Cisco is planning to add 3,000 solution providers to its partner program over the next few years to get ready to deal with the boom for small and mid-size businesses in need of IT consulting services.  Currently, Cisco has 3,000 global solution providers in its SMB Select channel program for partners dealing with small businesses.  This plan to double its ranks over the next two-to-three years was announced by Keith Goodwin, senior vice president of worldwide channels at the company during the Cisco C-Scape Global Forum 2006 conference.

Goodwin says the plan comes as a reaction to the need to build capacity to take full advantage of the SMB opportunities that are expected to continue to increase in coming years.  Cisco wants to build solution provider capacity in relationship to the number of partners and the amount of revenue each partner brings in during specific periods.

The recruiting will focus on Cisco partners that work with distributors, and will involve an enhanced specialized training program for specific solution providers along with greater incentives and a building of systems and processes.

The SMB Select program was developed in the U.S. in 2004 for solution providers working with small businesses with less than 500 users.  Cisco will add new tools to make sure solution providers can continue to grow with SMB accounts.

In conjunction with this solution providers program, Cisco intends to work on its consumer/small business-focused Linksys division by building investments in 2007.  Linksys will help add to the new programs for solution providers and also is itself looking for executives to fill two new positions – a worldwide channel lead and a worldwide service provider lead.

Linksys is also planning to add more certifications and specializations with its technology starting in approximately three months.  It will also create a much more defined program for solution providers and customers to help them migrate from Linksys platforms to Cisco products as the two segments work to build congruency between their partner programs.  

Linksys, like Cisco intends to recruit solution providers into its own channel, especially those that are capable of dealing with very sophisticated technologies.

Blogged By:  Computer Consulting 101