Ever try to explain the benefits of unified communications to one of your customers? It’s not so easy to convey in words. Showing is typically a more effective means of communication than telling, but when it comes to technology, demonstrations can be costly and complicated to set up.
Enter Cisco Systems’ new Cisco Solutions Center at Tech Data. The 650-square foot demonstration center, housed at Tech Data’s own technology demonstration center at its headquarters in Clearwater, Fla., showcases a variety of Cisco technologies and is available to Cisco channel partners and their customers who want to test-drive the technology.
“This allows Cisco partners to do hands-on demonstrations with end users,” said Chuck Bartlett, Tech Data vice president of Networking Product Marketing. “Technology is coming at people faster than they realize how they can use it. The nice thing about this is instead of just talking about it they can see it work and understand how it’s going to impact productivity and effectiveness.”
The new center, which contains over $1 million worth of equipment, will include capabilities to demonstrate the follow technologies:
–Security and network management via secured networks that prevent unauthorized intrusions and proactively block potential threats using Cisco Security MARS (Monitoring, Analysis and Response System); Cisco ASA (Adaptive Security Appliances) for anti-virus, content filtering and firewalls; Cisco NAC (Network Admission Control); Cisco Security manager; and Cisco Wireless Control System for wireless network planning, configuration and management.
–Unified communications, including enterprise collaboration solutions for communication and information sharing among customers, employees and others. Technology includes Cisco Unified Communications Manager, router, switch IP phone, wireless phone and video phone.
–Tools to enable the enterprise teleworker, such as Cisco Virtual Office, which includes routing, switching, security, wireless, IP telephony and policy control technology.
–Small business solutions such as Cisco SMB switches, routers, NAS (network-attached storage), call processing, IP phones and video surveillance cameras.
–Enterprise call center powered by Cisco Unified Contact Center Express to demonstrate both agent and supervisor IP phones, plus capabilities for running and managing a call center.
–Vertical market solutions such as Cisco’s Unified Communications together with ISV IPcelerate software for vertical industries such as retail environments. Solutions include time management for hourly employees, scheduling and reporting functionality.
Bartlett said in a few months the center will also add a Cisco Telepresence demo to the mix.
The center will also be used for training sessions towards certifications as well.