New channel marketplace claims to be 'game changer'
The IT Project Board allows resellers to search for private sector business online
A new channel marketplace which allows resellers to search for work with private sector customers has been branded a "game changer" by its founder.
The IT Project Board launched this week and its founder, Robert Chambers, claims there has been significant interest in the concept. Similar websites exist for public sector work, but the company claims it is the first to connect the channel with private businesses.
The website works by individual staff at suppliers – resellers, disties or vendors – signing up to the site and listing their credentials such as technical accreditations, training and specialisms, and customer testimonials.
Once enough suppliers have been added to the database, the IT Project Board will be opened to buyers, who can search for expertise for specific projects on the site. Chambers said he has a database of about 10,000 customers who will be able to peruse the supplier listings.
Customers do not have to pay to use the service, as they do on some similar offerings for the public sector, and they are able to leave feedback and rate the professional once a project has been completed.
"There is obviously a skills gap in the industry and the hardest thing is finding talent – it is few and far between and is getting thinner and thinner," said Chambers. "There lacked a tool to look up the talent. Not only look it up; we wanted case studies too.
"It is basically a data-matching engine which matches up IT expertise with IT projects. The other side of it is if you're an IT expert, why go looking for new customers when they can quite literally come and find you? It's a win-win – the business wins because it gets validated expertise to invite to its projects and the IT channel wins because you don't have to go out hunting for new customers any more, they can come and find you."
He said another unique element of the IT Project board is the ability to "drill down" into specific requirements, ensuring customers are matched with the exact expert they need.
Chambers said customers have the option to hide their details – such as name and contact information – until a match has been made to ensure that they do not publicise any sensitive data they would rather keep private.
"Anything that is posted on the IT Project Board can be hidden," he said. "You can go with complete anonymity if you want, or you can post as much of your details as you want. Some customers might want 10 people phoning them, but others might want to look at who's a good match and then request contact details afterwards."
Chambers said technical and sales staff at resellers, disties and vendors will be interested in the platform.
"Nine times out of 10, an account manager will find a deal but will pull in the techies to help them do the deal," he said. "Everyone will want to be signed up to this. Sales will be writing the case studies on behalf of the techies."
So-called virtual teams can be built on the site too, so if a reseller and a distie worked together on a big deal, they can get joint customer references.
"This doesn't do away with the traditional sales cycle," Chambers added. "It provides a modern alternative. Every reseller is going to have x number of salespeople in seats hunting for new business. This is like having another horse in the race; why not have some business come and find you?"