SAN JOSE, Calif. -- August 2, 1999 -- Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced a series of programs and alliances to deliver total solutions to midsized companies. A key component of the initiative includes extensions to the Cisco Resource Network program designed to enable midsized organizations to grow their business, extend their productivity, and increase profits via high-value Internet business solutions. The solutions are delivered through an alliance of leading technology providers, independent software and hardware vendors (ISVs/IHVs), resellers, solutions integrators and consultants.
The reseller component of the Cisco Resource Network delivers a unique channel collaboration model designed to enable application, platform and networking value added resellers (VARs) to jointly provide total solutions to midsized businesses.
Midsized businesses, those that employ between 100 and 500 employees, are well aware of the value of the Internet, intranets and extranets, and are becoming aggressive users of networking equipment. According to Access Media International USA, more than 90 percent of midsized companies use the Internet, with one out of four actively selling over the Web. Of those, 21 percent have already deployed a corporate intranet for hosting internal content, with another 31 percent planning to do so in the next 12 months. But as vital as networking has become to midsized businesses, it has often been an afterthought for IT managers when making application purchasing decisions, leading to diminished performance and delays in application deployment.
Also, implementing new applications often requires value-added software, systems and expertise. Assembling such solutions can be a major challenge and a time-consuming task for midsized businesses. To make this task easier and less time consuming, Cisco is helping midsized companies purchase and implement Internet business solutions that will help accelerate growth and profitability. The Cisco Resource Network for midsized businesses combines a series of marketing alliances and programs designed to offer these customers the complete solutions they need. The program spans independent software/hardware vendors and Cisco resellers.
"Company-wide information technology solutions can be complex and multidisciplinary. Often the impact of these solutions on networking infrastructure is not taken into consideration until very late in the planning or deployment stage," said Joe Diodati, director, Medium Markets at Cisco Systems. "Through the Cisco Resource Network for Midsized Businesses, Cisco helps align resources, tools, training and partnerships among software, systems, and networking providers to ensure a carefully planned and executed solution."
ISVs/IHVs
As part of this program, Cisco is partnering with leading ISV/IHV companies in delivering solutions tailored for the midmarket. Midsized businesses can rely on Cisco to assemble all the players necessary to deliver a solution. Through the Cisco Resource Network, customers can gain a thorough understanding of how Internet Business Solutions from Cisco and these partners can strengthen relationships with customers, suppliers and employees. Cisco Resource Network members include respected names in hardware, software, and services such as Hewlett Packard, IBM, J. D. Edwards, Lawson, Oracle, PeopleSoft, QAD and SDRC. In addition, Cisco participates in the programs of other vendors, including the PeopleSoft Select Program and the IBM-QAD Power System Program. For more information on the Cisco Resource Network, visit the Web site at http://www.cisco.com/go/resource.Cisco Resource Network for Resellers
In the new Internet economy, resellers and solutions integrators are looking to expand their solutions portfolio and service offerings to allow them to develop and grow their business models while continuing to provide more value to customers. One way to do this is by partnering with complementary application, server and networking VARs who can collaborate to develop and provide total solutions to customers.The Cisco Resource Network for resellers was created to give resellers a means to identify complementary VARs through the Cisco Resource Network for resellers Web site and give them the opportunity to team with other VARs to successfully deploy Cisco Internet Business Solutions. This program also offers a full range of sales and support tools, training, education resources, marketing demand generation, software and hardware alliance programs, and lead dissemination to qualified Cisco resellers and alliance partners' VARs. Resellers interested in joining the program can visit the Cisco Resource Network for Resellers registration Web site at http://www.cisco.com/go/mediumbiz_register.
Integrating software solutions with the network enables Cisco and its resellers and solutions integrators to provide midsized companies with fully optimized end-to-end solutions. Early participants in the Cisco Resource Network reseller program include solutions integrators such as EDS, Ernst & Young and KPMG, and resellers such as Arqana, Avnet Computer, Forsythe Solutions and N2N Solutions. Companies can now rapidly deploy advanced technology to foster growth and maintain customer intimacy, avoiding lengthy, piecemeal implementations.
"The benefit to Sebastiani of using the Cisco Resource Network was that the focus was wrapped around a business solution," Jeff Perkins, Director of Information Services, Sebastiani Vineyards, Inc. "Our solution deployment was a tremendous success story and is a testimonial to the relationship between EDS, Cisco and the other vendors. The whole experience was exceptionally easy, simple and carefree - making the decision and implementation so easy for me."
Cisco and its partners are taking the lead in helping midsized companies intelligently plan and implement tailored Internet business solutions that support today's business objectives and grow seamlessly to cost-effectively handle tomorrow's expanded company operations. Cisco is committed to continually expanding its Resource Network for midsized businesses to include additional partners that enable midsized companies to effectively compete in the Internet economy.
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is theworldwide leader in networking for the Internet.Cisco, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
