Business Communications, Inc., (BCI) was recently named a Cisco GOLD Certified Partner, the only Mississippi-based company to receive this top designation.
GOLD Certified Partners represent the highest level of technical competence, having met all requirements put forth by Cisco, a worldwide leader in networking equipment and network management for the Internet. Cisco Certified Partners, such as BCI, are network specialists who are focused on their customers’ success.
Those companies designated as GOLD Certified Partners are recognized for broad technical skills: having at least 12 unique certified individuals on staff; having attained expertise across multiple technologies by earning advanced specializations in the areas of Unified Communications, Routing and Switching, Security, and Wireless LAN; providing pre-sales and post-sales support capabilities; and delivering the highest level of customer satisfaction.
“Cisco hires an objective third party to conduct annual audits/customer satisfaction surveys to ensure that partner companies not only meet the highest technical standards, but also have the capabilities and proven successes required to meet customer needs,” explained Tony Bailey, CEO of BCI. “As the only Mississippi-based company to meet these exacting standards and qualify as a Cisco GOLD Certified Partner, BCI had to receive a minimum of 30 customer satisfaction survey responses with a 100% regional customer satisfaction target,” said Bailey.
“Customer satisfaction ranks among the highest priorities of Cisco and is a cornerstone of the Cisco Certified Partner Program,” explained John Chambers, CEO of Cisco, “Our differentiating feature is our fanatical approach to customer satisfaction.”
All Cisco GOLD Certified Partners must meet specific standards and offer the broadest range of networking technology skills, lifecycle service capabilities and geographic locations. Cisco GOLD Certified Partners must also employ at least 12 Cisco certified experts, each with a total of nearly 700 hours of training; achieve 100% of the regional customer satisfaction target on independent post-sales customer surveys; and assist in a coordinated sequence of activities required for successful deployment and operation of customers’ networking technologies, including security, unified communications, wireless, routing and switching.
“As a Cisco GOLD Certified Partner, BCI not only has the expertise but also a proven track record of helping our customers accelerate growth and profitability, gain and keep a competitive advantage, and stay in front of the very latest technologies,” said Bailey. “We’re proud of those facts.”
In both 2005 and 2006, BCI was recognized as a ‘Best Places to Work in Mississippi’ Finalist and has also been named one of the ‘Top 100 Mississippi Companies.’
BCI was founded in 1993. Now, with a staff of more than 165 technology professionals, it is one of the Southeast’s leading providers of business communications, technology services and structured cabling. With a client list numbering more than 3,000 customers, including universities, medical centers, government entities, financial institutions, manufacturers, corporations and large to small retail outlets, BCI assists public and private sector businesses in fully utilizing best practices and the most current technological innovations.
BCI is a full-service information technology provider. The company designs, implements, manages and maintains information technology systems, covering all aspects of wireless technology, networking, internet services, phone systems, IP telephony, security, storage, voice and data cabling, business software, hardware maintenance, IT outsourcing, staffing placement, project support, training, consulting and education for the company’s clients.
“BCI realizes the importance of strong alliances with best-of-breed technology partners and has forged partnerships with more than 30 of the world’s most respected technology companies, including Cisco,” said Bailey. “Beyond that, however, we also partner with companies such as Microsoft, Computer Associates, EqualLogic, SUN Microsystems and VMWare. These partnerships allow BCI to offer superior levels of technology, innovation, service and support,” Bailey added.
Additional information on the Cisco Certified Partner Program may be found at www.cisco.com.
