Mahindra Group signs strategic alliance with Cisco

Mahindra Group and Cisco Systems today said that they had entered into a strategic alliance, which allows for collaboration on a global platform between the two companies and provision of cloud computing services.
Under the agreement the two companies would collaborate on go-to-market strategies in areas that include smart cities, virtual dealership, sports and entertainment, and cloud services.
The joint venture has set an ambitious target market of $5 billion in 5 years.
Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman and managing director, Mahindra Group, said, ”By collaborating with Cisco to build smarter, connected communities, virtual dealerships and other projects, we are empowering our stakeholders – dealers, customers, partners and others to use technology for the greater good, thereby enabling them to rise.
am absolutely delighted that the first project under this initiative is intended to be the Mahindra Innovation Park.”
Mahindra added, “The JV will provide cloud computing services and will involve M&M group across geographies.”
He said, “This is about a partnership and it is a partnership not just of one contract but involving many contracts between Mahindra and Cisco, not just in India but across the world.
This is about an Indian company moving from simply looking at itself as a service provider to partnering Cisco in joint go-to-market initiatives.”
With the joint venture, M&M and Cisco would focus on the internet which the two companies believe would dramatically change the way businesses function and the way customers are provided services.
“The second belief that we share with Cisco is that companies that are able to harness innovation in providing services to their customers are the ones that are going to be left standing and in fact standing on the victory podium. I believe that Cisco does truly understand that India can be a game changer in leveraging innovation,” added Mahindra.
Replying to a question as to what the JV had for Cisco , Mahindra said, “I have already mentioned one very important thing that they are going to be able to get even more traction in India, more reach in penetration through us.
Cisco can also leverage us as a game changer for innovation through the internet as a way of reaching customers throughout the globe and therefore in essence they are going to leapfrog.”
“For Mahindra the joint venture would help in becoming a brand that epitomises customer centricity and innovation that is very critical for us and we want to be known for this around the world. We believe that we can bring value to them and we believe that by tying up with them we will strengthen and enhance our capabilities to be more customer centric and innovative.” said Mahindra.
Wim Elfrink, executive vice president, emerging solutions & chief globalisation officer for Cisco said, ”I really look forward to working closely with M&M to transform cities and communities and innovate new ways of offering services, using network as the platform.”
Under the non-binding MOU, the two companies would explore opportunities for collaboration on comprehensive differentiated offerings in the sports and entertainment market to provide a range of industry-specific offerings.
The offerings would include the Cisco Connected Stadium platform and the StadiumVision solution using the network as a platform, with additive elements for access control, wireless, RFID, smart-card ticketing and loyalty programmes, points of sale, and hospitality.
Further, the companies would explore opportunities for the development of cloud-based solutions and services around S+CC, virtual sales and sports and entertainment as a service in a private-public-hybrid cloud in both build operate transfer and Managed Services models.
Mahindra and Cisco would also explore working together to set up the private cloud roadmap for the Mahindra Group across different businesses – Mahindra & Mahindra, Tech Mahindra and Mahindra Satyam.