Scores of managed services providers (MSPs) have joined peer groups. The confidential gatherings allow MSPs from non-competing regions to share and compare confidential business and financial metrics. Many of the peer groups include small MSPs that average about 10 to 15 employees each. Now, larger MSPs seem to be looking for a unique home within peer groups. Here’s the update.
During the IT Nation conference in Orlando, Fla., several MSPs that employ at least 50 employees told me they’re looking to network with similarly-sized MSPs. While the traditional peer group setting remains valuable, the larger MSPs said they needed to spend more time with peers who are facing similar growth, HR and business maturity challenges.
HTG Peer Groups, for one, is listening to that potential call for help closely. According to HTG Founder Arlin Sorensen:
“We are considering the formation of a large company peer group – global in nature. It is in the initial planning stages. We have a facilitator that has stepped forward and a couple interested companies. It will be different than our current HTG groups given the global focus and large company nature – likely 100 employees and larger. The goal will be to research and if enough interest exists to potentially begin in Q2 2011. Lots of unknowns yet, but we have identified the need.”
HTG isn’t alone in the peer group market. The Taylor Business Group is another well-known peer group organizer. And in October 2010, the MSP Centrifuge Peer Group — an application-centric peer group — popped up in Atlanta, though that peer group hasn’t said much in recent weeks.
We’ll continue to track the peer group trend in the months ahead. Plus we’ll be watching to see if larger MSPs jump on the bandwagon.
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Posted In: Asia | Australia | EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) | Finance | HR | Marketing | North America | Sales
Tags: Arlin Sorensen | HTG Peer Groups | IT Nation | Managed Services Peer Groups | MSP Centrifuge Peer Group | MSP Peer Groups | Taylor Business Group
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Take a look at our 
The MSP Centrifuge Peer Groups were just recently launched and we are still gathering our initial members. We are launching with two group types initially – Labtech/ConnectWise users and Kaseya/ConnectWise users. Both of these groups will examine not only best practices within our industry but also financial metrics based on Service Leaderships benchmarking.
Our mission is simple – Discovering, Developing and Implementing MSP industry best practices methods for the benefit of the service provider and the service recipient.
Are you an MSP who is looking for a better way to conduct business that ensures efficiencies and profits? Are you willing to share your best practices with like minded business men and women in the IT industry in the hopes of developing an industry standard? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you might be a good candidate for The MSP Centrifuge Peer Group Membership.
Hey Kevin: Thanks for reading and please keep us posted as the MSP Centrifuge effort takes shape.
-jp