in Inductive University, getting certified, and maintaining their certification in the latest version of Ignition.

The Premier Integrator’s priority is creating 100% satisfied end-users. This requires a commitment and follow through on regular follow up with end-users, keeping the end-user up-to-date on new Ignition releases, ensuring that end-users have Upgrade Protection, and working with Inductive Automation as needed to keep end-users’ Ignition implementations running smoothly.

A Premier Integrator upholds the best practices in supporting its customers, which include but are not limited to: keeping their licenses under Upgrade Protection for free upgrades, keeping customers informed of new features, supporting them directly and, when direct support isn’t possible, recommending support with Inductive Automation. This would also include making sure ample engineers are certified to support their Ignition customer base. Premier Integrators also maintain their account in good standing with the Inductive Automation Finance Department.

The guidelines below establish expectations and requirements of those who desire to be classified as Premier Integrators:

Sales

Below are the minimum sales requirements that will qualify a company for Premier approval.

Volume of software sales - Minimum of $100,000 in overall sales, and minimum of $50,000 per year
Quality of projects and satisfied customers
New Ignition projects each year.
Integrator should do due diligence by actively promoting support and upgrade protection for Ignition projects.
Aspiring Premier integrators must have a minimum of 5 end-users using Ignition.

Certification/Quality of work

Below are the minimum requirements that will qualify the company for Premier approval.

Create and share quality public Exchange resources. (1-2 at minimum)
2 or more engineers are experts in Ignition and are also Gold Certified in the current version of Ignition.
1 Example of successful Ignition projects.
- Technical solution story overview with specs, screenshots, etc (Linked Here)
Sales Engineering best practice feedback session(s) and review. (Linked Here)
Proven ability to successfully implement Ignition projects
Track record of happy customers

Community Participation

Below are the various activities/items integrators can participate in that will qualify them for Premier in the “Community Participation” category for approval.

Premier Integrators are expected to be active in the Ignition community and work to co-market and promote Ignition through some of the following activities:

Case Studies - Customer Success Stories
External Case Study - Integrator leads case study creation and delivery.
Guest IA Blog Post
IA Podcast Interview
IA Webinar Panelist
ICC Participation (Attendance, Advisory Board, Community Speaker, Panelist, Discover Gallery, bringing customer to ICC)
Events Speaker - Willingness to speak about Ignition Projects at Industry Events
Co-Sponsor an Ignition Discovery Day
Media Highlight - Willingness to speak with Editors about successes with Ignition projects.
Website - Promotion of the Ignition platform on Integration company website (Integrator Badge, Graphics, etc)
IA Forum Participation

Each Premier Integrator’s past year performance and adherence to the above guidelines will be reviewed annually to determine continued eligibility for Premier Integrator status. Violations of the above may result in revocation of Premier status at any time.

Applicable Products

Inductive Automation certification applies only to Inductive Automation products. Strategic partners, solution partners, and third-party module developers may have their own certification programs and policies.

Certification per Physical Location

Integrators with more than one physical location will be granted certification on a per-location basis determined by the certification level of the persons working at each location. Certified persons may only have their name and certification level associated with one physical location at a time.

Decertification

Any of the conditions listed below may result in the cancellation of an integrator’s status level and/or certification.

Failing to maintain (per physical location) at least one person certified at the same level as the company certification level. Company certification will drop back to the level of the most highly certified person at the location. If no certified persons remain, the company's status will be lowered to “Registered” status.
The misrepresentation of an integrator’s current status level and/or certification may result in the loss of their status or decertification.
Inductive Automation integrators will exhibit professional conduct, courtesy, and decorum toward end-users, other integrators, and Inductive Automation personnel. Violations may result in the decertification of an individual or company and may further result in the loss of their “Registered” status.
Projects that are poorly implemented by an integrator and result in customer dissatisfaction and which result in Inductive Automation’s direct involvement for resolution of the dissatisfaction may result in the cancellation of an individual or company certification and may further result in the loss of either party’s “Registered” status.

Integrator Program members must agree to abide by the Inductive Automation Brand Usage Policy. Violations may result in the decertification of an individual or company and may further result in the loss of either party’s “Registered” status.

Required Business-Practice Standards

Integrator Program members must follow a Code of Conduct that is required of every Inductive Automation Integrator as follows:

Conducting oneself in all circumstances with honesty and diplomacy.
Working effectively to resolve customer issues regarding Ignition and keeping Inductive Automation up to date on the status and eventual resolution of the problem.
Treating Inductive Automation as a valued business partner rather than a competitor in the selling of software. For example, every Integrator is expected to respect a pre-existing business relationship between Inductive Automation and an end-user just as Inductive Automation will respect any previously established relationship between an integrator and an end-user. Notwithstanding the above, occasionally end-users demand a direct relationship with Inductive Automation. In this case, we ask that the Integrator work with both their customer and IA to best serve their customer’s needs and provide the best support for the customer.

Notes

Note 1 - Qualified Integrators: Qualified integrators are defined as companies in the business of control system integration and who are not end-users of the software.

Note 2 - Certified Integrator Discount: Certified Integrator Discount is a greater discount off the full list price. In order to qualify for this discount, you must submit a current copy of your state(s) resale certificate(s), your account must not be delinquent, and you must provide contact information for the end-user associated with the sale.