Retired Specializations

Cisco Introduces New Specialization to Recognize Resellers that Offer Integrated Communications to Small and Midsize Businesses

Customer relationship management (CRM) software helps businesses of all sizes to become more efficient and powerful by enabling them to identify, obtain, and retain customers. Microsoft and Cisco Systems worked together to provide customers with a CRM solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) or empowered branch offices.

Microsoft Business Solution Customer Relationship Management (Microsoft CRM) software is integrated with the Cisco IP Communications offering using the Cisco CRM Communications Connector (Communications Connector) application. The Communications Connector was developed by Cisco with the support of Microsoft, and provides IP-networked functionality to Microsoft CRM. This solution offers Microsoft customers an integrated IP telephony solution provided by Cisco partners that is more robust than most standalone CRM products.

The Cisco CRM Express Specialization, developed with content and feedback from Microsoft, allows partners to generate more revenue by marketing themselves as having the expertise to integrate Cisco CallManager Express (CME) with the Microsoft CRM application. The Cisco CRM Express Specialization complements the Cisco IP Communications strategy by recognizing partners for their knowledge and expertise in selling, designing, and installing a comprehensive IP telephony-integrated solution based on Microsoft CRM software.

The Cisco CRM Express Specialization offers the following advantages:

• Boosts credibility with customers through an enhanced ability to deliver advanced IP voice applications integrated with CRM software
• Provides a robust solution that partners can market to businesses that want to empower their sales force
• Creates a solution that partners can offer to SMBs that increases service productivity as well as customer loyalty by providing a single view of all customer communications for all employees (not just call center agents) within a company
• Matches Cisco partners with Microsoft CRM partners in the "go to market" strategy, resulting in additional "pullthrough" revenue opportunities for other Cisco products
• Positions Cisco products higher in the customer buying cycle through an association with a popular software application, and helps create more awareness of how Cisco can provide value to SMB customers
• Complements the existing Cisco IP Communications specializations
• Highlights core competencies, reducing competitive pressure

The Cisco CRM Express Specialization allows partners to deploy and support a highly scalable, reliable, and available distributed multiservice solution that is based on a converged architecture in the single office, the remote site, or the entire enterprise. The Cisco CRM Specialization focuses on the following products:

Cisco CallManager Express, Cisco CRM Communications Connector, and Microsoft CRM software (available via Microsoft partner in a matching process outlined below).

In order to obtain this specialization, partners must already be an IP Communications Express, IP Communications or IP Telephony Revised Partner.

Cisco CRM Express Products

• Cisco CallManager Express
• Cisco CRM Communications Connector

Access to Cisco IP Communications products may vary by sales region.

Collaboration of Cisco and Microsoft Partners

Both Cisco and Microsoft partners may realize significant benefits by collaborating or forming a closer working relationship. Not only does this specialization create new opportunities for Cisco resellers by associating Cisco IP Communications programs with the Microsoft CRM application, it also creates new opportunities for Microsoft resellers by referring new and existing Microsoft CRM customers to Cisco IP Communications offerings.

The Cisco and Microsoft matching process:

Cisco partners: Please send an e-mail if you are a Cisco reseller who is NOT a Microsoft CRM partner and you would like to be matched up with one. Remember to ask for the CRM partner in your area.

Microsoft partner: Send a request if you are a Microsoft partner interested in finding a Cisco CRM Express partner in your area.