Extreme Networks Launches Lending Program for Partners, Customers, Prospects

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Extreme Networks Monday rolled out a new in-house financing program for partners, customers and prospects that want to purchase the company’s offerings.

Extreme Capital Solutions includes Brocade’s capital solutions team, which Extreme gained in its $55 million acquisition of Brocade’s data-center networking business. The program includes subscription, capital leasing and usage business models that provide flexibility for partners and customers.

Extreme Networks’ Lisa Paquette-Nelson

Lisa Paquette-Nelson, Extreme’s senior director of capital solutions, tells Channel Partners a “unique opportunity” arose through the Brocade acquisition to also take on Brocade’s financing.

“With a staff of dedicated industry professionals, an existing customer and portfolio, the opportunity to not only be able to keep the continuity for the existing customer base, but also expand it across the other products and services which Extreme brings to market, the timing was uniquely situated to bring this to fruition,” she said. “It provides a cohesive, Extreme branded program of unique acquisition options that our partners can offer to their customers. Extreme was also able to bring across the industry leading network subscription program. This program provides a unique way for our partners to bring Extreme’s products and services to their customers.”

The new program gives customers the ability to invest in Extreme’s technologies, solutions and services by bundling hardware, software, maintenance and training costs into one financing plan. The result allows Extreme to sell more offerings, generate net new revenue and gross margin, and enhance relationships with customers to help them better respond to competitive business pressures.

Customers can acquire network infrastructure without the upfront capital investment. They may access the program directly from Extreme through its global partner network including SIs, VARs, direct market resellers and distribution partners.

The subscription model allows organizations to refresh their network infrastructure or adjust capacity without needing to purchase equipment, eliminating fixed-term commitments and allowing customers to continue investing in scaling their businesses instead of their network infrastructure, the company said.

Personalized lease programs allow organizations to acquire the equipment they need today while spreading the payments over several fiscal budgets, giving organizations “greater flexibility to upgrade and continue to meet increasing performance and availability requirements with little cost upfront,” according to the company.

Extreme is offering two compensation plans available through approved Extreme partners, including a VAR-enabled MSP model and a traditional resale model.

“Extreme Capital Solutions will help our solution providers give their clients the ability to pay for networking projects without using capital funds,” said Kevin Kennedy, TechData‘s senior vice president of advanced solutions. “Innovations like these from Extreme enable our solution providers to experiment more with less risk, decrease upgrade cycles and upgrade equipment without incurring financial penalties, providing a competitive edge.”