Q:chi planning & spend control, approvals, reports & integrations.

Still Managing Channel Incentives in Spreadsheets? There's a Better Way

Many tech companies are still running millions of dollars in channel incentive programs, like Market Development Funds (MDF) and Rebates, using spreadsheets. What should be a powerful tool for driving growth and partner engagement instead becomes a slow, error-prone process managed across disconnected systems.

Managing channel investments in spreadsheets may get the job done, but it's not strategic. It's reactive, time-consuming, and often limits both performance and scalability.

Why Channel Incentive Management Is Broken

Channel programs are critical for supporting partner growth, increasing product adoption, and maximizing revenue. But when these programs are run manually or tacked on as secondary features inside PRMs or CRM platforms like Salesforce, they rarely deliver the return on investment they're capable of.

Here's what we see across the industry:

Channel teams spend time chasing down approvals and manually reconciling budgets.

ROI is often a guess, not a data-driven insight.

Budgets are left unused because the process is too cumbersome.

Tools lack purpose-built functionality, forcing teams to rely on workarounds.

The result? Poor visibility, underutilized funds, and missed growth opportunities.

A Purpose-Built Platform for MDF and Rebates

At Q:chi, we built Q:chi ) Affiniti to address these exact challenges. Affiniti is a dedicated platform for managing MDF and rebate programs, designed from the ground up for intuitive use, seamless workflows, and measurable outcomes.

Unlike generic PRMs or CRM add-ons, Affiniti gives channel teams and partners a tailored experience that makes strategic program management possible at scale.

With Q:chi ) Affiniti, companies can:

Replace manual spreadsheets with automated, auditable workflows that speed up the entire process from request to approval.

Track budget allocation and usage in real time, maximizing each dollar invested.

Access clear performance and ROI data across all partners and activities, enabling smarter decisions and stronger results.

Unlock the Full Potential of Channel Investment

Channel incentives should drive revenue, not administrative workload. With the right platform in place, channel teams can operate with greater speed, insight, and impact—while making it easier for partners to participate and perform.

If your current process is built around spreadsheets and guesswork, it's time to rethink how your channel incentive programs are managed.

Q:chi ) Affiniti gives you the clarity, control, and confidence to grow faster through your channel.