MSPmentor

And now for something completely different. Autotask has acquired VARStreet. The move potentially allows VARs and MSPs to have a single dashboard for managing distributor relationships and product sourcing (VARStreet) and IT services automation (Autotask). Here’s some analysis of the deal, the potential implications, and a FastChat video conversation with Autotask CEO Bob Godgart.

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It was another typical week at MSPmentor, filled with planes, trains and automobiles. Before I catch a flight from San Francisco to New York, here are seven managed services blog entries the MSPmentor team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending March 5, 2010.

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As a Tampa Bay-area solution provider, I’ve been doing IT for over 27 years. While I’m always on the lookout for new ways to increase efficiency and seize new revenue opportunities, there’s one cost-cutting measure that I’m possibly considering: outsourced help desk. I’ve heard other VARs rave about the results and the ease of implementing this strategy, but I’m not sold on it yet.

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The rules in the Australia managed services software market continue to evolve. As N-able CEO Gavin Garbutt heads to the land down under for a series of MSP events, rival Kaseya (in partnership with Ingram Micro) has launched a SaaS initiative for Australia and New Zealand solutions providers. Two years ago, I don’t think the Australia market was ready for SaaS-centric managed services offerings. Apparently, that’s changed.

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Own Web Now (OWN) has launched a synchronization tool that apparently automates billing between ConnectWise and OWN’s cloud services for managed services providers (MSPs). According to OWN CEO Vlad Mazek, his company completed similar work for the Autotask platform in 2009. Here are some details about OWN’s synchronization tools for PSA (professional services automation) platforms.

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Forgive me for being distracted (again). Our team is busy polishing and posting the MSPmentor 100 report onto a hidden section of our website. The complete report debuts Feb. 10, shortly after a webcast on the topic. In the meantime, here are seven managed services blog entries our team didn’t have the time to write for the week ending Feb. 5, 2010.

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In preparation for next week’s third-annual MSPmentor 100 report, I reached out to PEQ Services + Solutions President and CEO Jason Evans for an update on the company’s 2010 strategy. When we spoke earlier today about PEQ’s managed services growth, Evans offered several key insights — including three anecdotes that surprised me.

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Kaseya appears poised to launch the Kaseya 2 platform this week. The effort includes on-premise and SaaS (software as a service) tools for managed services providers and IT administrators. In fact, I think Kaseya is set to debut at least three SaaS tools for MSPs and IT administrators. Here are some perspectives.

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Call it an MSP industry mashup. CharTec, in addition to working more closely with ConnectWise, is also building a close relationship with Level Platforms, according to multiple sources familiar with the strategy. Do I have the exact details? Um, not really. But here’s some speculation.

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A software market for MSP middleware seems to be emerging. From Rezitech to Directive Technology Integrators, managed services providers (MSPs) are writing middleware for PSA (professional services automation) platforms like Autotask and ConnectWise. Here’s a closer look at the trend.

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We’ve already covered the most widely read managed services blog entries from Q1 and Q2. Now, let’s take a look at what MSPmentor’s visitors were busy reading in Q3 2009…

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Zenith Infotech plans to host 124 U.S. Open Houses in the first quarter of 2010 — part of a push to promote managed services infrastructure and business continuity services to solutions providers targeting small and mid-size companies. Take a closer look and you’ll notice this is part of a larger trend that’s accelerating across the managed services market: Software companies hitting the road and holding face-to-face engagements, open houses and user group gatherings.

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I must admit: I’m enjoying some silence right now. Email traffic is light. My phone isn’t ringing. It’s the perfect time to take a few minutes to tell you about the managed services blog entries we didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending Dec. 24, 2009. Here we go…

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I’m seated in Starbucks, waiting for a train from Manhattan to Long Island. Another day of channel chief and MSP meetings is nearly over. Plenty of news to share next week. In the meantime, here are seven managed services blog entries MSPmentor didn’t have time to write for the week ending Dec. 11.

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Nimsoft has launched a Unified Monitoring Alliance that includes Autotask, ConnectWise, FusionStorm, Ingram Micro, Rackspace Hosting and roughly 30 other service providers and independent software vendors. What does all this mean? Here’s my take on Nimsoft’s efforts.

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As the ConnectWise Partner Summit kicks off in Orlando, Fla., MSP Services Network (MSPSN) is touting recent integration with the ConnectWise platform. But instead of betting her business on one relationship, MSPSN CEO Amy Luby is developing partnerships and relationships with a range of software providers and associations. Here’s an update on MSPSN’s strategy.

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When we pontificated on the ups and downs of Drupal a few weeks ago, we kept hearing one thing over and over again: What about Joomla and JoomConnect? Well, here’s the deal: Joomla! (The exclamation point is part of their name), a free and open modular content management system, is compelling on its own. But JoomConnect — a service that integrates Joomla! with ConnectWise — is starting to generate buzz of its own.

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For the first time in about three months, our blogger team was off the road this week. In theory that means we kept up with our email and managed services news tips. But in reality, there’s still plenty of chatter we didn’t have time to cover. Here are the seven managed services blog entries we didn’t have time to write for the week ending Oct. 23.

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What a week. Our bloggers have been on the road at N-able Partner Summit, Astricon, Oracle OpenWorld and Avaya’s partner conference. Lots of fantastic blogs still to be written. Here are the seven managed services blog entries I didn’t have time to write for the week ending Oct. 16.

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This is going to be a strange week. I’m leaving a massive IT event (Oracle OpenWorld) and heading toward a smaller, highly targeted managed services conference (N-able Partner Summit). I can’t help but wonder: Is the next Larry Ellison (pictured) or Scott McNealy competing somewhere — right now — in the managed services software market? Here’s why I ask.

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RIM’s Blackberry remains the phone of choice for many corporate executives, but the iPhone’s App Store and Safari web browser make it worth a second look for business. And increasingly, MSPs are finding they can’t ignore the iPhone.

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Another week of travel is over. Amy Katz (my business partner) and I spent much of the week in Boston at meetings. Great conversations. But my inbox is filled with news tips and chatter that I haven’t had a chance to cover yet. So, here are the seven managed services blog entries I didn’t have time to write for the week ending Sept. 25.

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Imagine if there was a single financial management dashboard that allowed MSPs to track their health — and also compare their health to the overall MSP and solutions provider community. Sound compelling? CoreConnex and Service Leadership Inc. are working on such a dashboard strategy. Here’s the scoop.

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