Google announced that it’s consolidating its partner programs for Apps, Chrome, Cloud Platform, Maps and Search into one big, updated Google for Work and Education Partner Program.

According to the company, this will enable partners to “better sell, service and innovate across the Google for Work and Education suite of products and platforms.”

Murali Sitaram, Director of Global Partnerships & Strategic Alliances for Google for Work explains the reasoning behind the move:

The landscape of cloud technology has changed significantly since we started selling Google Apps in 2006, and our breadth of offerings has changed with it. Today, millions of companies and schools around the world turn to Google’s products to help them launch, build and transform their organizations in the cloud. Our commitment to bringing the best of Google to work has also grown substantially.

Our partners are a fundamental part of our business and this effort. Partners help customers move, live and grow in the cloud by taking full advantage of the Google for Work and Education suite of products. They onboard and train new customers, manage change, create specialized software to integrate with Google Apps and develop unique solutions using Google Maps and Google Cloud Platform.

The new partner program will consist of three basic tracks: the sales track, the services track, and the technology track. The first is for those marketing and selling Google for Work and Education products. The second is for those providing services like selling, consulting, training, implementing and providing technical support for Google for Work and Education products. The last one is for those creating products and solutions that complement, enhance or extend the reach or functionality of Google for Work and Education products.

Of course Google provides partners with a variety of services. You can get a rundown of those here.

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