CA service to cut downtime
Firm teams up with iRevolution to deliver SME-targeted offering
Computer Associates (CA) has teamed up with managed services vendor iRevolution to deliver a new SME-tailored service exclusively through the channel.
Due for launch next month, iAssist, which is based on CA's Unicenter agent technologies and iRevolution's Network Operations Centre, has been designed to minimise server downtime, and will guarantee resellers 30 per cent margin, Eamus Halpin, chief executive of iRevolution, told CRN.
iAssist is looking to recruit resellers, which will have to complete a one-day sales and technical training course to qualify as Certified partners.
According to a survey commissioned by Microsoft, which questioned 450 UK businesses in October and November, firms could be wasting up to £63bn per year in technology downtime.
The problem is most prevalent in firms with 250 to 500 employees, of which only 20 per cent have support operations with expert external support or backup, the research claimed.
Halpin said end-users pay about £75 a month per server/application monitored by the service. It is compatible with 14 applications including Windows, Siebel and Oracle.
If a problem occurs the company is alerted by email, text or fax. VARs can also arrange to be notified in advance of any problems with customers, allowing them to generate extra business. All billing is handled by iRevolution.
"This takes the administration headache away from the channel as the customer pays iRevolution and the reseller's commission is paid directly by us. VARs can just concentrate on generating more margin," Halpin said. He stressed that the service will be offered only through the channel.
Richard Bradley, channel manager at CA, said: "This provides an enterprise-class monitoring service for SMEs, and will help to fix problems before they occur, saving firms time and money. It also guarantees channel partners a regular monthly payment and ongoing annuity stream."