MSPs: Reinvention Once Again Is the Key to Success

In today’s fast-paced world of technology, new IT issues — and new solutions — can arise in the blink of an eye. This poses a unique challenge for MSPs and VARs trying to stay ahead of the game while simultaneously working to contain costs and maximize ROI. After all, if you can’t or don’t evolve with ongoing service advancements you will quickly begin to lose customers to those competitors who continually find ways to reinvent themselves. So, what’s your next move? Here’s some guidance.

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Increasing Business Efficiency: Nine Questions You Need to Ask

managed services efficiencyTo follow the ideas I presented in my January blog post, Getting Ready for the Rebound, we’re all looking to do more with less in 2010. That’s easy to say, but executing the concept in your day-to-day-operations can be a challenge. Here are nine questions you need to consider as you strive to make your business more efficient.

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Autotask Go! Now Has Single User License Option

It’s not a per-user price cut. But Autotask has found a way to lower the barrier of entry for Autotask Go!,  the company’s cloud-based professional services automation (PSA) software. Specifically, Autotask Go! is now available in a single user license of $29. Here are some details above the move, plus some thoughts on the cloud competition between Autotask and ConnectWise.

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Autotask vs. ConnectWise: Who’s Got Cloud?

autotask-connectwise-cloudI apologize — in advance — for once again positioning ConnectWise and Autotask against each other. It’s not my mission in life. But the rival PSA (professional services automation) software providers continue to counter each other on a range of fronts. The latest move: ConnectWise announced a cloud-based platform today. Next up, Autotask is planning a cloud announcement on Oct. 5. Here are the details plus some perspectives.

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PSA: Global Managed Services Moves Continue

autotask-vs-connectwiseThe battle for U.S. managed services dominance is old news. Autotask and ConnectWise, two leading providers of professional services automation (PSA) software, have expanded their attention to international opportunities. You can almost see ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini and Autotask CEO Bob Godgart locked in a personal, global game of Risk.

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ConnectWise Cuts Hosted Pricing

ConnectWise is taking aggressive steps in the hosted software market. The PSA (professional services automation) software provider next week is expected to “officially” announce lower Hosted ConnectWise pricing. But word of the move is already spreading across Twitter. Here are the implications.

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Autotask: Go Big, Go Global, And Tweet All the Way

Autotask TwitterI’ll be at the Autotask Community Live conference starting March 29, but news slated for the event is starting to leak out on Autotask’s Twitter feed. Here are three Autotask tweets that caught my ears (actually, my eyes).

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Ingram Micro Seismic: Master MSP Planning for European, Australian Expansion

Ingram Micro Seismic: Master MSP Planning For Europe, AustraliaIngram Micro Seismic, one of North America’s largest Master MSPs (managed service providers) is planning to expand its services to Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The only question: When?

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Autotask Go! Lands In Australia

Autotask Go! Lands In AustraliaAustralia and New Zealand remain hotbeds for managed services activity. The latest example: Autotask Go! — an entry-level professional services automation tool — is now available in the region as a hosted service. Autotask isn’t alone in its Australia moves. Here’s a look at some of the regional trends, and a potential remaining challenge.

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Professional Services Automation: Autotask Upgrades Autotask Pro and Autotask Go!

Autotask today is expected to announce upgrades to Autotask Pro and Autotask Go!, the company’s family of professional services automation (PSA) Software.

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Autotask Extends Offer to Microsoft Partners

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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N-able Makes Microsoft Partners Free Offer

N-able Technologies wants to win the hearts and minds of Microsoft’s North American partners and managed service providers. Indeed, N-able is offering Microsoft partners a free one-year subscription to a new software as a service (SaaS) platform called N-central Express.

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Managed Services Without Big Up-Front Costs

Call it the managed services paradox: Plenty of VARs want to offer managed services, but they often lack deep enough pockets to pay for robust managed services platforms. What’s the solution to this financial shortfall? Here are a few options.

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Branding: Skip the Lite Stuff

Autotask made an intriguing move this week with its product branding. Solutions providers and software companies should take note. As Autotask prepared to launch an entry-level MSP solution, the company must have been tempted to call it “Autotask Lite.” In my humble opinion that would have been a mistake. Here’s why.

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Ready, Set, Go to Managed Services for $99

If cost is the biggest hurdle standing between you and a managed services practice, consider this: Autotask has launched a new, low-cost managed services platform called Autotask Go! The hosted MSP platform has a fixed fee of $99 and no start-up costs. And the user interface resembles intuitive, consumer-oriented designs (a la Quicken or Google Analytics).

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