Ciena BizConnect partner program

Specialized solutions for your valued clients

As the fastest-growing company in its sector, Ciena has built a global reputation for quality, reliability and innovation. From service providers to enterprises to governments, Ciena delivers high-value network systems, software and services to some of the world's largest and most sophisticated network operators.

Through mutually rewarding relationships, our partners have played a strategic role in this success. Now, as Ciena enters its next phase of aggressive growth, the heart of our strategy is to continue to empower an elite team of partners for even greater success—and our launch vehicle to do that is the new Ciena BizConnect partner program.

BizConnect is a comprehensive program delivering a blueprint on how to develop a profitable one-on-one relationship with Ciena. The program delivers our portfolio of solutions and services, training and certification options, and the support you need to build a lucrative business in your markets. Through BizConnect, Ciena will build a community of elite partners working together for mutual business growth and success.

The Ciena BizConnect partner program is made up of four elements that work together to maximize value and ultimately grow your bottom line:

Business framework
A clearly defined engagement model makes it easy for you to sell Ciena solutions and rewards you for your success. Additionally, our flexible global services model allows you to tailor the right service program for you.

Solutions
Our product and services portfolio enables the creation and delivery of differentiated solutions, allowing you to capture market share and bring unique value to you and your customers.

Promotions
We provide you with accessible marketing tools and strategies to help grow your business, and we'll work with you to drive leads through customized marketing campaigns.

Support
With fulltime channel sales and marketing support, program management, sales and technical enablement tools and training and certification programs, we have the resources to help you maximize your Ciena-based business practice.

Business framework

What should you expect from a partnership with Ciena? Added business value

BizConnect supports three types of Ciena partners: resale partners, service provider solutions partners, and referral partners. No matter which type of partner you are, BizConnect was created with ease-of-use and success in mind.

Resale partners

Resale partners sell Ciena's products and services to their end-customers. BizConnect features Diamond (invitation only), Platinum, Gold and Referral levels for our resale partners, allowing you to choose the benefits that best fit your business priorities; benefits such as aligning your company with Ciena's industry-recognized brand including access to our logo, to joint business planning, and a demo equipment program.

Partner levels

  • Service provider solutions partners
  • Diamond
  • Platinum
  • Gold
  • Referral partners

Contact your BizConnect account manager or call us at (800) 207-3714 (US) or +353 1 2436711 (International).

Solutions

Ciena's Global Network Services
In addition to leading network platforms, Ciena partners also are able to sell from our suite of professional and lifecycle management services called Global Network Services (GNS). Ciena's GNS specialists are committed to supporting your customers on your behalf, exceeding industry standards throughout every phase of a project lifecycle, which can help you deliver solutions to your customers more confidently.

We are here to augment your capabilities. With each project, we take a business-centric approach and will assist you with any portion of your customers' implementations and ongoing service requirements as you deem appropriate—you select the business model that best aligns with your corporate strategy. Reselling options include services ranging from the network planning and design phase through installation and post-sales support.

Three options for services when partnering with Ciena:

  • Partner Resale: Partner can sell all Ciena GNS offerings
  • Partner Deployment: Partner provides basic deployment/turn-up and test and resells Ciena GNS offerings
  • Partner Deployment and Maintenance: Partner provides deployment and tier I/II maintenance

A few benefits you'll receive when reselling Ciena GNS offerings:

  • Timely deployment: Our streamlined processes and ability to handle ambitious schedules help you implement network solutions quickly and efficiently.
  • High-quality performance for the life of your equipment: Highly trained, certified engineers research, design, install, and maintain all of the equipment in your network—even third-party vendor equipment.
  • Staffing resources optimization: Let your own workforce focus on making money from your network, not on deploying it.
  • Training and certification: Lower costs, reduce network complexity and improve reliability with remote, web-based or on-site technical support and repair and exchange services.

Contact your BizConnect account manager or call us at (800) 207-3714 (US) or +353 1 2436711 (International).

Promotions

Marketing you'll value
Aligning your business with the Ciena brand is an effective way to increase your visibility across the global network solutions market. As our partner, you'll have access to the Ciena BizConnect logo so you can increase the value of your marketing endeavors and take advantage of our reputation for innovation to increase your bottom line.

In terms of joint marketing, Ciena believes extremely targeted and smart marketing activities can have a significant impact on our mutual growth. Ciena's world-class marketing team can work with qualified partners to drive awareness inside your sales organization as well as outbound prospect marketing programs to uncover new leads. As your partner, we'll develop leads with you through customized marketing campaigns, joint activity at industry tradeshows and custom events, through the Ciena Website, and in the media. As a result of these programs, leads can be delivered to you by your dedicated Ciena team. Together, we can maximize all of these marketing vehicles to bring you results.

For more information on sales awareness, marketing programs and Market Development Funds (MDF), please contact your BizConnect account manager. If you are not yet a BizConnect partner, please call (800) 207-3714 (US) or +353 1 2436711 (International).

Support

Training that builds value
BizConnect gives you access to training tailored to your specific networking needs to enhance your organization's overall skill set and technical knowledge. That way you increase your ability to deliver consistent, high-quality Ciena solutions.

Ciena provides free pre-sales and discounted post-sales training and certification to BizConnect partners as the primary learning source for partners who want to receive fast, accessible training solutions using Web-based and/or traditional classroom vehicles.

  • Mandatory sales and solutions engineering training is available to partners at no charge, for both Web and classroom environments
  • Optional deployment and maintenance training is offered via regularly scheduled virtual and traditional classroom-based sessions; partners may register for these courses for a fee

Scheduled in various locations according to demand, training may be customized to other locations as required. You can access training from the Ciena Customer Support Center at www.ciena.com.

Getting certified
Certification demonstrates your company's proven competencies in Ciena products and technologies, strengthens your competitive advantage, and helps you develop your technical expertise so you can maximize current and future profitability to grow your business.

  • Ciena certification also provides you with industry recognition and access to the BizConnect brand—including extensive product and service offerings. Ciena has four Channel Certifications for your associates:
  • Ciena Channel Certified Account Managers (C3AM)
  • Ciena Channel Certified Baseline Solutions Engineers (C3BSE)
  • Ciena Channel Certified Implementation Engineers (C3IE)
  • Ciena Channel Certified Maintenance Engineers (C3ME)

Contact your BizConnect account manager or call us at (800) 207-3714 (US) or +353 1 2436711 (International).

Enablement tools

Partner portal
When selling Ciena solutions, we want you to be equipped with all of the knowledge and tools you need. You'll receive access to extensive enablement tools through our password-protected partner portal on Ciena's Website. The BizConnect partner portal is the center of all global partner activity. You can find news, sales tools—including a configuration and quote mechanism—and Ciena product and marketing data for your exclusive use. As a BizConnect partner, this portal will help you maximize our partnership through access to all partner benefits.

QuoteBuilder
This Web-based tool designs, configures, quotes and issues bill of materials in a fast, easy, step-by-step process. The result is an improved sales process that reduces time-to-market, ensures that your orders are correct the first time and increases your ability to sell all the products at your disposal.

CORE Team
CORE Team is a key BizConnect communications vehicle aimed at building a community of partners working together with the common goal of solving issues, educating team members, and ultimately increasing revenue. CORE Team is a practical monthly forum conducted via Webcasts and designed for partners actively involved in Ciena projects. In addition, semi-annual, face-to-face workshops will be held at Ciena locations in each global region for CORE Team members.

CORE Team Webcasts will help you:

  • Learn about Ciena solutions and applications
  • Create synergy between Ciena and your staff
  • Develop shared experiences with Ciena solutions
  • Present and discuss the latest product versions and features
  • Discuss challenges and solutions

The BizConnect CORE Team is open to all Ciena partners' technical consultants, sales engineers and other staff members involved in Ciena project implementations.

Virtual Product Interface
This tool provides you with interactive and compelling 3D product information. Now your customers can actually view inside a product, as well as see all the specifications and dimensions—all from your laptop. This tool transforms a static customer experience into an intimate, interactive virtual event with the click of a mouse. Ciena's Virtual Product Interface motivates sales, not just by telling the product story, but by showing it. Contact your BizConnect account manager or call us at (800) 207-3714 (US) or +353 1 2436711 (International).

Enrolling in the Ciena BizConnect Partner Program

Whether you're an existing Ciena partner or you're looking to become one, here's how to join us in this exciting endeavor:

Contact your BizConnect account manager or call us at (800) 207-3714 (US) or +353 1 2436711 (International).