Buying Program Awareness is a capability that accounts for embedded software on hardware when purchasing software under a Buying Program.
- During the Buying Program quote process, the value of embedded software will be deducted from the purchase price of the related Cisco hardware.
- This results in a 100% discount for the price of the embedded software when purchasing a Buying Program Agreement.
Buying Program Awareness (BPA) ensures a customer is not charged for software when a hardware purchase comes with embedded software. BPA is applicable to new and existing EA, MSEA and SPNA customers.
Eliminates Reusable Non-Standard Discounts (RNSDs)
Automatically applied in CCW
New licenses will co-term with an existing agreement
Enterprise Agreement (EA)
A single, simplified agreement that brings the power and breadth of Cisco's entire software and services portfolio.
Service Provider Network Agreement (SPNA)
A buying program built specifically for Service Providers, offering them Routing and Data Center Networking portfolios. Currently, BPA is ONLY applicable for Service Provider Routing, Service Provider Cable, and Service Provider Capital.
Managed Services Enterprise Agreement (MSEA)
A single agreement that provides Managed Service Provider Partners (MSPs) with a premium purchasing experience offering more agility and value across Cisco's enterprise software and services portfolio.
- Attempting to create a quote before the Buying Program Agreement is active
- Incorrect or invalid Smart Account is used for the quote
- SKU is not included in original Buying Program purchase
- Incorrect Hardware SKU is used
- B2B order fails due to Deal ID not having correct Smart Account, Virtual Account, and/or Subscription ID
- The current Customer Scope (used to create the Project prior to the Proposal) cannot be modified when placing a BPA order.
- There is a known CCW system issue where a Deal ID accurately reflects BPA DAYONE, but once the order is completed, the BPA discount falls off and, in some cases, the subscription is not displayed in the Smart Account. Users should open a case with Licensing Ops to have the smart account validated and BPA re-applied.
Q: What happens if a customer chooses not to renew their Buying Program?
A: Upon expiration of the Buying Program Agreement, the customer must purchase licenses Al La Carte to cover hardware and will be billed accordingly if they choose not to renew their coverage under a Buying Program Agreement.
Q: Are BPA orders marked as consumed in EAWS, even if the license to be consumed in a HW has yet to shipped?
A: Upon creation of order, customer can dictate when they want service to be active (RSD), if it occurs between the offset period and 90 days. This date range is offered to the order creator in CCW. The selected RSD determines when licenses will show as consumed in EAWS, regardless of when user receives/activates hardware.
Q: What if subsequent hardware orders need to be placed after the Buying Program agreement is active?
A: Any subsequent hardware orders placed after the Buying Program agreement is active will require a new Deal ID.
Q: What if the Distributor/Tier 2 Partner ordering hardware is not the partner of record?
A: The Disti/Partner ordering the hardware will need to ensure they have the customer's Smart Account and Subscription associated with the Buying Program Agreement in order to have the BPA discount applied to the hardware order
Q: What are the differences for Day 1 hardware orders (hardware and Buying Program Agreement are ordered on the same day ) for Tier 1 Partners and Tier 2 Partners/Distributors?
A: Tier 1 Partners can include a Buying Program agreement and a hardware order on the same Deal ID. Subsequent hardware orders placed after the Buying Program agreement is active will require a new Deal ID. Distributors and Tier 2 Partners who own the Buying Program agreement currently cannot transact Day 1 HW + a new Buying Program Agreement on a single Deal Id; this will require 2 separate Deal IDs and will require a LOA.
Q: What if Hardware needs to be ordered in advance of activating the Buying Program Agreement?
A: Tier 1 Partner, Tier 2 Partner/Distributor will be required to sign a LOA, or The Buying Program Agreement start date can be changed to better align to the Hardware ship date. The Start Date can be changed in CCW and should be initiated at least 3 days in advance of the planned start date of the Buying Program Agreement. For longer lead times, exclude the Hardware from the initial Buying Program Agreement. Please note: For Hardware Orders placed in advance of the Buying Program Activation, the corresponding software will not be captured in EAWS. To avoid TF issues, once Hardware is shipped, the partner or customer needs to generate the corresponding Software license in EAWS.
Q: What if there is a delay in Hardware that results in a new start date?
A: A Debook/Rebook of the original Buying Program Agreement order with a new start date is required:
- Customer will not be entitled to any of the SW included in the Buying Program Agreement (Greenfield only)
- Past booking recognition will be removed
- A Credit Memo may be issued to compensate the customer for lost Subscription value
- An estimated credit can be provided based on the Estimated Ship Date one time prior to actual ship date.
- When obtaining an Estimate, repeat the same process to initiate the estimate credit memo after the hardware has shipped.
- Credits go to the Buying Program Partner of record. Partner communicates the credit to the customer
- Extensions to the existing agreement (via an LOA) will not be supported
Q: When BPA is applied to the Deal ID, why does it not show the licenses being 100% off or $0?
A: Cisco HAS to APPROVE the BPA before it will show 100% off.
Buying Program Awareness (BPA)
A 100% discount for mandatory attached software on Hardware when that software was purchased through a Buying Program Agreement.
Day 1 Hardware Order
The Buying Program Agreement is purchased at the same time as the hardware is purchased on the same Deal ID.
Day 2 Hardware Order
The Buying Program Agreement is purchased and active and hardware is purchased after the Buying Program Agreement is active.
Embedded Software
Software that is delivered on newly purchased Cisco hardware.
Letter of Agreement (LOA)
Required from the partner if there are any variances from the terms (i.e. if the EA has not activated but the order should have manual discounting applied)
Mandatory Attached Software
Some Cisco equipment purchases must include an embedded software license to use in conjunction with the hardware.
Offset Period
Product specific lead time derived from the configuration setup requirements.
Usage
Examples of license or service usage might include Downloading or installing software Accessing software or cloud services
- Get Support from your WWT Customer Success Manager: Contact Us
- Sellers and Partners should engage Support through the Customer Support Hub. Follow the steps in this link: Customer Support Hub
- Escalation Support: Please request an escalation for your case here: CES OPS FORM LINK.
- BPA Not Applied? Remember to check the Cisco Buying Programs Hub on Sales Connect to see if your PID qualifies for the BPA Discount: Buying Program Aware mapping guide
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