I-Fusion and Cisco Systems have committed to bringing I-Fusion to certified Cisco Silver Partner status to deliver enhanced service and support to customers.
Cisco Silver Certified Partners offer a full complement of presales and postsales support services, including standard installation, on-site hardware repair and upgrades, broad troubleshooting expertise, and Cisco product sales, configuration and upgrade support.
Ernie Risi, executive director at I-Fusion, says: "We have an agreement in place to become a Silver Partner. In return for delivering the skills and service required by Cisco for this status, we will enjoy a preferential relationship with Cisco Systems, Inc. including direct pre-sales and post sales support."
Steve Midgley, channel sales manager at Cisco Systems, says: "We`re in process of working toward the Silver Partner status with I-Fusion. It`s not an easy task to accomplish because there are many deliverables that must be met and I-Fusion are already on that road."
Risi explains that the achievement of Silver Partner status is significant to the I-Fusion group as a whole because it will mean competing in a new market space. "I think we stand a better than average chance of success competing in the high end of the market because we have lower overheads than existing companies in that space," he says.
Training of I-Fusion staff to meet the Cisco requirements will be accomplished at both the Cape Town and Johannesburg offices which Risi expects to be completed, and the Silver Partner status achieved, by the last quarter.
Midgley explains that a Silver Partner enjoys a far higher level of relationship with Cisco Systems, Inc."The Partner has a direct support relationship with Cisco Systems, Inc.and is thereby able to offer comprehensive solutions to customers.," says Midgley.
The criteria are stringent to become a certified Silver Partner. "We look for a certain number of Cisco certified engineers, a certain level of pre-sales ability, as well as internal systems such as a call centre and help desk to deliver the support Cisco customers will expect," says Midgley.
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