Cisco and Dimension Data Announce New Partnership

Cisco and Dimension Data have announced a new agreement intended to develop a deeper collaboration framework. Drawing on their respective core strengths, competencies, and technologies, the two companies are looking to jointly develop viable, readily deployable solutions.

Technologies of particular interest include 5G, Internet of Things, and Blockchain. Both companies plan to utilize Cisco’s global network of Co-Innovation centers to drive the collaboration initiative.

“This partnership means we’re in a stronger position to research, test and develop new offerings at a speed beyond the traditional market cycle,” said Ettienne Reinecke, CTO at Dimension Data. “By creating a deeper collaboration environment, we will share and leverage our intellectual property, including products and code, allowing us to move faster with a focus on applied innovation to challenge the art of the possible, which will result in some exciting innovations for our clients.”

“Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it requires diverse skill sets and multiple points of view,” added Cisco CTO Dave Ward. Co-innovation as a formal, structured process with our ecosystem is part of our foundation simply because the market demands it. It’s a way to speed the innovation, allowing us to move at the speed of digital and adopt startup methodologies to bring products and solutions into being.”

Cisco and Dimension Data have a collaboration history of more than 28 years, spanning solutions that include the cloud, the data center, and the network edge.

Additionally, the two companies plan to expand their Connected Conservation program to protect and better the planet, endangered animals, and their communities.

Channel Impact^®
This formal collaboration will likely demonstrate how vendors and integrators can work together to innovate beyond traditional products to solve business and operational challenges, allowing both companies to drive more ambitious projects and outcomes.