Planning

51. How To Unify Your Team Around A Shared Goal 12/14/2015

    Accomplishing things as a team is a much tougher proposition than doing things yourself. Communication, coordination, and shared understanding will take precedent over your desire to just get it done and move on.

52. Michael Gerber, Business Solutions Announce Webinar Series For VARs And MSPs 12/10/2015

    Business Solutions and renowned small business author Michael Gerber have formed an educational partnership designed to benefit the entire channel. Beginning in December, Gerber will co-produce with Business Solutions a series of free webinars designed for VAR, MSP, and ISV executives.

53. Per Device, Per User, User-Centric: How Successful MSPs Price Their Offerings 11/24/2015

    Is it best to price your managed services offerings per device, per user — or using a different model? At Channel Transitions VAR/MSP Executive Conference, powered by Business Solutions, members of the managed services provider (MSP) panel Greg Zolkos, CEO of Atlas Professional Services, Jason Etheridge, president and CEO of Logic Speak, and Tom Clancy, co-founder of Valiant Technology, told which pricing models their companies use and why.

54. Discovering Hidden Opportunities To Lead 11/23/2015

    When a problem presents itself, it can be an opportunity to teach. You may find that you not only wrestle the problem to the ground but, over time, you end up with more capacity as you teach your team how to handle more of their challenges themselves.

55. Time To Draw Up Next Year's Budget For Your IT Solutions Provider? Remember These 5 Tips 11/19/2015

    A budget plan is crucial to any services provider preparing to take on the New Year, and while the concept alone may seem simple, many organizations dread the task. The entire process can become a complicated system of predictions and forecasting, with time consumed by assessing all the current expenses as well as expenses of the past. However, with a few tips and tricks in mind, the process can be both easier and more accurate, resulting in less stress and greater profits.

56. Channel Transitions: The Makings Of A Great MSP Product 11/12/2015

    To successfully design managed services offerings, your products should reflect what makes you unique as a managed services provider (MSP) — your technical expertise, the capabilities you have that your competitors don’t, and vertical specializations. David Wilkeson, CEO of MSP Advisor, stressed the importance of differentiating your MSP during his keynote “Successful MSP Product Design” at Channel Transitions VAR/MSP Executive Conference, powered by Business Solutions, on November 5 at the DoubleTree Orlando Airport.

57. CompTIA State Of The Channel Report: The Future Looks Bright For The IT Channel 10/27/2015

    More than 60 percent of channel respondents are optimistic about the future of the IT channel, according to CompTIA’s 5th Annual State of the Channel report released earlier this month.

58. What Effect Are M&As Having On The Channel? 10/23/2015

    M&A is definitely the buzz in the channel today. Not only on the IT managed services provider (MSP)/solutions provider front, but also in the vendor/cloud provider area as well. Things are changing rapidly as companies acquire, merge, partner, or find any number of ways to combine forces. The landscape changes daily, and the discussion is about where the next deal will come from. 

59. How To Go From One-Man Shop To MSP 10/15/2015

    Wondering how to take the next step from a one-man shop to a managed services provider (MSP)? Panelists at Channel Transitions VAR/MSP Executive Conference, powered by Business Solutions, on Sept. 24 at the DoubleTree Chicago-Downers Grove, shared advice on the topic.

60. Customer Objections To Managed Services: How To Deal With Changing Attitudes 10/15/2015

    Customer objections to managed services are changing, and a panel of managed services providers (MSPs) and VARs at Channel Transitions VAR/MSP Executive Conference offered advice on how to respond. The event, powered by Business Solutions, was held Sept. 24 at the DoubleTree Chicago-Downers Grove.