Monday Morning Impact – October 30

Cisco Unveils Predictive Services Powered by AI

Cisco Systems has rolled out a new portfolio of services that leverages artificial intelligence to anticipate IT failures, mitigate risk, and reduce maintenance costs.

Marketed as Business Critical Services and High-value Services, the offerings are expected to enable organizations to invest more of their IT budgets on innovation as opposed to the more basic blocking and tackling commonly associated with IT departments.

“Today’s world is moving faster than ever, and to be successful, businesses must have the right blend of IT talent and services,” said Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins. “By leveraging AI and machine learning to address critical IT issues, Cisco’s new services offerings will truly help our customers free up time to focus on the growing IT talent gap, and remain competitive into the future.”

Leveraging internal talent, Cisco’s Business Critical Services portfolio extends from basic optimization to include enhanced analytics, automation, compliance and security. These features are expected to help minimize human error and help extract the most value from products and solutions while creating a secure IT environment. The next result, according to the San Jose-based vendor, will be reduced complexity and costs, combined with enhanced business agility and transformation.

Meanwhile, Cisco’s High-value Services are designed to help organizations better utilize advanced software, solutions, and the network. This portfolio includes product support services, but also adds offerings that use analytics, onboarding, expertise, and scale to deliver more proactive and prescriptive services.

Channel Impact^®
This initiative may have beneficial effects in managing the widely known technical skills gap through the use of expertise, intelligence and automation. The vendor also intends to engage channel partners in the sale of these services.

Masergy UCaaS Solution to Join GE Healthcare Partner Program

Masergy, a Dallas-based provider of hybrid networking, managed security and cloud communications solutions, announced that its Global Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) has been selected to join GE Healthcare’s Centricity Partner Program.

Membership in the program confirms that the Masergy solution has been verified to work alongside the Centricity software suite. First launched in May of last year, the program recognizes interactive Centricity software and services partners, and tests their offerings with GE Healthcare solutions. The program is created with input from GE Healthcare partners to help reduce implementation time for customers as solutions are tested together and common problems are resolved earlier.

“Patient care is driven by communications, and a healthcare’s communications system and contact center is vital to this role,” said Bob Morton, Masergy’s VP of Strategic Accounts. “Masergy’s UCaaS will help Centricity software users improve operations and patient care by providing flexible communications across all locations as well as a seamless experience for mobile and personal devices–unifying all communications into one transparent system.”

Masergy’s UCaaS is often used by healthcare organizations seeking to increase efficiencies and reduce costs associated with traditional PBX systems.

Channel Impact^®
The alliance looks to enable increased capabilities while building greater sales opportunities for both companies.

Epson Launches New Partner Program

Epson America has rolled out its new partner program to support the company’s digital imaging solutions.

The Epson Advantage Partner Program has three tiers of silver, gold and platinum levels, with the participation level determined by various criteria, including product focus, expertise, level of sales, and support offerings.

Product categories include point-of-service solutions, commercial level printers/printing supplies, industrial-level printers and supplies, image solutions, and various other product categories delivered through national solution providers.

“Epson America has always been a channel-centric company, prioritizing the relationships we create with partners across the business markets we service,” said Tom Versfelt, VP, Channel and Commercial Sales, Epson America. “The Epson Advantage Partner Program builds on the personal and individual approach we’ve taken with partners, and expands into a comprehensive, streamlined program that provides a range of benefits and opportunities for financial growth.”

Channel marketing programs, and training/support also figure heavily into the strategy.

Channel Impact^®
The program is designed to be flexible enough to offer channel partners customizable solutions based on a customer’s individual needs.