Cisco Smart Net spend Q&A with Céderic Fourgous
Gartner’s report reveals I&O leaders exceed 10% of their overall network budgets on Smart Net operating expenditure. It reflects the rapid growth rate of the network infrastructure market. What is causing this growth?
The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the transition to a hybrid world. Since then, anywhere can be a workplace, anything can be endpoints, and hosting of applications is all over the place.
Additionally, the ongoing shortage of electronic components and semiconductors has contributed to the rapid price increase for IT assets and Smart Net.
Gartner highlights using Cisco Smart Net Total Care is more complex, confusing, and less transparent. To what extent do these drawbacks affect I&O expenditure management?
This complexity makes it more difficulty to plan and stick to an IT-network budget. The end customer experiences increased costs, and increased time spend to gather the necessary information and manage all contracts.
Value-added resellers (VARs) often contribute to a lack of pricing transparency not disclosing the total cost breakdown. Are there other complications that can arise when partnering with multiple VARs?
Partnering with multiple VARs can be challenging and confusing in terms of processes. Both for administrators and end users. There’s more to keep track of, which makes it more complex and time-consuming. Multi-year contracts ease negotiation. The risk is changing to an alternative Cisco Partner to provide services in co-delivery (PSS). It can be challenging during the coverage period. All of the entitlement rights of a PSS contract is the partner. And Cisco can only authorize changes to service initiated by the entitled partner. This process, known as mid-term takeover, can take more than four weeks.
Gartner has revealed that companies can save 20-60% by opting for third-party maintenance (TPM) over Smart Net. How does TPM provide these savings?
Savings are realized in several ways. Firstly, our third-party management programs extend the life of hardware beyond the EOSLs (End of Service Life) of manufacturers. Manufacturers are incentivized to sell new hardware. Secondly, reusing refurbished spare parts avoids the need to buy new hardware. It also provide lower maintenance costs while ensuring quality.
Thirdly, third-party management adds value for businesses. Especially in a multi-vendor environment. It provides a single point of contact for all Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). It also simplifies IT asset management. And frees up budget to focus on other priorities.
Gartner notes that ‘companies may find themselves in violation of Cisco’s End User License Agreement (EULA) without any Smart Net contract.’ How can companies avoid breaching the OEMs EULA when switching to Evernex TPM?
IT Assets that have reached their EOSL are no longer subject to EULA. At this stage the OEM halts all provision of support for your hardware. OEMs no longer provide technical services or software updates. Moreover, they will not renew, sell or upgrade maintenance contracts. Although the IT equipment is still performant and in a good condition.
Following a circular approach to IT, Evernex aims to increase the lifetime value of hardware and return on investment Therefore supporting trusted multi-vendor infrastructure systems for several years past this date.
In what ways does Evernex incorporate transparency and flexibility into its contracts and pricing?
Evernex understands every business context is different. That’s why we offer data centers maximum flexibility with customized SLAs. Coverage window, intervention and repair time can all be updated whenever your maintenance needs change. With 24/7 Level 3 IT support. No matter your configuration of multi-vendor infrastructure, you receive round-the-clock assistance to ensure the continuity of your entire data center.
Our 330+ stocking locations worldwide further enables us to have the right part at the right time, wherever our customers are located, driving down logistical costs, ultimately saving our customers time and money.
How can Evernex provide the same high standards of maintenance and support without OEM authorization?
Evernex has over 37 years’ experience in maintaining multi-vendor infrastructure. Our engineers are OEM-certified and they constantly expand their knowledge to keep up with hardware developments, to maintain your ever evolving hardware needs.
Additionally, we have thousands of spare parts in stock to ensure speed, and our accurate stock implementation process and worldwide network of resellers specialized in refurbished equipment make it possible for us to offer a level of support and maintenance that meets the highest standards.