In another example of vendors looking outside the box for partner, Cisco has now begun working with several independent software vendors in Australia.
The networking giant started working with three software providers in Australia this year, said director of Cisco's partner business group in Australia and New Zealand, Jason Brouwers. He said Cisco is looking beyond its traditional partner base of integrators as it moves down an application-centric path.
[Photos: Cisco celebrates best Aussie and Kiwi partners]
As an example, Brouwers said Cisco could work with a software partners to embed the Jabba collaboration product into their iPad app.
The new software relationships are also giving Cisco better inroads into customer sales cycles.
"Traditionally we didn't get involved [in projects] till IT teams got in there. Now we get engaged much earlier in the sales cycle," he said.
The networking company also now has an Internet of Everything Partner of the Year award, which was awarded to Rockwell Automation at Cisco's Insight Awards in Melbourne this week.
Cisco's partner relationships are at an "all-time high", said the company's Australian and New Zealand vice president Ken Boal this week at the Cisco Live! went in Melbourne. Approximately 300 people from around 80 partners attended Cisco's partner summit in Melbourne this week.
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