Cisco Partner Incentive Timing, Payout And Rebate Changes Revealed: Exclusive

Details are emerging from Cisco Channel Chief Rodney Clark on the timing of some of the changes coming for partners as the tech giant prepares to roll out Cisco 360, the fully refreshed partner program, CRN learned exclusively.

Cisco Systems has released new details and timing of some of the changes coming to its iconic, 30-year-old partner program.

Cisco Channel Chief Rodney Clark said that because the sweeping changes to the partner program will directly impact business operations and profitability for partners, Cisco will be rolling out the changes in two phases, with the first phase beginning on July 27.

Cisco 360 is the fully revamped partner program that will take the place of the company’s existing program next year. The tech giant first revealed the new program in an exclusive to CRN in November as being built to attract more MSPs and MSSPs with its focus on the value partners bring over transactions. Cisco 360 represents a marked break from the biggest payouts going to partners landing large, capex infrastructure deals.

Beginning July 27, Cisco will adjust the Cisco Services Partner Program payouts and retire the Monthly Value Rebate for Cisco Success Tracks, Clark, senior vice president of partnerships and small and medium business for Cisco Systems, said in a blog shared with CRN ahead of it being shared online on Friday.

The company will introduce the Cisco Partner Incentive (CPI) in February 2026, which will replace multiple siloed partner programs and incentives such as VIP, Perform Plus, and the Cisco Services Partner Program, or CSPP. These will be folded into a single structure called CPI, which was first discussed during the 2023 Partner Summit. CPI will mirror the overall value index that will measure partners across four areas: the foundational, capabilities, performance and engagement, Clark said.

According to Clark, this change will make it easier for partners to “understand, predict, and maximize your earnings” and reward solution providers across the entire Land, Adopt, Expand, and Renew (LAER) journey.

The annuity payout on software and services and the Delivery Rebate will be retired as part of this transition in February 2026. Partners will instead be paid upon hitting milestones part of the LAER process, a spokesperson for Cisco said.

“Our opportunity now at Cisco is to properly and adequately reward you for driving customer outcomes. We now have the opportunity to evolve our partnership approach together, creating a program that supports not just where the business is today, but where it’s headed tomorrow,” Clark said in his blog post to partners.

The illustrious Cisco Gold partner designation is also going away in the new program, and in its place will be two designations: Cisco Partner and Cisco Preferred Partner. Cisco partners can earn these designations for each portfolio, such as security or networking, the company said in November.

Cisco will be supporting partners making the change to the new program with new booking dashboards in its Partner Experience Platform (PXP) for performance visibility, a profitability estimator tool to model potential earnings coming out in May, and new trainings.

The distinctive, existing partner program has been known for its ability to fund major industry transitions for Cisco partners. Today, 56 percent of Cisco’s business is driven by subscription models, according to the San Jose, Calif.-based company.

“These changes reflect Cisco’s ongoing innovation, not just in business model but also in products and services that meet the needs of customer challenges. In recognition of this, it’s time for our partner programs to proactively align with this evolution, positioning Cisco’s ecosystem to lead rather than respond to market changes,” Clark said.