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Linksys Launches New SMB Channel Leasing Options
3:38 PM EDT Tue. May. 20, 2008
Through a partnership with InteliLease, Linksys, a Division of Cisco Systems, can offer VARs the ability to address their technology needs while simultaneously conserving working capital and existing credit lines to optimize their investments in technology.
According to Irvine, Calif.-based Linksys, partners can now choose from several specially designed leasing products and payment plans designed for small business, including true leases with fair market value residual, full-payout leases, tax-exempt municipal programs and options for seasonally adjusted flex payments.
Leases can also be customized to include maintenance costs, supplies and software.
Adding new leasing options can also help Linksys expand its LPC reseller program, which currently has more than 23,000 partners and offers them training, marketing tools and solutions to boost their SMB solution sales and improve their overall engagement with customers. LPC is designed to help SMB VARs boost their bottom line and teaming up with InteliLease will give VARs the ability to use services with their own businesses as an additional service sale to their customers.
According to Linksys, new leasing options bring a new level of service to LPC members and their customers through affordable and flexible alternatives to financing by granting access to funds that could be used to buy Linksys by Cisco Business Series networking solutions and other complementary products.
"Successfully serving the channel requires more than just bringing innovative products to market," Robert Auci, senior director for worldwide small business marketing for Linksys, said in a statement. "With the introduction of leasing programs backed by InteliLease we are elevating our channel program by providing our partners with additional financial support to grow their business. Additionally, our partners can tout comprehensive service offerings beyond core installations and support, truly becoming a valued provider to their small business customers."
Robert Parker, CEO of Malibu, Calif.-based InteliLease, agreed.
"Small businesses are unique and therefore require specialized financial options to help them succeed and thrive," he said.
Austin Smith, CEO of Atlanta-based solution provider Digital Son IT Services, said the benefits of new leasing options are two-fold. Not only does his company benefit, but customers win as well.
"We can be more flexible," he said. "We can sell more products and provide more services to our end users for a lower monthly cost."
Additionally, Smith said offering leased solutions to end-users allows them to deploy a more robust solution right off the bat and pay incrementally as opposed to deploying point solutions piece by piece as the budget allows. Being able to deploy solutions without breaking the bank is becoming increasingly important to SMBs Smith said.
"They need to retain as much capital as possible so they can keep growing," he said. "If you run out of money you can't grow your business."
