Verto and i3Works have announced a strategic partnership. The partnership sees the programme and portfolio management vendor combine forces with the management consultancy to help public sector organisations. Unusually, both organisations made the announcement simultaneously, indicating that both companies see this as a strategic relationship.
The intent is to provide a complete offering between the two firms. The Verto platform allows organisations to streamline and manage complex programmes. i3Works will provide the consulting expertise that will help organisations drive meaningful change and ensure the adoption of best practices alongside the right frameworks to take advantage of the Verto platform.
Simon Sharp, CEO of Verto, said, “This partnership with i3Works represents a significant step forward in ensuring that public sector organisations not only have the right technology but also the expertise needed to make meaningful and sustainable changes that last.
“By working together, we can offer a complete wraparound solution that supports organisations at every stage of their transformation journey.”
Damian Gunn, Chief Revenue Officer of i3Works, commented, “We are thrilled to partner with Verto, who hold the same culture and values as ourselves. This collaboration allows us to combine our strengths and deliver unparalleled value to our clients. Together, we can drive innovation and provide comprehensive solutions that meet the evolving needs of public sector organisations.
Is this more than a channel partnership announcement?
Enterprise Times had the opportunity to ask Sharp that very question. Sharp answered, “This partnership is a true collaboration, benefiting both companies equally. Verto can now do more than just identify inefficiencies in client processes, we can connect them with i3Works to drive meaningful change.
“Similarly, i3Works can recommend Verto as the go-to tool for clients standardising their programme delivery. Together, we offer a seamless blend of technology and consultancy to support organisations more effectively.”
Both companies appear willing to refer clients to one another. The two firms’ target market is well aligned, with both firms focused on the public sector. i3Works will also need to update its webpages, as it lists Primavera P6, MS Project, ARM, Keto, Unifier, and more when working with clients around project controls, but not yet Verto.
Despite that, Sharp replied when asked whether i3Works aims to cross-sell Verto to existing customers. “Yes, where applicable. They will continue to identify those customers who lack strong software to support their programme and portfolio delivery and recommend Verto as the solution.”
A Greenfield start?
Perhaps surprisingly, there are no joint customers in the relationship, which makes its success easier to judge. From a standing start, it will be interesting to see how many joint customers there are by the end of 2025.
How will Sharp judge success by the end of the year? He replied, “Success by the end of 2025 will mean a seamless, mutual referral process between Verto and i3Works, with more clients benefiting from our combined expertise.
“Since the partnership began, i3Works has introduced us to four major accounts, and we’ve already connected a Verto customer to i3’s consultancy, leading to further opportunities within their organisation. Even in these early stages, the value is clear, and we will work to deepen our collaboration for joint success.”
Therefore, the i3Works team has no experience implementing the Verto platform. Sharp indicated that Verto would continue to provide the implementation service, commenting, “Verto’s Customer Success team will continue to lead deployments of Verto, ensuring expert implementation. Likewise, i3Works will continue to lead consultancy and other services beyond Verto’s scope.”
Enterprise Times: What does this mean
It is early days for what looks like a positive partnership for both organisations. What is interesting is the dividing line between services. With Verto expecting to continue delivering implementation services alongside the change management expertise of i3Works. It is a combination that should work well for both firms.
The early introductions are a positive move and demonstrate that despite relationships with other PPM vendors, Verto offers something special for public sector organisations.
The big question is whether other consulting firms will want in on this action. There is no mention that this is an exclusive relationship. If Verto and i3Works prove successful, other larger consultancies will take note and want to work with Verto. Is this a relationship that will continue to grow and allow both companies to grow equally?
