How partners get onboarded and set up on Human Cloud — from invitation to first action.
There is no separate "partner account type" on Human Cloud. Any user with a standard HC account can become a partner when a buyer organization invites them. The partner role is defined by having one or more active delegations, not by an account setting.
Partners need a standard Human Cloud account. If the partner doesn't have one when they're invited, there are two paths:
Partner already has an account: The invitation is linked to their existing account via their email address. They'll see the invitation the next time they log in.
Partner doesn't have an account: A stub user record is created when the buyer sends the invitation. When the partner clicks the invitation link and signs up, the stub is linked to their new account automatically. No manual setup required.
Once invited by a buyer organization, the partner receives:
The email includes:
Clicking the button takes the partner to Human Cloud where they can accept the invitation. If they're not logged in, they'll be prompted to log in or create an account first.
After accepting, the partner is immediately active. They can:
The Partner Dashboard is the partner's home base. It shows:
A card grid of all buyer organizations the partner has active delegations with. Each card displays:
Any invitations the partner hasn't accepted yet, with Accept and Decline buttons.
When a partner enters a buyer's workspace (by clicking on a buyer card or using the Partner Switcher), they see the same workspace interface that buyers see — shortlists, briefs, saved solutions — but scoped to that buyer's organization and filtered by the partner's permissions.
Key differences from the buyer's own view:
| Feature | Behavior in Partner Mode |
|---|---|
| Shortlists | Partner-created shortlists start as drafts. A "Publish" action makes them visible to the buyer. |
| Briefs | Partners can create and send briefs/RFIs on behalf of the buyer. |
| Notes | Partners can add personal notes (only they see) or shared notes (buyer also sees). |
| Tabs without permission | Tabs for capabilities the partner doesn't have are hidden entirely. |
| "Acting as" banner | A persistent banner at the top confirms which buyer organization the partner is managing. |
Partners can work with multiple buyer organizations simultaneously. Each delegation is independent:
The Partner Switcher dropdown makes it easy to jump between buyer contexts without logging out or switching accounts.
To summarize the distinction: