At VMware LLC’s first Explore event since the acquisition by Broadcom was finalized last year, the company is reassuring partners that its new path, featuring the Broadcom Advantage Program, will ultimately reward long-term customers.

The post-acquisition transition is about three-quarters complete, according to Tara Fine (pictured, right), vice president of the Americas Partner Organization at VMware.

VMware’s Tara Fine talks with theCUBE about simplifying company offerings.

“One of the benefits we’re seeing internally and externally is really that simplification,” she said. “We’ve gone from 8,000 SKUs to four. I mean, I couldn’t think of anything a partner has asked for more in the last number of years is: Please simplify. Just that simplification in itself has been a huge, huge benefit to our partners. Yes, there [are] some bumps in the road, and we are absolutely transforming our entire business, and so it’s been a tough year. But at the same time, I think that the alternative was it happening over the next three to five years.”

Fine spoke with theCUBE Research’s Rob Strechay (left) at VMware Explore, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed the future of VMware at Broadcom and how the company is bringing value to its partners. (* Disclosure below.)

Transitioning to the Broadcom Advantage Program

Since the acquisition, VMware has moved from a perpetual to subscription-based model for its partner companies. This has caused disruption among the partner base, but Fine believes it will ultimately benefit everyone to push through the transition sooner rather than later.

“It’s really been a rip-the-Band-Aid-off scenario,” she confirmed. “We had tried for a number of years to make that move and Hock [Tan, CEO of Broadcom,] is bold. So, partners are really buying into it and they see the benefit. So, we’re starting to see the traction there. It will take time, and it is quite the adjustment for our partners. But as they’re leaning in and as they’re looking for help and enablement, we’re right there with them. We’re working with them to really help our customers get to the other side.”

VMware has attempted to smooth the change by grandfathering in partner statuses and certifications so that partners are not starting over from scratch. Hock Tan is also invested in giving the service business over to the partners, according to Fine.

“[Customers] spent a lot of time and resources and money investing in VMware, and we don’t take that for granted,” she said. “I want to make sure that they continue to do that, and we’ve got to keep listening and we’ve got to keep collaborating and just making sure we’re in the boat together. Like any relationship, there’s rocky moments, but this is a real opportunity for us to continue to build that trust and sticking it together, because I do think the other side is incredibly exciting.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE Research’s coverage of VMware Explore:

(* Disclosure: VMware by Broadcom sponsored this segment of theCUBE. Neither VMware nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE