MSOs: CableFinder Tool Key to MSP Channel Convergence

Cableco executives are hailing CableFinder as a key on-ramp for MSPs to sell connectivity services.

The CableFinder tool provides serviceability information for multiple cable companies on a single platform. Partners can input an address, find options for coax and fiber, load pricing and promotion options, and generate a contract for customers to sign. As a result, agents can speed up and simplify the sales process.

Co-founder Jed Kenzy helps partners view disparate cable footprints from a single pane of glass.

CableFinder’s Jed Kenzy

“Today if you have a multisite opportunity and you want to know what falls in Comcast versus what falls in Spectrum versus what falls in Cox, your team has to have the knowledge to go to each of those individual portals,” Kenzy said.

For that reason, master agent Innovative Business Solutions (which Kenzy co-founded), first unveiled the tool in 2019. But after seeing demand from other master agents for that type of solution, Kenzy redesigned CableFinder as its own separate software. Now Intelisys, Avant, CNSG, MicroCorp, AppSmart and Pax8 use the offering, in addition to Innovative Business Solutions. Some of them are white-labeling the tool.

Thus far, partners have searched 1.3 million addresses on CableFinder and generated 8,000 contracts. Participating carriers include Altice, Comcast Business, Cox Business, Spectrum Business, Viasat and WOW.

“The fact that we were 1) able to wrangle together all of the cable companies and 2) able to wrangle all the master agents to do this — it’s really bringing forward consistency across the entire channel,” Kenzy said.

CableFinder’s Jeff Pratt

Most recently, Jeff Pratt joined as senior director of strategic alliances. Pratt, who previously managed Spectrum Business’ authorized partner program, will develop new relationships with master agents, retail, call center and digital channels.

MSP Opportunity

Craig Schlagbaum, Comcast Business‘ senior vice president and channel chief, said the tool is opening up a crucial opportunity for the cable industry. While traditional telecom agents benefit from CableFinder, Schlagbaum said MSPs are getting a missing piece of the puzzle.

Comcast’s Craig Schlagbaum

Schlagbaum, who has been trying to involve IT partners in the connectivity space for more than a decade, said CableFinder relieves the concerns of MSPs who might be considering selling cable. It helps them answer key questions that clients are bound to ask.

“And that comes down to: ‘Is it serviceable? What’s the price? What does that service do? Where’s my contract, and what are the details of that contract?'” Schlagbaum said. ” … This tool simplifies all those riddles and makes it simple for the average MSP to participate in the ecosystem.”

Schlagbaum said too often MSPs see connectivity as a “bogeyman” that