Heartland embraces ConnectWise

HTG11 members

VAR consortium the Heartland Technology Group (HTG) has announced a strategic alliance with ConnectWise, to enable its members to share expertise and measure business process improvements.

With more than 200 members across North America, HTG announced its UK group dubbed HTG11 last October with seven members to kick off. The group was founded as a means for resellers to share ideas, best practice and business opportunities.

Through the partnership, members of the IT peer network will use ConnectWise as their business operating system. ConnectWise offers professional services automation software. Utilising ConnectWise’s platform HTG will use ConnectWise-developed education as part of their peer group process.

Arlin Sorensen, chief executive and founder of HTG, said: “As HTG has evolved, we realised that our members needed an efficient way to transform ideas into operational improvements.

“We can now not only focus on what should be done to enhance our members’ operations, we can talk very specifically about how to do it. This strategic alliance will allow us to move from theoretical to tactical and increase the impact on member companies exponentially. ConnectWise is uniquely positioned to deliver the industry insight and software capabilities HTG members need to create business success.”

ConnectWise claims to be investing $3m (£1.8m) into developing its educational content for its partners during 2009.

Arnie Bellini, chief executive of ConnectWise, said: “HTG has clearly established the industry’s leading peer group community. We are committed to helping organisations like HTG develop their members’ expertise and improve their business results.

“With our online university, regional user groups, Learning Center, Mastery sessions and Partner Summit, HTG members have access to the industry’s leading educational content and can select the delivery method that works best for them.”

Dan Shundoff, president and chief executive of HTG member Intellicom, said: “Joining HTG and making the investment in ConnectWise both rank up there with the best business decisions we have made.

“We are excited to see these two mission-critical organisations work hand-in-hand to enhance our peer group interaction and our business. This move just confirms those decisions even further.”