CompTIA builds services might
Trade body's acquistion of MSP Partners will enable VARs to develop lucrative services skills
Poyiadgi: leading resellers know they have to offer more than just sales to retain and grow lucrative contracts
Trade organisation CompTIA claims its acquisition of managed services-focused industry body MSP Partners addresses members' need for a leg-up into the services arena.
MSP Partners was founded two years ago as an alliance between Cisco, Intel, Microsoft, Ingram Micro, and Level Platforms. Their goal was to help VARs develop or improve managed services skills. The programme now also enjoys the backing of vendor giants HP, EMC, Google Apps and numerous others.
Last week CompTIA entered an agreement, subject to closing conditions, to assume MSP Partners' operations. MSP Partners will reside within CompTIA's managed services community of services-based education and research tools.
The community will now be led by former MSP Partners executive director Jim Hamilton.
“With the additional reach and resources of CompTIA, we will be able to develop the pre-eminent community for the managed services market, featuring valuable business solutions, research, networking and discussion forums, and continuing education," said Hamilton.
The services body has 5,000 US members and can now roll out its offerings to CompTIA's global base. Matthew Poyiadgi, CompTIA's EMEA vice president, claimed UK VARs needed to cultivate services skills to keep hold of lucrative custom.
"How to change their business model and implement a service-based offering is a challenge we now hear regularly from a large percentage of our members," he added.
"The requirements for success in the UK channel are shifting. Leading resellers know they need to offer more than just sales volumes to retain and grow lucrative contracts. Managed services are how these businesses are increasing customer retention and growing through the recession.
"But not everyone has the knowledge and experience to change their business model overnight. Many need help and support to understand how managed services can fit into their existing structure and complement current practices."