Software platform vendors are bidding for independent software vendor (ISV) loyalty with new features and benefits in their partner programs. In recent months, SAP has aggressively revamped and expanded its offering, Microsoft has begun to shepherd partners toward subscription-based software business models, and IBM has constructed a full stack of capabilities for software-as-a-service (SaaS) invention or transition. ISVs considering new and added partner plans should examine programs and match their strategies to the platform vendors' offers and find the fit that will offer the most leverage.