Cisco and PeopleSoft Form Strategic Alliance to Drive Internet Economy Growth

Cisco Systems, Inc. and PeopleSoft, Inc. have formed a strategic alliance to drive the growth of the Internet economy. According to John Caffic, Cisco's spokesperson, the partnership will bring about significant changes in jobs, economic growth, and the creation of a new Internet economy. The alliance focuses on three core areas: product integration, technology development, and customer support.

Key Takeaways:

• Cisco is a key provider of networking solutions for PeopleSoft's Alliance Solution Center, which aims to provide a single source for critical technology, sizing, and benchmark information.
• The companies are currently engaged in enterprise modeling and customer integration efforts to help customers optimize their networks.
• PeopleSoft will integrate its applications with Cisco's CiscoAssure Policy Networking product, enabling network recognition of PeopleSoft applications and assignment of priority levels.
• Cisco and PeopleSoft have cross-trained customer service representatives on networking hardware and applications, and are creating a technical certification program for PeopleSoft implementation partners.
• Cisco will create curriculum for and teach classes on networking technology at PeopleSoft University, and the two companies will jointly cross-train their sales teams.

Statistics:

• 2,400 customers are listed as being served by PeopleSoft in 25 different markets.
• Cisco is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet.
• CiscoAssure Policy Networking product is a key component of the alliance.

Sources:

• Cisco Systems, Inc., Business Wire, Aug. 3, 1998
• PeopleSoft, Inc., About PeopleSoft,
• "PeopleSoft over Cisco Frame Relay" white paper, www.cisco.com/warp/public/756/partnership/peoplesoft/