Intact moves into Fast Lane

Cisco Service Extension Partner (SEP) Intact Integrated Systems has teamed up with network training outfit Fast Lane to offer a white-label professional services suite dubbed Channel Expert.

The suite has been designed to meet the needs of Cisco partners who have found themselves on the receiving end of requests for more advanced technology implementations such as unified comms, security, wireless and datacentre services.

While the scheme is open to all, according to Intact managing director Bob Dalton, it is being pitched more at the SMB end of the market, where partners are more likely to lack the time, cash or expertise to get involved in selling services on top of Cisco boxes.

Dalton agreed that many SMB Select partners were often reluctant to move out of their comfort zone in terms of the technologies they were willing to deal with.

“If they put their neck on the line and gets it wrong there is a fear it will damage the reseller’s relationship with Cisco and its customer,” he said.

Peter Olive, Fast Lane managing director, added: “[This] effectively removes barriers that have prevented partners from securing higher value engagements in the past.”