Constructing On Our Success for the Alternatives Forward

To say it’s been a loopy yr is an understatement. Between the off-again/on-again pandemic, together with house workplace, return to workplace and now hybrid work, and the worldwide provide chain impacting just about each trade, we’ve been examined in some ways we by no means anticipated nor imagined in each our private and enterprise lives. Add to this an ever-evolving checklist of recent buyer necessities fueled by digital transformation targets embraced by each trade and section, it’s no surprise 2021 was like no different.  But by way of all of it, we’ve managed to develop stronger and extra resilient. I’m not able to declare an all-out victory, however in conversations I’ve had with a lot of you and our clients, it’s clear there’s one thing particular we achieved collectively. Up to now yr, we clearly had a “stage win,” which is a profitable milestone alongside the way in which to the tip purpose of an extended race.

Headwinds, irrespective of their form and scope, will at all times be a consider enterprise. However it’s partnerships like ours that assist us discover methods to beat headwinds and attain even larger. If 2021 is any indication, 2022 will proceed to be difficult – at the least at first. However on the identical time, it additionally marks a interval of potential progress, profitability, and a chance to succeed in larger.

Whereas nonetheless very difficult, I’m assured the disruptions and modifications brought on by the pandemic and provide chain will create extra alternatives that erase any setbacks they created. Hybrid work is a major instance. Our function in supporting clients’ wants round this has solely simply begun as firms all over the world redraw the strains of how and the place their workers work. They are going to depend on Cisco and our companions for the underlying know-how, safety and providers that deliver all of it collectively. The identical could be stated of the brand new methods clients are shopping for and consuming our options as we proceed to satisfy their wants with extra XaaS gives and managed providers. Add to this the brand new consumers who’re coming into focus in consequence, plus the chance to seize allotted budgets on fast-growing cloud marketplaces, and also you shortly notice there’s important tailwinds working to our benefit. In brief, our alternative is gigantic.

The approaching yr additionally marks our accountability to be bolder and drive extra optimistic social and environmental affect. The pandemic, for instance, introduced into clear focus our society’s vulnerability to starvation and homelessness. Equally, the pure disasters we noticed in 2021 replicate an pressing want to attenuate local weather change. We’ve already achieved rather a lot, however collectively we discovered by way of the final yr there’s extra we are able to and should do. At Accomplice Summit, we introduced The Digital Sustainability Problem that invitations companions to submit your Cisco-powered options that produce sustainable outcomes, reminiscent of a sensible constructing answer that reduces power consumption or a sensor grid that reduces waste. I’d love to listen to your ideas on how we are able to, collectively, make a fair better affect in 2022.

At Accomplice Summit, I shared our 4 guarantees: Belief, Innovation, Alternative and Profitability. Irrespective of the enterprise local weather – headwinds or tailwinds – these companion guarantees are what information every part we do to help you. So, as you wind down for the vacations and take a deep breath going into 2022, know that I and your complete Cisco household stand with you.

Wishing you a secure and blissful vacation season!