Document databases over the last several years have emerged as the dominant form of so-called NoSQL databases. Of course, document databases are “NoSQL” because they are not based on a relational database engine. They typically can support a variant of SQL along with other programming tools and languages.
The relative simplicity of setting up a document database has made these platforms especially popular with developers, many of which routinely prefer to do an end run around a database administrator (DBA) whenever possible.
Couchbase is one of the leading providers of an open source document database. They have been battling for a share of document database business against both direct competitors such as MongoDB as well as providers of relational databases that are starting to incorporate support for JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) data formats that are the foundational element of a document database.
To help the company compete more aggressively against those rivals Couchbase has created its first formal channel program. The two-tier program sets up Registered, and Advanced tiers that gain increased access to training, marketing, and sales support depending on their level of commitment, says Matt McDonough, vice president of business development for Couchbase.
Today Couchbase has over 150 partners that account for about 15 percent of its overall revenues, says McDonough.
“The goal is to take that up to over 30 percent,” says McDonough.
Most of the partners that Couchbase engages have some application development expertise. They typically resell support provided by Couchbase as part of delivering that service.
Couchbase customers include Amadeus, AT&T, Carrefour, Cisco, Comcast, Concur, Disney, Dixons Carphone, DreamWorks Animation, eBay, Marriott, Neiman Marcus, Rakuten/Viber, Tesco, Tommy Hilfiger, Verizon, and Wells Fargo.
Document databases, in general, represent an emerging opportunity for the channel. Many of the applications being developed on these platforms are known as systems of engagement that resemble many of the applications that solution providers developed on top of, for example, platforms such as Lotus Notes.
It’s too early to say how big an opportunity for the channel that platforms such as document databases represent as a segment of the overall $40 billion database market. But the one thing that is certain is that a lot more applications that might never have been built in the first place, had developers needed a DBA to set up a database, are now being regularly deployed thanks to the comparative ease at which a document database can be configured and provisioned.
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