Cisco helps solve the unique dilemmas faced by small businesses

[Kelli Glass]

Small business owners are willing to try new ways to protect and grow their businesses by innovating, taking risks and pushing boundaries - and technology is a valuable tool to help drive that success.

Learn how Cisco helps small businesses think big and overcome unique challenges and complexities. 

[H. Erne]

We actually don't see that Cisco is putting any relevant efforts into the small business products.

We started a few years ago with Cisco ISA500 series (which was EOL'd just about half a year after it hit the market), then now the massive problems with automatic updates on the RV series routers - the small business is an unloved part of Cisco and seems to always be overlooked by the "large" business products. See here for the official statement: https://community.cisco.com/t5/small-business-technical/important-update-to-automatic-software-download-feature-for-rv/ta-p/3998420

p.s. Although there is now an updated firmware (released 30-03-2020, i.e. 3 Months (!!!)), still the automatic signature updates are not working.

[Glenn Martin]

Hello H. Erne,

Reading your comments, I have to agree with you up to this point. Our lack of commitment in Small Business has hurt us in the product development arena.  However, I want to also take a moment to share with you that Cisco has made a commitment to Small Business, like the new Cisco Business Marketing campaign, committed to addressing customer small business needs, Launching our new Cisco Business Website, and re-defining how we will invest significantly on the product side. In the coming months you will see an advanced degree of effort in delivering Cisco Business Wireless, Routing, and Switching portfolios which will strengthen these commitments. We appreciate your candid feedback and ask that you continue to provide it.

Cisco Business

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[dbrittin]

Hi @H. Erne 

Let me also invite you to join Cisco's Customer Connection program, our global online user group program.  This program helps customers connect directly with Cisco product managers across all technology architectures to provide feedback, stay up-to-date and learn about product roadmaps. 

In keeping with the commitment Glenn mentioned, we held two small business focused briefings in January (Catalyst 1000) and February (Cisco Business Wireless APs and Mesh Extenders) and we're planning more for May and beyond.  We're also working with the product team on more ways we can make sure we're listening to our small business customers and meeting your needs. 

When you join Customer Connection, be sure to join the Networking track.  The January and February briefing replays, slides and Q&A are available in the Networking track forum, in the Briefing Replay Archive document.

We look forward to having you as a member!

Denise Brittin

Manager, Cisco Community and Customer Connection programs

[H. Erne]

Thanks for committing to the small business users. However it would be great if you put the same effort into supporting existing products as you seem to do into new products.

Just to give you an example: last night your "top level" small business router (RV340) received a firmware update which completely broke VOIP telephony here. Altough the release notes of the new firmware (see https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/routers/csbr/RV340/Release_Note/RV34xx_relnote_v1_0_03_20.pdf) do not even mention that something network or VOIP related was changed, rolling back to V1.0.03.19 made everything working again.

Thanks!