Cisco lifts lid on new partner marketing hub

Partner Demand Centre will serve as central hub for reseller marketing activity

Cisco is aiming to help partners market their way out of the downturn with its new marketing organisation

Cisco has created a new organisation tasked with boosting the speed and efficiency of partner marketing activities.

The Cisco Partner Demand Centre will provide assistance to all Cisco partners targeting the small and mid-sized business space, with extra benefits available to members of Avant Garde.

The new hub is backed up by three new physical offices around the world - including one in Bedfont in the UK - and Partner Marketing Central, Cisco's revamped co-marketing engine.

Cisco Partner Demand will give all partners access to M-concierge – a call centre service providing guidance on the resources available to them.

In addition, Avant Garde partners will have access to a Cisco client manager and marketing assistance, while Avant Garde Plus partners are eligible for bespoke campaign execution and support.

Stanimira Koleva, commercial and small-business director for Cisco Europe, said: “We recognise that economic recovery brings opportunities as well as new challenges, particularly for small and midsize businesses in Europe.

“With Avant Garde and the Partner Demand Centre, we have equipped channel partners with the tools they need to accelerate their way through the upturn and it’s time to capitalise on the opportunities we are seeing to assist customers with transforming their business.”

Partners can also use capital accrued through Cisco’s Partner Development Funds programme to fund marketing campaigns through the Partner Demand Centre, Cisco stressed.