While larger brands seem to dominate every corner of the market and web space, the latest data released by the U.S. Small Business Administration reports more than 33 million small businesses, accounting for 99.9 percent of American businesses. This provides distribution partners focused on the small and medium-sized (SMB) market with a wealth of opportunities—potentially more than 33 million. Despite the abundance of businesses to target, navigating the SMB market, where budgets are tight and resources can be limited, is no easy task. To support partners in catalyzing growth within this challenging market, TD SYNNEX offers a range of resources and events. A prime example of this support is the recent intimate and dynamic gathering at the TD SYNNEX SMB ALIGN event.
The primary focus of the SMB ALIGN event was to foster an environment where TD SYNNEX partners could significantly enhance their SMB business strategies. “Our goal is to create an ecosystem where partners can align closely with regional Cisco and TD SYNNEX teams, engage in account-mapping and relationship-building sessions, learn directly from Cisco about revenue streams tailored for the SMB sector, network with industry leaders, and discover how to leverage TD SYNNEX Cisco enablement offerings,” explained Nicholas Rees, Cisco Strategic Business Manager – SMB at TD SYNNEX.
This year’s event featured a comprehensive agenda crafted by Cisco SMB and TD SYNNEX, aimed at delivering immediate and practical benefits to partners. Over the course of a few days, participants delved into Cisco’s SMB business opportunities, emerging market trends, and the array of tools and resources available to capture more SMB customers. Rees expounded on the importance of these resources stating, “raising awareness of TD SYNNEX’s offerings ensures that partners have the tools they need to thrive.”
Jeffrey Bueg, Strategic Business Manager – SMB at TD SYNNEX, highlighted some of the standout sessions, noting, “Partners explored everything from Cisco’s SMB market opportunities and strategic initiatives to TD SYNNEX’s Cisco SMB Accelerator Program. This program focuses on compliance, organizational alignment, and maximizing partner profitability through various promotions.” Other sessions covered critical topics such as field, engineer, and sales enablement alignment, a demo of the 1Source platform, awareness of the Meraki portfolio, an overview of TD SYNNEX CyberDefense, insights into a day in the life of a Cisco Sales Acceleration Manager, and a deep dive into marketing opportunities and financing programs.
Among the event’s many highlights were the executive keynotes from Craig Cieplinski, Senior Sales Director, Global SMB Sales Segment at TD SYNNEX, and Tony Luongo, Area Vice President, US Commercial Central at Cisco, which underscored the strategic direction and priorities of Cisco and TD SYNNEX. Another memorable moment according to Bueg and Rees was the powerful discussion led by retired Army Ranger Scott Mann on leadership. His narrative on how a cohesive, driven group can effect substantial change resonated deeply with attendees, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and dynamic action in fast-paced environments.
A key theme of the ALIGN event was equipping partners to become trusted IT advisors for SMB clients. By leveraging Cisco’s comprehensive suite of products and resources, partners can effectively address the IT management challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses. This support translates to significant cost savings and transformative business outcomes for SMBs, reinforcing the value of Cisco’s offerings and the strategic advantage of partnering with TD SYNNEX. “We aim to empower our partners to deliver expertise that drives transformative outcomes for SMBs,” emphasized Rees.
Looking to the future, the commitment to developing and expanding opportunities for partners in the SMB market remains unwavering. TD SYNNEX, in collaboration with Cisco SMB, plans to continue hosting ALIGN events several times a year to help distribution partners thrive and succeed in an ever-evolving marketplace. As Bueg succinctly put it, “The ALIGN events are crucial for maintaining strong relationships and staying aligned with Cisco and TD SYNNEX leadership.” As TD SYNNEX and Cisco continue to host these events, partners can expect to stay closely aligned with industry leaders and remain at the forefront of strategic SMB initiatives, ensuring their ongoing success in the marketplace.
Learn more about TD SYNNEX Cisco SMB by emailing Nicholas.Rees@tdsynnex.com and Jeffrey.Bueg@tdsynnex.com.
