With growing adoption of ServiceNow, more organizations are investing both in the platform to drive transformation and in partners that extend the value of that investment. Today, the ServiceNow Partner Program includes more than 2,700 partners, some with industry-specific specializations and others with product-focused expertise.
To make it easier for organizations to find the right partner, ServiceNow has designated partnership levels that correspond to varying degrees of support and engagement. Each level provides different benefits and reflects a different tier of expertise.
Choosing the right partner isn’t as simple as selecting a name from a list. You first need to understand the ServiceNow partner program and credentialing system, as well as how to assess and compare different partner profiles. Then, you need to factor in your goals, desired outcomes, and long-term business strategy to find the perfect fit.
Here’s a quick guide for getting started.
Based on partners’ skill sets and experience levels, ServiceNow’s partnership tiers are designed to help customers quickly understand the depth and breadth a partner can bring: across workflows, industries, geographies, and size of business served.
Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect from each ServiceNow partnership level (noting that ServiceNow evaluates partners using criteria commonly framed as capacity, competency, customer success, and capability).
It’s important to know the key differences between the tiers so you can make informed decisions about which type of partner is best suited to your budgets, needs, and goals.
The expertise and specialties of each partner can vary greatly. From Registered Partners that are just starting out to Elite Partners that bring a wealth of experience, each level can bring value, depending on what you’re trying to achieve with your ServiceNow investment.
Here are some of the specific benefits of each level of partnership:
When choosing a ServiceNow partner, consider their level of expertise and competency as well as their specialties within the platform. A partner with a specialized focus in your area of need can bring additional value and insight to your end-to-end roadmap.
For larger, more complex implementations, a few important points still hold true:
In addition, higher-tiered partners often have teams with a wider range of skills and experience. This allows them to provide more comprehensive solutions tailored specifically to your needs. They often offer ongoing, post-implementation services, including operations and enhancements;filling in the ServiceNow resource gaps that many organizations have.
When selecting a ServiceNow partner, it’s important to consider how the partnership will align with your business goals.
Here are some additional elements to consider when comparing ServiceNow partners:
Size and scale of the partner organization: A partner’s size and scale can impact their ability to handle complex projects, provide dedicated support, and manage client relationships — not to mention pricing. Ask for pricing and delivery model details when vetting a partner.
Industry experience: Partners with experience in your industry can bring valuable domain knowledge and patterns, which can lead to a more efficient implementation process. Looking at case studies and hearing from reference clients can help validate this.
Geographical presence: Depending on your organization’s needs, it may be important to consider geographical presence and ability to provide local support. ServiceNow’s partner listings and profiles can help clarify regional coverage.
Technical certifications and expertise: Partners can hold different certifications and specializations that indicate expertise across specific areas of the platform. In today’s environment, it’s also reasonable to ask how a partner approaches AI enablement, including:
Customer reviews and references: Research customer reviews and speak with references to understand reliability and delivery approach. This is especially crucial for large programs where outcomes, expertise and timeline need to be vetted well beyond slideware.
Specific sectors: ServiceNow organizes its ecosystem across multiple partner segments (e.g., Consulting & Implementation, Service Provider, Reseller), and many partners operate across more than one segment. Consider which engagement model best fits your needs before you compare tiers.
Let’s also add a break down of definitions for these 3 (this can be update following initial posting in the interest of time if needed)
When choosing a ServiceNow partner, it’s important to consider not only your immediate needs but also your long‑term strategy. This includes a partner’s ability to support growth and scalability, their investment in ServiceNow, and their commitment to staying current with platform advancements — particularly as ServiceNow continually expands their workflow capabilities, industry-specific solutions and embraces use of AI agents and agentic orchestration across the enterprise.
A successful partnership goes beyond selecting the right provider. To make the most out of the partnership:
When you have the know‑how to navigate the partner program, compare partners, understand the benefits of each tier, and align the partner to your long‑term strategy, you can select a ServiceNow partner that helps you find success — now and as AI capabilities mature.
You're working in a rapidly shifting environment where the only certainty is change.
We get it. And we’re here to help you harness the full potential of ServiceNow to simplify transformation, especially as agentic AI becomes a practical part of how work gets done across the enterprise.
