Cisco Evolves Channel Programs to Accelerate Transformation and Reward Partner Success

DALLAS, TX--(Marketwired - Nov 1, 2017) - Cisco Partner Summit -- Today, at Partner Summit 2017, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) announced it is evolving its channel programs to help partners capture new opportunities, refine software and services skills sets, and differentiate themselves in the market. As part of this evolution, Cisco is making three key changes to its programs: simplification, building capabilities, and increasing the partner value exchange in order to help partners adapt to the fast moving market trends and customer needs while making it easier to work with Cisco.

"The power of Cisco's partner ecosystem is grounded in our close working relationship with our partners. To keep pace with the changing technology landscape, Cisco needs to be in lockstep with our partners if they are to operate effectively," said Marc Surplus, Vice President of Strategy, Planning and Programs, Cisco Global Partner Organization. "The evolution of our partner programs is a reflection of our continued commitment to improving the overall partner experience, strengthening our joint go-to-market initiatives, and ultimately ensuring our partners succeed in owning the digital transformation space."

Cisco's new program updates will fall in three core areas: building and recognizing capabilities, refreshing to digital, and moving to lifecycle and recurring revenue. The changes to the programs are designed to help Cisco and its partners more effectively shift business to software and recurring revenue and reward partners who drive growth and profitability.

Build and Recognize Capabilities: Cisco is dramatically simplifying its Specializations portfolio, transforming what it means for partners to have a Master Specialization, and recognizing partners' industry expertise.

• Simplification of Specializations: Cisco is simplifying its Specialization program portfolio to deliver more value to Cisco's ecosystem of partners. In August 2017, Cisco began the simplification process by reducing the 10 express-level specializations to one Express Specialization with tracks that cover all Cisco architectures. Advanced Specializations are also being reduced from 13 down to five Advanced Architecture Specializations. In an effort to streamline, Cisco is retiring all Advanced Technology Specializations (except Advanced Video) and embedding technical adoption capabilities throughout the remaining Advanced Architecture Specializations, providing a path to differentiation and ensuring the same quality and level of capabilities exist across the Advanced Specializations portfolio.
• New Master Networking Specialization: With Cisco unveiling its intent-based networking solutions in June, networking has never been more imperative. This new specialization will help Cisco partners enhance their networking capabilities to deliver solutions that customers will need in the new era of networking. The Cisco Master Networking Specialization will be available starting in March 2018 and will include new software and services skill development, which other Master Specializations will later look to model.
• Recognizing Industry Expertise: Cisco is ramping up its industry expertise recognition to allow partners to demonstrate their unique knowledge in specific areas starting with retail, healthcare and manufacturing. Finding a partner who already knows the industry challenges, requirements, and can customize solutions to meet those fundamental needs is absolutely critical and this new recognition will allow partners to differentiate themselves. Beginning November 1, 2017, Premier Certified, Gold Certified, and Master Specialized partners who meet specific criteria may begin enrolling. Upon achieving this industry recognition with Cisco, the partner will be identified as such in Cisco Partner Locator making it easier to differentiate themselves for customers and other Cisco partners.