[1]Avnet Technology Solutions [2], a global IT solutions distribution provider and operating group of Avnet, Inc. [1] has announced two new demonstration resources for Cisco value-added reseller partners in Canada – Avnet’s Cisco Data Center Lab and Customer Test Drive Program [3].
The Data Center Lab will allow partners to demonstrate Cisco Unified Computing Systems B-Series and Cisco Unified Computing Systems C-Series servers to their customers in a variety of data center environments. In addition, the Cisco Customer Test Drive Program helps partners pilot these Cisco solutions in their customers’ own data centers.
“Because of the investments we have made in these Cisco demonstration resources, Avnet’s partners can quickly and cost-effectively capture sales and profitably grow their businesses,” said Brian Aebig, vice president and general manager, Avnet Technology Solutions, Canada. “Avnet’s new Cisco Data Center Lab and Customer Test Drive Program are extremely effective in the sales process because partners can let their customers experience first-hand the power of Cisco’s data center solutions. By using these demonstration resources, partners can collaborate with customers as they ‘try out’ the solutions they are interested in and ensure it aligns exactly with their business needs and requirements.”
Located in Avnet’s Toronto-area office, Avnet’s Cisco Data Center Lab is available to partners for customer visits and designed to help them nurture qualified leads. It includes a wide range of Cisco Unified Computing System (Cisco UCS) products and complementary technologies to create complete, tailored demonstrations and proof-of-concept solutions designs. Partners can also use the lab to provide technical hands-on training for their own staff.
With the Cisco Customer Test Drive Program partners can provide customers in the final stages of their decision making process with the opportunity to test the latest Cisco UCS technology in their own data centers. This offering not only shortens the sales cycle for partners, but it can also reduce the deployment time for customers once they make a purchasing decision. Additionally, partners do not have to invest in demo hardware, which helps improve the profitability of their sales efforts.
“With its extensive data center experience, Avnet understands the tools and resources partners need to nurture leads and close deals,” said Mike Ansley, vice president, Partner Organization, Cisco Canada. “We have jointly invested in both the Avnet Cisco Data Center Lab and Customer Test Drive Program to help partners reduce their costs and strengthen their value propositions for end customers. Cisco is confident that once customers see our technology in action, partners will be able to demonstrate the value of Cisco’s solutions throughout the data center.”
“We’ve been working with Avnet since 2007, most recently around Cisco data center solutions, and we see how engaged and committed the Avnet team is in helping us grow this portion of our business,” said Nicholas Laine, manager of Enterprise Architecture for ESI Information Technologies, an Avnet partner. “The ability to demonstrate the Cisco UCS portfolio in action to our customers is a great sales advantage, but it can be a resource-intensive activity. Avnet’s Cisco Data Center Lab and Customer Test Drive Program will provide us with all that we need to create a proof-of-concept set-up and a live environment for our customers without additional investment on our part. This allows ESI to accelerate our business value to customers while building a successful Cisco Data Center 3.0 practice.”
Avnet is a certified Cisco Unified Computing System B-Series Authorized Configurator (UBAC) and Cisco Unified Computing System C-Series Authorized Configurator (UCAC) in Canada and the U.S. Avnet also offers a wide variety of solutions assembly and integration services that allow partners to focus their resources on their core business strategies, while relying on Avnet’s world-class services to complete the sales process.
These integration services include
- application uploading
- custom cabling and racking
- custom image loads
- configuration and testing
- database installation
- hardware integration
- operating system installation
- packaging and logistics
- software configuration
- virtualization partitioning
Additionally, Cisco partners can access a wide variety of marketing and support services from Avnet to help them accelerate their business, ranging from growth planning to training and enablement to demand creation.
Partners looking to gain an even deeper level of data center solutions expertise can also leverage Avnet’s SolutionsPath [4]® methodology and practices. Through SolutionsPath, Avnet provides partners with the education, tools, resources and skills needed around core data center technologies — cloud computing, mobility, networking, security, storage and virtualization. Partners can further develop their capabilities by focusing on solutions sales in high-growth vertical markets through practices focused on the energy, finance, government, healthcare and retail markets.