Cisco also investing in awareness programmes and building SMB-specific solutions
Kumaran Singaram, Managing Director of Cisco Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 22, 2008 – Cisco has rapidly expanded its SMB (Small and Medium-sized Business) Select Certification programme for its channel partners, with already 80 resellers being certified to implement Cisco’s SMB-specific networking solutions in Malaysia. This is double the company’s original target of 40 by the end of its current financial year, which ends in July 2008.
This renewed focus on the SMB market is coupled with more targeted awareness programmes and a roll-out of SMB-specific solutions such as the Cisco® Smart Business Communications System (SBCS).
“The SMB market is Cisco’s fastest growing customer segment and they are quickly becoming a key economic pillar for many nations, including Malaysia. By equipping them with productivity-enhancing technologies such as unified communications, they can become even more competitive and contribute even more to national GDP. Cisco is fully committed to helping Malaysia achieve its vision to be a knowledge economy and we see the SMB market as an important component of that masterplan,” said Kumaran Singaram, Managing Director of Cisco Malaysia.
The Cisco SMB Select partner programme is a new component to Cisco’s channel programme and provides resellers with the tools and resources to help SMB customers make the best use of Cisco’s range of networking technologies, primarily solutions such as SBCS. The programme offers various sales, training, technical and demand-generation resources to help expand their managed-services capabilities and expertise in selling, implementing and supporting Cisco’s networking solutions for SMB customers.
Street Smart Campaign
In tandem with the partner programme, Cisco is embarking on a comprehensive awareness campaign to communicate the benefits of networking technologies to the SMB market. Called the Street Smart Campaign, this initiative features an online portal to enable convenient access to specialised resources. The campaign also features an online contest, which ends on 30 May 2008. Participants stand a chance to win a Cisco Small Business Communications Systems (SBCS) Unified Communications 520 for eight users worth RM20,000.
This renewed focus on the SMB market is coupled with more targeted awareness programmes and a roll-out of SMB-specific solutions such as the Cisco® Smart Business Communications System (SBCS).
“The SMB market is Cisco’s fastest growing customer segment and they are quickly becoming a key economic pillar for many nations, including Malaysia. By equipping them with productivity-enhancing technologies such as unified communications, they can become even more competitive and contribute even more to national GDP. Cisco is fully committed to helping Malaysia achieve its vision to be a knowledge economy and we see the SMB market as an important component of that masterplan,” said Kumaran Singaram, Managing Director of Cisco Malaysia.
The Cisco SMB Select partner programme is a new component to Cisco’s channel programme and provides resellers with the tools and resources to help SMB customers make the best use of Cisco’s range of networking technologies, primarily solutions such as SBCS. The programme offers various sales, training, technical and demand-generation resources to help expand their managed-services capabilities and expertise in selling, implementing and supporting Cisco’s networking solutions for SMB customers.
Street Smart Campaign
In tandem with the partner programme, Cisco is embarking on a comprehensive awareness campaign to communicate the benefits of networking technologies to the SMB market. Called the Street Smart Campaign, this initiative features an online portal to enable convenient access to specialised resources. The campaign also features an online contest, which ends on 30 May 2008. Participants stand a chance to win a Cisco Small Business Communications Systems (SBCS) Unified Communications 520 for eight users worth RM20,000.
Tailored for SMBs, the SBCS is a simple, complete and highly secure solution to help them increase business agility and maximise efficiency. It incorporates voice, data, video, security and wireless capabilities, while integrating desktop applications such as calendar, email and customer relationship management applications to enable anytime, anywhere access to information.
The SBCS employs new hardware products, integrated unified communications applications and system-management tools designed to fit the unique needs of SMBs. SMBs can benefit from SBCS and grow their business in much the same way as larger companies. This solution is essential in providing cost-effective and efficient methods for these companies to communicate with their employees, customers and stakeholders.
“Cisco’s success is built on listening to customers and partners hence we are providing not only solutions that improve collaboration and productivity, but also nurturing partnerships. As a worldwide leader in networking, Cisco is committed to working closely with our partners and empowering SMBs with the ability to propel business transformation using the network as a platform. The combined partner, awareness and product approach puts us in a unique position to deliver the total business solutions they require,” added Kumaran.
Market reports indicate that SMBs in Malaysia are expected to spend up to RM14.5 billion (US$4.6 billion) on information and communication technologies (ICT) in 2008. They are likely to adopt technologies that will enable them to be more efficient and mobile, especially utilising Internet connectivity, wireless technologies and higher bandwidth as key priorities. Cisco has observed that these trends are becoming more prominent, especially in the manufacturing, oil and gas, real estate, transportation and hospitality industries, which have been identified as its key growth segments.
For more information on the SMB Select partner programme, Street Smart online contest and SBCS, visit http://www.streetsmartchallenge.com/.
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