17 April 2019

Dimension Data and Cisco announce co-innovation partnership

Johannesburg, South Africa / San Jose, California  – Dimension Data and Cisco have announced a new co-innovation agreement, to develop a deeper collaboration environment and framework to jointly solve clients’ business needs. Drawing on their respective core strengths, competencies, and technologies, Dimension Data and Cisco are coming together to provide the scale and market-reach to transform ideas into viable, deployable solutions.

As part of the multi-year agreement, both companies plan to leverage Cisco’s global network of Co-Innovation Centres to drive collaboration in key areas such as 5G, Internet of Things, and Blockchain. Additionally, the two companies will continue to enrich and expand their Connected Conservation program that is leveraging sophisticated solutions to protect and better the planet, endangered animals, and their communities. 

Working closely to innovate beyond traditional products to solve business and operational challenges will allow both companies to drive more ambitious projects and outcomes. They share a vision of tapping into their deep pools of existing technology and co-innovating with customers and the broader ecosystem to meet client needs as they arise and deliver enhanced capabilities in an agile fashion. 

“This partnership means we’re in a stronger position to research, test and develop new offerings at a speed beyond the traditional market cycle,” said Ettienne Reinecke, Chief Technology Officer, Dimension Data. “By creating a deeper collaboration environment, we will share and leverage our intellectual property, including products and code, allowing us to move faster with a focus on applied innovation to challenge the art of the possible, which will result in some exciting innovations for our clients.”

Cisco’s Chief Technology Officer, Dave Ward added, “Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it requires diverse skill sets and multiple points of view. Co-innovation as a formal, structured process with our ecosystem, including  partners and customers is part of our foundation simply because the market demands it. It’s a way to speed the innovation , allowing us to move at the speed of digital and adopt startup methodologies to bring products and solutions into being.” 

Dimension Data and Cisco have over 28 years of experience working together, bringing to market a technology portfolio that offer solutions from the cloud to the data centre, and all the way out to the edge. The focus remains delivering new customer experiences, transforming processes and business models, and empowering workforce innovation.  - ENDS - About Dimension Data

Founded in 1983, Dimension Data is a USD 8 billion global leader in designing, optimising, and managing today’s evolving technology environments. This enables its clients to leverage data in a digital age, turn it into information, and extract insights.

Headquartered in Johannesburg, Dimension Data employs 28,000 people across 47 countries. The company brings together the world’s best technology provided by market leaders and niche innovators with the service support that clients need for their businesses – from consulting, technical, and support services to a fully-managed service. 

Dimension Data is a proud member of the NTT Group. Visit us at http://www.dimensiondata.com

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that has been making the Internet work since 1984. Our people, products, and partners help society securely connect and seize tomorrow's digital opportunity today. Discover more at thenetwork.cisco.com and follow us on Twitter at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.