CRN Exclusive: Cisco CEO Robbins Says New Platform 'Represents A New Era Of Opportunities For Our Partners'

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins says partners should be bullish about the company's new Intuitive Network platform, which will lead to a new era of opportunity for the channel.

"I've been working around the partner community for decades now. I think there's a huge opportunity that this represents," said Robbins in an interview with CRN. "As we talk about the programmability of the network [and] the ability to run applications in the network on the new x86 platforms, our customers as they think about moving to this intent-based infrastructure and the Intuitive Network, it's an architectural shift for them."

Robbins said partners can leverage the new platform to help customers transition into the digital era while solving business outcomes. He also said the channel can use the platform to expand their DevOps and application capabilities.

[Related: Partners: Cisco's 'Unmatched' And 'Revolutionary' New Networking Platform Set To Drive Recurring Revenues]

"The opportunities are huge and I do believe that this represents not only a new era of networking and [Cisco] ushering in a new wave of innovation, but I think it represents a new era of opportunities for our partners in the future as well," said Robbins.

Partners have already been hailing the new platform as "revolutionary" and an end-to-end solution that is "unmatched" in the market today.

Robbins, who took over from longtime leader John Chambers in July 2015, previously led the company's global sales team as senior vice president of worldwide operations.