Cisco web resource a hit with partners

Portal gets half a million log-ins since March 2000

Cisco's Partner E-Learning Connection (PEC) portal has received half a million log-ins since its launch in March 2000.

The portal, which can be accessed by any Cisco authorised channel partner, provides technical and sales support via a website. The offering has been praised by the firm's partners, according to Paul Salmon, Cisco's technology operations director for Europe, Middle East & Africa.

"We have had very good feedback. About 70 per cent of partners have said that it helped to increase sales," he said. "We believe that the internet has become valuable in levelling the playing field, because any partner can access the PEC portal via the internet and receive Cisco training."

The company carried out a survey among users and is taking advantage of the feedback to improve the scheme. "We will use some of the information to test and adjust what we are offering. We will expand as necessary when new technology is released," said Salmon.

Mark Darvill, professional services manager at reseller Logical, said that web-based support from Cisco was good.

"Cisco is advanced with its e-support and this enables us to measure their performance. We also use the firm's web-based training, which is a good method of getting some of the basic training quickly," he explained.