Magirus launches Cisco training drive
Distributor partners with Vortex 6 to help VARs swot up on Cisco certfications
Bryant: Magirus Cisco-centric training will not be cheapest on the block
Distributor Magirus has teamed up with Cisco training provider Vortex 6 to help its VARs get up to speed on the vendor’s accreditations.
The firm announced three months ago that it had become Cisco’s first distribution appointment in western Europe for seven years, with Magirus tasked with driving sales of its unified computing systems (UCS) server technology.
Since then the firm has set about signing Cisco partners, including ANS Group and MTI Europe last month, and is now throwing its weight behind training up its existing VARs in Cisco’s technology.
The partnership between the distributor and Vortex 6 will be used to deliver the Magirus Accelerate programme, which is focused on providing resellers with data centre-specific accreditations with Cisco.
Partners were given a sneaky peek of the Magirus Accelerate initiative ahead of its launch at the distributor’s Channel Connect 10 conference last week by the Magirus' UK managing director Denise Bryant.
Speaking at the event, Bryant said the firm’s decision to partner up with Vortex 6 was to protect VARs from the problems caused when third-party training providers cancel courses at late notice because they are under-subscribed.
She said: “It is in our best interests to get you certified [partners], and we will not cancel courses because of low numbers.
“It does mean we are not going to be the cheapest course provider on the block, but we are taking away one of the biggest hurdles that stops partners from making a sale," she added.
Sam Routledge, services director at Magirus partner Softcat, said, with many training providers giving resellers just “two-three days' notice” about course cancellations, the initiative would be welcomed by partners.
“The nature of the work the guys attending these courses does means they often forgo billable work in order to free some time up in their diaries,” he said. “So, it is extremely frustrating when their schedules have to change at the last minute.”