Independent Software Vendor (ISV)

A company that develops and sells software independently of hardware vendors, often forming partnerships through app marketplaces or integrations.
Explanation:

An Independent Software Vendor (ISV) is a company that develops, markets, and sells software products that run on one or more hardware platforms or cloud environments—but operates independently of the hardware or infrastructure providers. ISVs frequently form partnerships through app marketplaces, integrations, or co-selling programs with platform vendors to reach shared customers and extend functionality.

Key characteristics of ISVs often include:

  • Platform Independence: They create software that integrates with or runs on third-party platforms (e.g., CRM, ERP, cloud services) but are not owned by the platform provider.
  • Vertical or Functional Focus: ISVs often specialize in industry-specific tools or functional enhancements (e.g., reporting, security, automation) that fill gaps in larger platforms.
  • Partnership-Driven Growth: Many ISVs grow through partnerships, publishing apps on marketplaces, collaborating on integrations, and participating in co-marketing or co-selling efforts.
  • Recurring Revenue Models: Most ISVs operate on SaaS-based pricing, offering subscription plans, trials, or freemium models to attract and retain users.
  • Developer and Integration Expertise: ISVs typically offer APIs, plug-ins, or connectors that allow their tools to embed easily into broader tech stacks.

ISVs play a central role in SaaS and cloud ecosystems like Salesforce, Microsoft, AWS, and HubSpot, providing scalable add-ons and niche functionality. Partnering with ISVs allows platform vendors to serve broader customer needs, increase customer stickiness, and accelerate time to value.

Example:
The PRM team created a new program specifically for ISVs who wanted to integrate their products via API.

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