Best Distributor Management (DMS) Software

After exploring numerous options this year, I've narrowed down the best distributor management software that has significantly improved my distribution channels' efficiency and collaboration.

Nick Cotter

October 10, 2024

min read

Best Distributor Management Software:

Don't have time? Here’s our shortlist of the 4 best distributor management software we're ranking through our extensive research and use:

Company Name	Best fit for:	Base Price:	Free Trial?	Demo
Kademi	Best Fit For: Global Channel Partner Management	Custom	30 days	Demo
Kiflo	Best Fit For: Multi-Channel Partnership Automation	$399/mo	14 days	Demo
Channeltivity	Best Fit For: Channel Partner Relationship Hub	$1599/mo	No Trial	Demo
‎Impartner PRM	Best Fit For: Enterprise Partner Management	Custom	No Trial	Demo

Compare Distributor Management Software Features:

We've researched the 4 most important software features and compared our shortlist:

Software Feature
Partner Onboarding & Training	✓	✓	✓	✓
Lead Distribution & Deal Registration	✓	✓	✓	✓
Partner Performance Tracking	✓	✓	✓	✓
Marketing Development Funds (MDF) Management	✓	×	✓	✓
Collaborative Planning & Goal Setting	✓	✓	✓	✓

Looking for an affiliate agency? Click here to see our rankings.

Our Reviews of the Best Distributor Management (DMS) Software:

Our analysts assess software with impartiality. Clicks may generate a commission that funds our evaluations. Discover our commitment to transparency and our review approach.

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Kademi

4.5

out of 5

$ Base Price: Custom

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Our opinion on Kademi

Choosing Kademi means you can expect everything you'd want in partner management software from managing partner deals, calculating commissions, and enabling partners with training and resources. Where Kademi stands out though is in driving engagement with partners, something a lot of businesses struggle with.

The team at Kademi put a lot of emphasis on helping customers achieve program objectives. To do this, they have an impressive toolset to automatically onboard and nurture partners towards program goals, from registering deals to hitting sales targets and completing training. They can also incentivize and shape behavior by awarding points for completing training or attending webinars. These points can then be redeemed in reward stores or used in online games, which is a unique and exciting feature most PRMs don’t support.

I loved their drag-and-drop portal builder, which allows you to experiment and build a fully functional and bespoke portal from the ground up without any coding, or you can just use one of their templates. The level of code-free customization you can achieve with Kademi is impressive, not just in the user interface but also in your program workflows. For instance, if you have a very specific deal registration approval workflow, Kademi will most likely be able to support it.

Their tools to track partner performance and handle data and reporting are standout. They offer configurable bi-directional synchronization with Salesforce and HubSpot, and their beautiful reporting tools allow you to set up rich, interactive dashboards in both the admin console and the partner portal targeting different users and use cases. They are also a SOC 2 Type 2 certified company and invest significant time and resources into securing their customers' data.

What type of company would benefit from Kademi the most?

Their breadth of experience supporting manufacturers, distributors, and tech companies, has positioned Kademi as a truly agnostic PRM.

Companies that are in their growth stage, or who have an established partner ecosystem, would benefit the most from Kademi.

What we like:

Highly customizable from your portal user interface to specific program workflows.
Ready to go bi-direction synchronization with Salesforce and Hubspot, and robust features to manage partner data including segmentation and personalization.
Powerful tools to automate and scale a partner program.

What we don't like:

They might be a bit too pricey for startups, but definitely check out their $850 startup package.
If you're only looking to launch a simple affiliate program, you won’t benefit from what Kademi has to offer.
They don’t provide a partner database, but do offer tools to invite and onboard partners.

Unique product features:

Highly customizable user interface and program workflows.
Can automatically calculate and payout multi-currency commission and MDF rebates through third parties.
Have integrated AI across their platform from chat bots to automated reporting.
Have a number of pre-configured program solution templates which get installed in just a few minutes and provide ready-to-go programs.
Incorporate gamification and points into your program to elevate it to the next level.
Impressive reporting tools to track partner deals, performance, but also surface interactive reporting for partners in the portal.
Multilingual portals with automated translation.
Multi-tenanted meaning you can host your data in the US, EU, or APAC.

Free Trial: 30 days

Ideal For: SMEs

Best Fit For: Global Channel Partner Management

Product features we found most useful:

✓

Partner Onboarding & Training

✓

Lead Distribution & Deal Registration

✓

Partner Performance Tracking

✓

Marketing Development Funds (MDF) Management

✓

Collaborative Planning & Goal Setting

Full Kademi software review

Free Trial →

Kiflo

4.4

out of 5

$ Base Price: $399/mo

Sponsored

Free Trial: 14 days

Ideal For: SMBs

Best Fit For: Multi-Channel Partnership Automation

Product features we found most useful:

✓

Partner Onboarding & Training

✓

Lead Distribution & Deal Registration

✓

Partner Performance Tracking

✓

Marketing Development Funds (MDF) Management

✓

Collaborative Planning & Goal Setting

Full Kiflo software review

Free Trial →

Channeltivity

4.5

out of 5

$ Base Price: $1599/mo

Sponsored

Our opinion on Channeltivity

Channeltivity stands out in the partner relationship management (PRM) sector, offering a robust partner portal that excels in engaging partners through a comprehensive resource library, personalized email notifications, and advanced training and certification modules. The platform’s strengths lie in its seamless integrations with Salesforce and HubSpot, open API accessibility for customized integrations, and a commitment to security validated by regular third-party audits and a SOC 2 certification. Additionally, its highly customizable nature caters to businesses with specific needs for features, integrations, and workflows. However, Channeltivity might not be suitable for smaller businesses or those with tight budgets due to its pricing structure aimed at mid-market to enterprise-level companies. The need to purchase additional third-party software for affiliate program management and incur extra costs for certain features like email marketing might be considered drawbacks. Unique features such as deal registration, referral and commission management, lead distribution, and co-branded collateral emphasize Channeltivity's broad utility in managing diverse partnership dynamics.