MSPmentor

Forgive me for gloating, but I told you so: Telepresence — the next-generation video conferencing technology — is quickly shifting toward a managed services model. The latest example involves Glowpoint Inc. launching its Telepresence Exchange Network. The move comes one month after Cisco Systems and AT&T announced a managed telepresence service for hotels.

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I’m packing my bags and heading to the Kaseya User Conference in Las Vegas, which runs June 1-3. On the one hand, I expect to hear plenty of “Kaseya” centric news at the event. But I will also be digging deeper, meeting with managed service providers and corporate IT leaders, to hear about their experiences and learnings in the managed services market. Here are five trends or themes I’ll be exploring.

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When it comes to bonding with potential customers, many managed service providers (MSPs) earn failing grades. In fact, some MSPs actually drive would-be customers away because they don’t take some simple steps to drive communication on their web sites.

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I’m frequently skeptical of market forecasts, but they’re still a valuable tool for “guestimating” how a market will evolve. In the case of managed services, Ovum (a consulting firm) predicts the worldwide industry will grow 18 percent annually to $66 billion by 2012.

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Welcome to MSPmentor Live: Podcast edition.

• Episode #: 007 (May 29, 2008)
• Featured Guest: Justin Crotty, VP, Services, North America, Ingram Micro.
• Topics Covered: We explore Ingram Micro Seismic, the distributor’s portfolio of managed services offerings. How can VARs go to market with Seismic, how does it compare to MSP offerings from other distributors, and are managed services in danger of becoming a commodity?

And check the MSPmentor Live: Podcast Center for additional weekly podcasts.

MSPmentor Live: Podcast, Featuring Justin Crotty, Ingram Micro Seismic Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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We’re still accepting nominations for the MSPmentor 250 list, which we’ll publish in July. If you know a managed services guru, it only takes a few minutes to nominate them for this unique honor. For a look at some of the most recent nominations — now sorted alphabetically by last name — check out our MSPmentor 250 Center.

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MSPmentor Editorial Director Joe Panettieri is scheduled to participate at several upcoming executive conferences, and he will also host two Webcasts this June. If you’d like to meet Joe and engage in some lively discussions about the managed services industry, you can find him at the following events:

• June 1-3, Las Vegas, Kaseya User Conference (more info)
• June 12, MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange Webcast, featuring CEOs representing MSPmentor 100 companies (more info)
• June 25, MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange Webcast, featuring Autotask CEO Bob Godgart and top MSP CEOs (more info)

To contact Joe directly about meeting him in Las Vegas at the Kaseya User Conference or at future events, email him: joe [at] ninelivesmediainc.com.

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As managed service providers push beyond the classic Wintel market, many are trying to get a better feel for software as a service (SaaS) and cloud computing. That’s where Google enters the picture.

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Nimsoft CEO Gary Read says one of his biggest challenges right now is finding talent to fill key company positions. Read isn’t alone. Many other managed service platform providers and business automation specialists have expressed similar needs to me.

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Although managed services coverage hasn’t quite pushed into the mainstream media, some business publications are starting to more effectively cover small business IT services.

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If you want to see how Microsoft and Google are competing in the software as a service (SaaS) market, head back to college. As I’ve written here a few times, Hofstra University, the University of Phoenix and several other large colleges have embraced Google Apps to manage student email, alumni email and collaboration. Now, Microsoft is taking steps to more actively promote its rival offering: Live@edu hosted applications.

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The Geek Squad is providing managed online backup services through a company called Data Deposit Box. Now, Data Deposit Box is seeking resellers to support its online backup services. Will any managed service providers take the bait?

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If you’re a managed service provider that’s seeking potential investor dollars — or if you simply want to promote your business momentum — perhaps you should steal a page from mindSHIFT Technologies. The MSP acquired a software as a service (SaaS) specialist in April, and is now stepping into the spotlight at Capital Connection 2008, a major investor conference this week in Baltimore, Md.

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I’ve been especially critical of Hewlett-Packard in recent months, openly wondering how the company has so badly missed the managed services market in the US. But a new partnership in India may provide some clues abou where HP is heading in the MSP space.

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Want to ask successful managed service provider (MSP) CEOs your most pressing questions? Join us for MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange on June 12 and June 25. These fast-moving, interactive Webcasts start at 2pm eastern, and are designed like radio call-in shows, where we make sure our guests cover your top questions.

June 12, 2pm eastern, register now

Our discussion (“Lift Your MSP Revenue — Without Hiring More Staff”) will feature:

• Scott Goemmel, co-founder and partner at PMV Technologies (#15 on the MSPmentor 100)
• Nick Vossburg, CEO of TechAssist (#20 on the MSPmentor 100)
• Jim Alves, executive VP of marketing, Kaseya
• Joe Panettieri, editorial director, MSPmentor
• Register now for our June 12, 2pm eastern Webcast

June 25, 2pm eastern, register now

Our discussion (“Escape Commodity Pricing Through Business Automation”) will feature:

• Chad Massaker, CEO of Carceron Systems Group (#84 on the MSPmentor 100)
• Bob Godgart, CEO, Autotask
• Joe Panettieri, editorial director, MSPmentor
• A surprise guest: Stay tuned!
• Register now for our June 25, 2pm eastern Webcast

Don’t miss this refreshing approach to online discussions. Check the MSPmentor events calendar for more information about MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange as well as third-party industry events.

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I’m a firm believer that managed service providers (MSPs) must offer “feet on the street” and face-to-face interaction with customers, otherwise you risk losing close, long-term relationships. Even if you offer software as a service (SaaS), you need to force yourself to visit customers regularly (once a month to once a quarter). That’s where the “software plus service” or “hybrid” business model comes into focus.

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Salesforce.com announced strong quarterly financial results today, and the company expects revenue for its full year (ending in January 2009) to exceed $1 billion. Does that mean Salesforce.com will become the first $1 billion software as a service (SaaS) company?

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Even as the world shifts from Windows to the Web, Microsoft partners remain highly coveted. The latest example: Autotask has announced a special offer for Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community (SBSC) partners. It reminds me (somewhat) of a free offer N-able made to Microsoft partners in April.

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During a conversation yesterday with Ken Vanderweel, director of product marketing for Nimsoft, we discussed the flood of Wintel (Windows on Intel) VARs moving into the managed services market. In my opinion that’s a good thing — and a bad thing.

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The MSPAlliance held its Managed Services Summit earlier this week in Framingham, Mass. Although I didn’t attend the event, I interviewed a few attendees and vendors to get a feel for their top priorities in the months ahead. Here are seven key trends I heard about:

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If you’re a Microsoft partner that’s skeptical about software as a service (SaaS), consider this: Half of all Exchange email inboxes will involve hosted systems within five years, notes Mary Jo Foley’s All About Microsoft blog. I’ve been alerting readers in recent weeks about Microsoft’s SaaS strategy for Exchange, Dynamics CRM and SharePoint. Ultimately, Microsoft will need to compete and cooperate with managed service providers (MSPs) that host those applications. Here’s how some Microsoft partners intend to cope with the software giant’s SaaS moves.

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Business continuity is the ability of an organization to continue functioning after an unplanned interruption. Data disaster recovery is an important part of business continuity capabilities.

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Tech Data has partnered with IBM Global Financing to offer managed service providers financing for deals valued at as little as $1,000.

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