Whenever I’m asked to comment on the unprecedented change and disruption the channel has seen over the past 18 to 24 months, the natural ‘default’ position is to talk about a whole array of things including the ‘as-a-service’ models, public/private cloud, digital transformation, AI, and data analytics. However, having time to reflect, I do wonder if this disruption is simply down to the fact that everything is cyclical, and a generational shift is at play.
The Wall Street Journal’s homepage on January 17 featured a headline that included the words “IT Firm.” VARs and MSPs take note: a fellow solutions provider is caught up in a nasty, politically-charged debate being litigated on a national scale. Obviously, your clients are not paying you in large sums of cash handed over in plastic Wal-Mart bags. This story is preposterous in so many ways, and it’s far outside the realm of what’s normal for how VARs and MSPs operate. As absurd as the entire situation might be, this story does raise a few legitimate questions about IT service provider business models that are worth rehashing.
Getting to Plan B: Breaking Through to a Better Business Model is a must-read for leaders in the channel who come from a tech background and not from a business background. Here are some of the top takeaways for VARs.
In a sweeping interview for Channel Executive Magazine, seasoned IT executive and SRC Technologies President and CEO BJ Havlik shared the wisdom behind his new-solution onboarding philosophy. In doing so, he zeroed in directly on the relatively new client IT security training opportunity.
I just returned from the Ingram Micro ONE event in Washington, DC and here’s what I liked most about it. If I’ve heard one vendor or distributor exec implore a crowd of their VAR and MSP customers to do something innovative, something non-traditional, with their clients, I’ve heard a million.
We dedicate a good amount of editorial to encouraging VARs to innovate, to add to their line cards, and to transition their business models. We should spend more time reminding VARs the importance of keeping existing customers happy by ensuring your customer support operation is up to par.
Over the last few years, we have seen a remarkable transformation take place in the enterprise communications arena, as businesses have migrated away from traditional phone systems in favor of IP-based communications. Today, the golden standard is unified communications (UC), a technology that combines multiple systems like voice, video, fax, presence, and instant messaging into a centralized, cohesive platform.
Most technology professionals don’t usually jump for joy when they hear procurement. In reality, it’s a task most struggle with. When the products you use can’t define a solid and efficient procurement process, it can heavily impact your bottom line—and your sanity.
Patch management is one of the biggest concerns of IT service providers and their clients. As more vulnerabilities are discovered, patch management begins to feel like a full-time job—especially in larger environments. Developing a patch management strategy can make the practice of updating your clients’ machines a whole lot easier.
To ensure business and service profitability, it’s important to have a strong sales strategy in place, as well as an established way to create healthy margins. If you’re considering adding a cloud solutions offering to your existing services, or already offer cloud services and want to increase profitability, here are a few tips for cloud service providers (CSPs) to find success.
As a managed service provider (MSP), you want to provide proactive, comprehensive client endpoint management. But with limited resources, that can be nearly impossible. Constantly monitoring each server, laptop, tablet, and other wireless devices may take more resources than your team has available—holding you back from delivering the exceptional service you know you’re capable of.
This paper addresses the security of Sennheiser DECT Contact Center and Office (CC&O) headsets. It describes the DECT security chain comprised of “Pairing”, “Per Call Authentication” and “Encryption”, which are all part of the standard DECT protocol.
Bluetooth® is a wireless technology standard for exchanging voice and data over short distances between Bluetooth enabled devices. Ericsson introduced Bluetooth to the market in 1994 to overcome the challenges of connecting devices with different types of technology and communication protocols.
Your client’s online presence matters — and it matters in a big way. Resellers can help clients grow their businesses and simultaneously deepen their relationships by guiding them in the use of digital tools and explaining why they matter.
Sennheiser is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of headphones, microphones, and wireless transmission systems. With 20 sales subsidiaries and long-established trading partners, the company is active in more than 50 countries and operates its own production facilities in Germany, Ireland, and the USA.
| ConnectWise is the leading business management solution designed exclusively for technology organizations, such as IT solution providers, MSPs, software companies, hardware/software resellers, and System Integrators. |
| RSPA stands for Retail Solutions Providers Association. We are the only association dedicated to the retail technology industry. |
Taylor Business Group is an executive coaching and peer group firm that focuses on IT Solution Providers and Copier Dealers. Founded in 2001, Taylor has brought efficiencies and higher profits to IT Solution Providers through a focused effort in delivering best practices to the Service Provider and Copier Dealer's service, sales and administrative functions.
The ASCII Group is a vibrant community of independent MSPs, VARS and solution providers in North America. The organization offers members leveraged purchasing programs, education and training, knowledge sharing among peers, discounts on business services, and more. Founded in 1984 by Alan Weinberger, ASCII is the oldest and largest group of independent IT solution providers, integrators and VARS in the world.
IT Glue is an award-winning documentation platform that allows for efficient storage and retrieval of all the documentation you need to help your MSP run better. By integrating PSA and RMM data, we can help increase your efficiency, and reduce onboarding times by even more. By eliminating wasted time from your business, IT Glue gives you more time to focus on what matters - growing your business.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
You know developing a documentation rhythm will benefit you, but with so much to document, where do you start? We get it. You’re swamped with information and data, and it’s all important for different reasons. That’s why we’ve developed 6 steps to get you started, and mastering, your documentation.
Does documentation ever seem like a daunting task that’s missing a clear starting point? We get it. With so much crucial information to document, it can be difficult to nail down how to do it. However, the key to mastering your documentation is to first master the use of documentation templates. Not only is a documentation template going to increase company-wide consistency and save you a ton of time, but it’s going to help you get started.
In the past few years, there has been a significant effort to curb debit and credit card fraud, especially through the integration of mobile and EMV payment processing. However, while these platforms tend to be effective shields against bogus payments, merchants should still seek to do more when it comes to ensuring they and their customers aren’t hit by fraud on a regular basis.
Everyone has skin in the game when it comes to security within the payments ecosystem. Consumers need their account information protected to avoid fraud, merchants need to safeguard all data they collect to avoid liability for breaches, and payment processors need to avoid payouts for fraudulent losses.
In just the last few years, the retail and hospitality industries have been prime targets for a multitude of cyberattacks. Point of sale (POS) systems have been particularly vulnerable, with debit and credit card readers being targeted in an effort to steal confidential financial information. While some of the most well-known victims of cyberattacks on POS systems have included Target and Home Depot, restaurant chains Chipotle, Chilis, and Applebees were also affected recently as a result of malware.
Data breaches are a continual risk for companies of all sizes that must maintain customer data. The situation has now evolved into a question of not if a business will become the victim of a data breach, but when and how many times it will happen. A data breach is defined as, “the intentional or unintentional release of secure or private/confidential information to an untrusted environment.
Taylor Business Group is pleased to offer the Roadmap to Profitability Financial Dashboard, a revolutionary way of looking at your financials.
How MSPs Can Build A Formidable and Scalable Sales Engine.
Exceeding customer and industry expectations, the Series 4000 is the ultimate heavy-duty cash drawer. Unmatched durability along with flexible storage space, and various sizing, color and customized options, these features make the Series 4000 another reason for APG’s reputation as the preferred choice.
APG’s NetPRO® interface for cash drawers are available in both wired and wireless configurations and will communicate with retailer’s mobile POS devices for cash drawer control. NetPRO® cash drawers have the ability to collect transaction data, supplying the information necessary to identify security issues and to validate cashier training. NetPRO® cash drawer access alert features can activate security cameras, time and date stamp security video recordings, and broadcast alert messages to a store manager’s mobile devices.
