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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Autotask Acquires VARStreet: Services, Products Converge
Posted March 17th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
MSPs: Reinvention Once Again Is the Key to Success
Posted March 8th, 2010 by Bob Godgart
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.
QuoteWerks Making Managed Services, PSA Moves
Posted March 8th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
QuoteWerks, a sales quoting and proposal tool, continues to strengthen its integrations to PSA (professional services automation) software platforms like Autotask, ConnectWise and Tigerpaw Software. The latest move involves a direct integration with ConnectWise. Here are the details.
Tigerpaw Software Launches Partner Conference
Posted February 24th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Just when you were set to lock down your travel schedule for 2010, Tigerpaw Software — the PSA (professional services automation) specialist — plans to host an inaugural partner conference Oct. 6-8 in Dallas, Texas. More details are expected to be announced April 1. Here are some observations for managed services providers (MSPs) in the meantime.
Increasing Business Efficiency: Nine Questions You Need to Ask
Posted February 4th, 2010 by Bob Godgart
To 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.
Kaseya Prepares 3 SaaS Tools for MSPs
Posted February 1st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
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.
MSPs Create Managed Services Middleware Market
Posted January 28th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
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.
Get Ready for the Rebound
Posted January 11th, 2010 by Bob Godgart
There’s no denying 2009 was a challenging year. Nearly everyone was forced to cut costs, streamline operations and undergo the proverbial belt tightening to stay out of the red. It wasn’t easy. Salary levels were frozen. Bonuses canceled. Furloughs mandated. And, in the worst cases, employees laid off and businesses closed. Now, here’s some upside.
ConnectWise, CharTec: Something’s Cooking
Posted December 3rd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Sources say something is cooking between ConnectWise and CharTec — which specializes in Hardware as a Service. What could be brewing? At first glance, I don’t know much. At all. (Surprised?) But take a closer look and you might start to see the bigger picture. It involves PSA (professional services automation) and RMM (remote monitoring and management) software companies eventually cooperating and competing in the cloud. Here’s why.
The MSP Software Industry: Following In Larry Ellison’s Footsteps?
Posted October 12th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
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.
Autotask Go! Now Has Single User License Option
Posted October 5th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
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.
Autotask vs. ConnectWise: Who’s Got Cloud?
Posted September 30th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
I 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.
Seven Managed Services Blog Entries I Didn’t Have Time to Write: Sept. 25
Posted September 25th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
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.
CoreConnex Exits PSA Industry; Transitions ConnexIT MSPs to ConnectWise
Posted September 14th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
CoreConnex is getting out of the PSA (professional services automation) business, but the company doesn’t want to leave managed services providers (MSPs) and VARs stranded. The company has developed a strategy to transition PSA customers to ConnectWise. Here’s the scoop — and the bigger story about managed services industry consolidation.
Do Start-Up MSPs Prefer SaaS and Hosted Options?
Posted September 2nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Back on Aug. 19, we asked MSPmentor readers the following question: If you were launching a managed services provider (MSP) from scratch, what type of RMM (remote monitoring and management) and PSA (professional services automation) tools would you embrace? Although it wasn’t a scientific survey, 345 readers participated and most said they’d leverage pure SaaS (software as a service) options rather than on-premise options. Here’s a quick look at results.
New MSPs: Do You Want SaaS or On-premise?
Posted August 21st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Let’s pretend you’re launching a managed services business from scratch. You have no legacy infrastructure. You’re able to choose the PSA (professional services automation) and RMM (remote monitoring and management) tools that best fit your vision. Now, my question: Would those PSA and RMM tools live on premise (in your business) or would they be SaaS/hosted?
PSA: Global Managed Services Moves Continue
Posted July 22nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
The 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.
ConnectWise CEO Discloses 2009 Revenue Estimate
Posted July 14th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
During a wide ranging conversation at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC09), ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini revealed to me a simple but dramatic mission for his company. Plus, Bellini pulled back the curtain a bit more on ConnectWise’s anticipated revenues and profits for 2009. Here are the details.
ConnectWise Cuts Hosted Pricing
Posted July 2nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
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.
Tigerpaw Software: Moving Beyond PSA?
Posted May 28th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
When it comes to professional services automation (PSA) software, I’ve known the folks at Autotask and ConnectWise for about three years. Here at the Kaseya Connect User Conference, I wanted to spend a little more time getting to know another PSA competitor — Tigerpaw Software. James Foxall, a senior VP and co-owner at Tigerpaw, presented at the conference on May 27. Here are some of the key takeaways from his session.
PSA Software: Standard Operating Procedure?
Posted April 23rd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
The stat of the day: During the HTG 2009 Summit and Q2 peer group meeting in Dallas, virtually all of the 300-plus attending solutions providers indicated that they’re using PSA (professional services automation) software.
Vodcast: Autotask CEO Bob Godgart
Posted April 1st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
The Autotask Community Live conference wrapped up yesterday. But the steady flow of content from the conference continues. Here’s my conversation with Autotask CEO Bob Godgart. He provides a healthy reminder that some managed service providers are cutting staff during the recession. But Godgart also delivers some optimistic messages — including a new strategy to eliminate the wall between MSPs and corporate IT. Take a look.
The SaaS Bubble Already Burst (But Don’t Panic)
Posted March 17th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Examiner.com openly wonders if software as a service (SaaS) is the next tech bubble that will burst. The piece was written March 13 — a day after I asked if the MSP bubble would pop. But I think the Examiner’s views are painfully out of date. In fact, our own SaaS 20 Stock Index shows the SaaS market bubble burst in early 2008. Now, I think the SaaS industry is on the road to recovery and doing just fine, thank you. Here’s why.
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