Tech Data today announced that as Cisco transforms to a software company, it’s giving partners more direct hands-on access to its Cisco 1Source Portal and options for consuming Tech Data offerings. 

1Source, is a self-service platform, from Tech Data Cisco that uses APIs to provide seamless integration between Cisco Commerce Workspace (CCW) and Tech Data’s order system to help partners streamline their business. 

Tech Data’s Phillip Privett

“With the 1Source Portal, customers will have the opportunity to drastically improve the way they manage their Cisco-based business processes, systems and resources to create a best-in-class experience for their clients,” said Phillip Privett, vice president, Cisco Solutions, Americas at Tech Data. “We believe that this offering will greatly simplify our customers’ ability to speed their ‘quote-to-cash process,’ delivering solutions to their clients quickly and efficiently.” 

More specifically, partners will be able to automate the configuration, quoting, ordering, order management and install-base management for the entire Cisco portfolio — products, services and software, subscription, consumption and termed — across all offer structures. 

Through 1Source Cisco partners have access to the vendor’s offerings including collaboration, data center, enterprise networking, Internet of Things, security, professional services and Cisco recurring revenue (land, adopt, expand, renew). 

Giving partners more direct access to the Cisco 1Source Portal offers them more operational autonomy for their workflows, optimizes efficiency, increases speed to market and reduces transactional costs creating smoother experience for their Cisco-based business. 

It was nine months ago, at Cisco Partner Summit 2018, that Cisco laid out its road map and strategy and outlined what partners should be doing, starting last November, to build over the next 12 months to stay in lock step with Cisco as it transforms its business. 

At that time, Oliver Tuszik, senior vice president, global partner organization at Cisco, elaborated on what he called, “perform and transform,” or managing the daily business while building new opportunities. 

Cisco said it was giving partners 12 months to prepare for upcoming changes to Cisco’s programs and incentives — to be announced at the upcoming Cisco Partner Summit 2019, in November. 

Clearly, today’s Tech Data’s news exemplifies how partners can transform how they work with the distributor and Cisco through the enhanced 1Source Portal.