ThinkGrid hails success of IT on demand model

Economic conditions mean pay-as-you-go programmes are becoming more attractive to customers

Resellers must adjust their business models to provide “IT on demand” if they want to survive the recession, according to hosted infrastructure vendor ThinkGrid.

The firm says it has been “bombarded” by UK resellers since launching its hosted service in November. It currently has 25 partners.

David Pratt, chief operating officer at ThinkGrid, said the firm plans to continue to educate its VARs on how to go to market with a model that they are not used to.

“PC sales are down, budgets are being frozen and credit is feeling the pinch ­ resellers must adapt to the current economic climate,” said Pratt.

“The channel can take advantage of telling their customers that they do not have to provide the big bang up front, but can pay as they go for what they use.”

ThinkGrid customers continue to use their existing IT, but access the desktop operating system, applications and stored data from ThinkGrid’s enterprise-class hosted infrastructure.

David D’Orazi, chief executive of ThinkGrid reseller partner Virtual Planet, said the fact that ThinkGrid allows its partners to white label their services is very compelling.

“We partnered with ThinkGrid just over a year ago at Platinum level,” he said. “In these tough times the hosted storage model will no doubt grow because a pay-as-you-go model is very attractive to customers who do not want to tie themselves into anything at the moment.

“Virtual Planet felt this was the most receptive message to put out there. We could have delivered these services ourselves, but instead partnered with ThinkGrid to provide the infrastructure for us.”