Cisco Launches Industry-First Distributor Rewards Program with RewardStream

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What’s the difference between Video Conferencing and Telepresence?

Telepresence picks up where video conferencing left off. Telepresence IS real time, full-high-definition, immersible sound and vision. Telepresence IS most importantly: the feeling of being “there” when you’re “here”. Telepresence is lifelike, video conferencing is not. Telepresence is that hi-line Mercedes AMG, video conferencing is a Ford Escort - Period.

Why Telepresence now?

Video conferencing has been around a while now but has always lacked the feeling we spoke about above. Jumpy computer screens, broken audio and poor lighting add to the impersonal touches of video conferencing (ie slow motion camcorder on top of your computer monitor). Finally, technology, bandwidth, vision and sound have all converged on video conferencing to create the telepresence experience. It’s about time! Crystal clear surround sound and real-time full-high-definition visual effects enhance the feeling of being there – thus telepresence. That nervous twitch, roll of the eyes, sniffle, tap of the foot – things you see when you’re present and sitting across a conference room table – things you don’t see or feel from video conferencing, but do with telepresence.

Today, what “real” uses are there for Telepresence?

There is no short answer even possible here. We’ll name a few, more like we’ll put your imagination to work. Imagine a single specialist doctor in Canada treating patients in Haiti via telepresence. Robots in space doing the actual work while the telepresence operator dons his telepresence helmet and gloves at his workstation in Texas. Meeting your Russian company vice president while you’re in the executive telepresence room at the office in Denver. Just a few…

What are “real” savings of Telepresence?

Your imagination still working on the last answer? Don’t let up yet! What carbon footprint? Don’t need that airplane ticket to go check on your staff in Russia now do you? What lost life in the Iraqi war? Unmanned drones and soldiers via telepresence. Military and combat cost savings? Immeasurable. Less travel costs, airline frustration, fuel, lost time, carbon emissions, etc. Those are tangible, real savings to name just a very limited few.

You starting to see what telepresence can do that video conferencing can’t? We hope you see what we’re seeing! Telepresence – its time has arrived!

Check out the video thread in Section 8 of the Telepresence Forum where you can watch some Telepresence YouTube videos! If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video must be worth a million!

Ride on the "Next Plane of Existence" TM

Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) May 7, 2008 -- RewardStream Inc., the leader in SaaS loyalty marketing technology, is pleased to announce that Cisco Systems has launched its Distributor Rewards Program (DRP) on RewardStream's Lifecycle Marketing Platform (LMP).

Cisco's DRP is an innovative, industry-first program, both in its design and execution. Its is progressive in the multi-channel distribution space for its ability to allocate Cisco Co-op funding directly to sales representatives at the five largest national distributors; Ingram Micro, D&H, Comstor, TechData and ScanSource. The closed-loop measurability of Co-op funding is relatively new to the industry, and making it a reality relied on tight collaboration and joint program administration between the five distributors and Cisco's Program and Partner Managers.

The resulting impact of DRP is nothing short of revolutionary. First, DRP allows each of the five distributors to control and uniquely define the sales incentives and reward allocations their sales team receives. This ensures sales incentives awarded by DRP are configured to match how a distributor allocates rewards within their sales force. The result is a program that holistically administers five uniquely tailored sales incentive allocations. Second, DRP attaches measurable ROI to existing Co-op funding. Quantifying the program's success means distributors are able to provide ROI on their sales efforts and directly reward the sales representatives who are the most productive in selling through Cisco products. Third, the program is jointly administered between the distributors and Cisco, with both the parties accessing RewardStream's LMP through an online, self service administrative portal. The result is a centralization of program data which both Cisco and the distributor can use to optimize program performance in order to meet the unique business objectives of their joint business plan.

"The Distributor Rewards Program is several individualized Distributor Rewards Programs integrated onto one technology platform," states Jennifer Kulich, Marketing Programs Manager US/CA Channels Marketing. "The inherent complexity built into DRP's design and shared execution required a sophisticated and flexible technology platform, which we have found with RewardStream's LMP."

"DRP takes the process of allocating partner marketing funds to a whole new level within a channel ecosystem," comments Peter Oxley, CEO of RewardStream. "By providing a program personalized to a distributor's own internal sales process, LMP allows a vendor to work closely and collaboratively with each of their valued distributors to maximize return on marketing investment. Our ControlCenter Administrative portal provides a centralized tool for a Distributor's Sales Representatives and Program Administrators, along with Cisco's Channel Account Managers who manage the overall relationship."

The DRP program builds on the success of Cisco's other partner reward programs previously launched on RewardStream's LMP, Cisco's Partner Rewards Program (PRP) and subsequent rollout to the Canadian theater, and Cisco's Company Rewards Program (CRP). All partner reward programs are part of Cisco's larger SMB strategy to maximize business efficiency and improve customer and employee collaboration while at the same time providing channel partners with further resources to foster growth and differentiation.

For more information on the Cisco DRP and other programs run on RewardStream's LMP, visit www.rewardstream.com.

About RewardStream

RewardStream, the leader in SaaS loyalty marketing technology, develops products that liberate today's marketers from the shackles of legacy technology. Our Lifecycle Marketing Platform? (LMP) empowers marketers to launch a highly customized loyalty program in under 30 days. RewardStream's LMP? is utilized by a broad spectrum of clients that operate B2C, B2B and Channel loyalty programs in the financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, IT and manufacturing sectors. More information on RewardStream can be found at www.rewardstream.com.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to www.newsroom.cisco.com.

Contact:

Valia Thorburn

RewardStream Inc

604.692.1211

valia.thorburn(at)rewardstream.com

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