Articles By Jim Roddy

1. “Who are the New Solution Providers?” And More From RSPA Inspire 2020 4/13/2020

   One question hanging over our channel has been “Who are the new solution providers?” that will backfill for retail IT resellers who are retiring, merging, or selling. The answer to that question could be found in the Inspire audience – the new faces that are engaging with the retail IT channel.

2. COVID-19 Crisis: Key Points from RSPA Communication Guidelines Webinar 3/24/2020

   To help retail IT VARs and ISVs effectively deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the RSPA has produced several pieces of channel-focused content including a webinar on Communication Guidelines with Employees and Customers during this crisis. The 57-minute session featured insights from RSPA Legal Counsel Bob Goldberg and RSPA Board Chairperson Chelsey Paulson, who works full-time as the Human Resources Director at VAR North Country Business Products.

3. COVID-19 Crisis: How VARs Are Communicating With Employees, Merchants 3/24/2020

   RSPA members Brett Bennett, the President of VAR POSitive Technology and ISV OpSuite, and Chris Rumpf, the owner of VAR/ISV Flyght, provide examples of COVID-related messages they delivered to their employees and their merchants.

4. COVID-19 Crisis: ISVs Focus On Rescuing Merchants, Protecting Staff, Stimulating Creativity 3/24/2020

   In this article, software developer executives from the RSPA Niche & Startup ISV Community offer guidance for addressing customer issues, VAR issues, staff issues, and general business issues during the pandemic.

5. COVID-19 Crisis: Leading VARs And ISVs Are Taking Action – Today 3/24/2020

   To help retail IT VARs and ISVs effectively deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the RSPA reached out to several members asking them for ideas and business best practices related to this crisis. Our community has responded generously with several executives sharing helpful information. Our first RSPA Blog post shared examples of how two VAR/ISV hybrids are communicating with their constituents.

6. Your Annual Customer Health Checkup Is Overdue. You Just Don't Know It. 2/24/2020

   How satisfied are your merchants with your customer service? The answer is … you only know what they’ve told you directly. And because they’re polite like most of us, you likely have a blind spot to their actual feelings and could be at risk of losing them to a competitor. I’ve been working with VAR and ISV executives who have been surprised by what their merchants have told them through the RSPA’s Customer Health Checkup survey. 

7. 4 Fantastic Quotes: POS Experts Analyze PSA/RMM Report 1/12/2017

   The recent rise of PSA (Professional Services Automation) and RMM (Remote Monitoring and Management) software in the point of sale channel has generated some interesting conversations. Unfortunately, most of those discussions happened off the record — until now.

8. Retail Tech Resellers: Where Will Your Customers Invest In 2017? 11/14/2016

   Innovative Retail Technologies magazine has published its annual Retail Tech Spending Report for 2017 and it’s must-read content for anyone in the retail IT industry — especially retail resellers who want to see what’s around the corner in their vertical. This special issue arrived on my desk just hours ago and I’ve already underlined several key passages.

9. The Next Generation Of Point Of Sale VARs 10/11/2016

   LavuCon 2016, the annual partner conference for iPad POS vendor Lavu, included a few surprises for me. Most notably, of the several dozen VARs who attended, about half were under 40 years of age – a much younger group than the typical point of sale show. Vendors such as Lavu have attracted a younger, iEverything generation to our channel.

10. Pre-INSPIRE Homework Shortcut: "Roadside MBA" Book Review 9/30/2016

    The Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA) INSPIRE Conference 2017 will feature the three authors of the business book Roadside MBA. Whether you’re attending or not, you’ll want to read the book in advance of the event.