Cisco invests $100mn to energize global SMB strategy

LISBON, PORTUGAL: Networking major Cisco has announced a $100 million global strategic initiative focused on small business networking and communications solutions for small and medium businesses (SMBs) with less than 100 employees.

Cisco has also created Cisco Small Business Council to oversee its small-business strategy.

Cisco aims to help small businesses gain greater agility and efficiency in working with customers who are increasingly expecting to do business on the move, on the Internet and via video.

A new Cisco Small Business Technology Group (SBTG) will develop technologies focused on six areas consistently highlighted as top priorities by small businesses for enabling business growth: connectivity, security, remote access, productivity, customer interaction and customer support.

The SBTG is part of a companywide initiative composed of sales, marketing, services and technology groups that will focus solely on the small-business segment.

The creation of the Cisco SBTG and Cisco Small Business portfolio are part of a new 360-degree focus on small businesses. The initiative includes a dedicated sales unit, marketing programs, and customized service and support, for which a new worldwide contact center operation is a central pillar.

The Cisco SBTG will develop strategy and facilitate collaboration across Cisco's existing business units to create solutions for businesses with 100 to 250 employees. All new small-business offerings will be named 'Cisco Small Business' or 'Cisco Small Business Pro', with 'Pro' solutions designed for customers with more sophisticated technology needs.

Ian Pennell, senior vice president, Small Business Technology Group, Cisco, said: "Small businesses are the lifeblood of today's economy and in today's environment, it's critical that small-business owners have a technology partner they trust to help them find and deploy the right solutions to grow their businesses. With the widest range of solutions, from value-driven point products to expandable and upgradeable solutions to grow on, Cisco can meet any small business' communications needs."

The first Cisco Small Business products are scheduled to be available in December and will be focused on video surveillance, data storage and wireless office communications.

Cisco values the total addressable market for small-business networking and communications products and services at $16 billion in 2009, with $10 billion of this value derived from companies with fewer than 100 employees.

"The No.1 priority for small-business owners is growing their companies, not becoming technology experts. Small businesses learn about and implement technology in very different ways than do large enterprises. In recognition, Cisco has transformed the way we communicate with small-business customers with a customized SMB-specific Website and marketing campaigns that focus increasingly on business capabilities and benefits of complete solutions rather than on products and technologies," said Rick Moran, vice president, small business solutions marketing, Cisco.

Andrew Sage, vice president, worldwide small business sales, Cisco, adds: "Small businesses have very specific needs in virtually every aspect of how Cisco does business with them. Taking a 'one size fits all' approach that might work in other markets simply won't work with small business. That's why we have more than 9,000 Select Certified sales partners that can help create tailored solutions for small businesses worldwide, making it easy to find the right technology for your unique business needs."