Cisco launches 'network on wheels' for SMBs in India

Mumbai: Cisco Systems, the global leader in networking for the internet, today announced aggressive plans to address the needs of the rapidly growing small and medium business (SMB) segment in India.

The company unveiled 'network on wheels' (NOW), a mobile showcase of customised Cisco networking Solutions including advanced technologies such as security, wireless and unified IP communications aimed at helping Indian SMBs leverage the power of networking technology for business growth. NOW, the first major marketing programme of its kind by a networking vendor in the country will see Cisco augment an eight-month long, 50-city road show that will take its latest networking solutions to the SMB customers.

According to an Access Markets International (AMI) Partners' study there are an estimated 7.6 million SMBs in India, who are expected to spend $7.7 billion to beef up their info-tech infrastructure and solutions — an increase of 26 per cent over last year. A third of these SMBs anticipate a 20 per cent increase in their annual revenues, and will therefore boost their IT spending, according to the study. As networking forms the backbone of all IT and telecom investments, they would be a key component of the overall expenditure.

Speaking at the launch, Ranajoy Punja, vice president marketing, Cisco Systems India and SAARC, said, "Indian SMBs while reaping the benefits of overall economic growth are also faced with the challenges of globalisation. While technology is being viewed as a driver for increasing efficiencies and global competitiveness, its role as a strategic business tool is still undervalued. The Cisco NOW programme aims to address this awareness gap by showcasing a complete range of customised Cisco networking solutions for SMBs across technologies such as routing, switching, security, wireless, voice and video. It is amongst the largest marketing initiatives in India by Cisco and is a key pillar of its SMB strategy."

He added, "SMB is the fastest-growing segment for Cisco in India. Besides the US and Canada, India is the only market where the NOW programme has been launched. It reiterates Cisco's commitment to invest and take best in class programmes to key strategic markets. The NOW program builds on Cisco's existing offering for the segment which includes customised solutions, and strong channel presence and technical support."

Under the programme, Cisco will use a customised 25ft mobile van with a live network environment on board, showcasing the latest Cisco networking solutions. The mobile van will visit strategic industrial locations across key Tier I, II and III cities and host live demonstrations for more than 100 customers per city in the country. The Cisco NOW van will demonstrate interactive technology solutions for SMBs designed to enhance their competitive advantage, maximize productivity and ROI, enhance customer care and loyalty, increase user satisfaction and reduce operation costs ultimately driving business growth.

Cities that the NOW van will cover include Chandigarh, Lucknow, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Hubli, Guwhati, Raipur, Rajkot and Surat among others.