Cisco invests in SME channel

Cisco is investing in its SME channel by adding pre-sales technical support and a new hardware advanced-replacement service specifically designed for the smaller customers, says Channel Web.

The networking giant is expanding its portfolio of small business technology with enhanced networking, security and collaboration solutions. It's investing in its partner profitability and financing programmes to help channel partners and their SME customers accelerate business.

Ian Pennell, co-chairman of the Cisco Small Business Council, says: “We're proud of our accomplishments this past year and are extremely focused on continuing to build and deliver the right technologies, services and support, and profitability programmes to help our partners and small business customers accelerate their business as the economy recovers.”

Indian B2B portal IndiaMART.com may be inching ahead to lead the B2B realm, reports The Economic Times.

The new SME portal will address the need for a destination portal providing information, transaction and services to the large SME segment. The portal currently provides trade news, leads, tenders and other relevant information.

"Given the way the SMEs are taking centre stage in India's post-recession economy, we are bullish that the site will become a destination of first choice very soon for India's upwardly mobile SMEs," says Dinesh Agarwal, founder and CEO, IndiaMART.com.

According to SME Survey's principal researcher, Arthur Goldstuck, some 86% of SME owners believe the 2010 Fifa World Cup will be positive for the country, but since sponsorships are far beyond the means of any SME, it does render direct benefit practically impossible, writes Bizcommunity.

SMEs are well aware of this; just 45% believe the event will benefit their business directly.

That's one of the key findings of SME Survey 2009, which set out to gauge expectations of the event among SMEs.

Goldstuck continues, "Visitors to the event are very likely to do more than just attend matches. That allows for some spill-over of benefits.”