Tech Data, Intermec Team On Cisco Tech Enablement Program

The program, offered through the Clearwater, Fla., distributor's AIDC/RFID Specialized Business Unit, will allow Intermec Honours Partners to incorporate Cisco products into their solutions and get discounted training -- potentially fully reimbursed -- and discounts on some Intermec products during the first 90 days of participation in the program. Participating VARs will be able to leverage the technical support and products of Tech Data's AIDC/RFID unit to create networking solutions.

Intermec, an Everett, Wash.-based maker of wired and wireless supply-chain management solutions, eased its fulfillment requirements for partners last October, opening the door for Tech Data to bring Cisco products and services to Intermec Honours Partners, said Chuck Bartlett, vice president of networking product marketing at Tech Data.

"Tech Data is the only partner that can offer this training and the Cisco/Intermec solution within their existing distributor base today," Bartlett said. "Intermec has always partnered with Cisco in providing the total solutions in this space, but by partnering with us now it gives [Honours Partners] another channel through which to purchase their Cisco products."

Intermec Honours Partners will be able to buy discounted, fast-track Cisco training through Tech Data's TDEducation services. Available courses include Cisco Sales Essentials and Cisco Foundation Express Specialization, and training sessions are held nationwide. Partners who become certified within 90 days of participating in a course will be reimbursed for half the cost and are eligible for discounts on some Cisco networking hardware products when they become Cisco Premier channel partners.

Tech Data hopes the program will help grow its Intermec business, according to Bartlett. "It's really increasing the value of the Honours Partners to the end customer by leveraging the Cisco relationship with the Intermec partnership," he said. "By these folks being more technically qualified, particularly on the Cisco side, we will be able to recruit new partners into the Intermec program."