KSS, a black economic empowerment (BEE) converged network integrator, has recently completed and passed Cisco`s Internet Protocol Communications (IPC) specialisation certification. This provides KSS with the additional skills and competencies needed to ensure an enhanced customer experience and further drive sales.
The certification is the most complex and difficult in Cisco`s portfolio of accreditations and required a substantial investment from KSS in manpower and resources. Despite the mandated pass rate of 82.5% set by Cisco, all KSS staff that partook in the certification exceeded the minimum requirement.
The training was initiated in March 2004 and has taken the organisation over a year to complete. Cisco requires four staff to obtain certification in the areas of sales, project management, system engineering and field engineering. KSS exceeded this minimum requirement and volunteered seven staff to complete the necessary training.
KSS has invested heavily in Cisco certification and has enjoyed Silver Partner status since March 2000. The company also completed the Wireless and Virtual Private Network/Security specialisation in 2001 and 2002, respectively.
Says Andre Maree, managing director at KSS: "The IP Communications specialisation provides us with vendor-backed expertise that allows us to offer resilient, converged network solutions. We believe Cisco is the only vendor than can offer a complete end-to-end converged network solution and guarantee Quality of Service (QoS). Customers are assured that they are investing in a proven and tested solution."
Says Steve Midgley, Operations Director: Middle East and Africa at Cisco: "Cisco`s certification programme provides a consistent benchmark of its selected partners` skill. It empowers KSS to be able to build tailor-made value propositions for customers in line with international best business practices."
The certification also required additional investment in a laboratory infrastructure to build customer solutions, simulate customer problems and offer proofs of concept - an increasingly necessary exercise with many Information Communication Technology (ICT) purchase decisions.
Relocating to large premises in Central Park, Midrand, in October 2004 provided KSS with an opportunity to implement a "greenfields" laboratory installation, which allows for an end-to-end converged network. This included a full Cisco CallManager solution that incorporates IP Video Telephony and a Cisco IP Contact Centre (IPCC). This minimises reticulation and support costs while maximizing flexibility. The Video/IP based surveillance solution using Axis cameras and video recording, creates a safe and secure working environment for physical assets and employees. Functionality was further enhanced using Cisco Wireless Access Points which incorporate wireless access for notebooks, IP cameras, IP phones and PDAs.
Notes Cisco`s Midgley: "As our partners increase their certification and alignment with Cisco solutions, they become increasingly empowered to deliver strategic business value to customers, boosting competitive advantage and efficiency"
"Certification allows our partners to address issues such as: the total cost of ownership (TCO) cycle; the convergence of core business functions onto one network; process alignment; the reduction of the cost and complexity of systems implementation and middleware integration between the network and applications; the virtualisation of server and storage resources; and the provision of customer leadership towards service oriented architectures.
"This assists to create a platform that rapidly delivers applications addressing business and customer needs whilst minimising costs and complexity. It also helps eliminate process or function duplication whilst maximising efficiencies and speed to market."
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