Cisco equips service provider partners with new managed services offering

The new sales model includes a single commercial agreement with each partner and a self-service platform for service providers to deliver managed services for Webex

Cisco claims it is helping service provider partners address the needs of SMBs with the launch of a new Webex Wholesale Route-to-Market (RTM).

The wholesale partner programme features consumption-based billing with fixed, predictable per-user/per-month package pricing and equips service providers with several invoicing options.

Initial managed services packages for Webex that are available through the Wholesale RTM include Webex Calling, Common Area Calling, Webex Meetings and Webex Suite.

Managed services for Webex are the first offer available through the Cisco wholesale partner programme.

More Cisco devices and other Cisco cloud services for the SMB market will be launched this year.

Jeetu Patel, Cisco EVP and GM of security and collaboration, said: "By tapping into the brand power of respected service providers and combining it with our inclusive Webex technology, rapid innovation, and complete collaboration portfolio, we are creating winning partnerships that address the communication needs of small and medium-sized businesses and help them thrive in a hybrid work world."

The new sales model includes a single commercial agreement with each partner and a self-service platform for service providers to deliver managed services for Webex, as well as the agility, scalability and flexibility to create their own co-branded offers, Cisco says.

The partner onboarding experience includes Cisco experts, paired with online training and a set of migration and marketing toolkits to drive market demand and serve SMB customers.

"This new wholesale solution makes it easy for service providers to leverage their brand with a co-branded offer, build on their market position, and innovate with their own services," Cisco said.

Elka Popova, VP of Connected Work Research, ICT, Frost and Sullivan, said the wholesale model offers SMBs more "complete solutions".

She said: "When service providers more fully own the customer journey, it increases control of the solution design, provisioning, billing, and support.

"This translates into improved customer experiences and greater market velocity. This new wholesale model will do just that for Cisco and its partners.

"This approach also enables providers to offer SMBs a more complete solution by integrating telco services, such as connectivity, security and mobility, with Cisco's Webex cloud collaboration services suite and Cisco devices."