Level Platforms Promotes Managed Workplace 2011 to MSPs
Just in time for the New Year, LPI Level Platforms Inc. is demonstrating Managed Workplace 2011 to established and aspiring managed services providers worldwide. Generally speaking, it sounds like Level Platforms’ partners are very upbeat about the new release — which arrives amid growing competition within the remote monitoring and management (RMM) software market.
According to a prepared statement, Managed Workplace enhancements include:
- Device Manager: Allows the monitoring of remote Windows devices such as roaming laptops, servers in remote offices or data centers, kiosks, small home offices and clients with no server or peer-to-peer networks.
- Automation on Demand: Includes standard scripting techniques and libraries, allowing MSPs to assign automated tasks to multiple devices.
- Deep Asset Scanning: Newly discovered devices are automatically scanned for assets. Plus, MSPs can request an instant update for any device.
- Cloud Management: A single platform to help MSPs monitor interactions between on-premise SMB devices and cloud services.
- Various usability enhancements.
Staying On Message
No doubt, the RMM market is fiercely competitive. Plus, some RMM software companies are pushing into new directions — focusing on mid-size enterprises, massive cloud data centers, vertical markets and so on. But Level Platforms is staying true to its focus — SMB technology for managed services providers.
Moreover, Level Platforms has been working hard to maintain a healthy coopetition relationship with the ConnectWise Capital–LabTech Software combo. While LabTech and Level Platforms compete on some fronts, Level Platforms had a strong showing at the November 2010 ConnectWise IT Nation conference in Orlando. At the IT Nation conference, roughly 100 Level Platforms customers attended a one-day private partner gathering.
Still, new competition seems to be popping up all the time. In addition to entrenched rivals, RMM companies from Europe and Australia-New Zealand are preparing U.S. moves. Regardless, Level Platforms CEO Peter Sandiford sounds confident heading into 2011. “With this release there is no reason for anyone to ever choose another RMM product,” Sandiford asserted in an email to me.
That’s a pretty loft claim. But there are indications that some non-Level Platforms MSPs are considering a switch to Managed Workplace 2011. “The platform seems stable and I trust those guys,” said the CEO of one Master MSP, while referring to Sandiford and Level Platforms VP Dan Wensley.
I’ll sign off with my usual disclaimer: MSPmentor does not run or test any RMM software. Readers should kick the tires on their own, testing a range of RMM offerings to see which solutions fit their specific business needs.
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Congratulations and hats-off to Level Platforms for transforming a great monitoring tool into a mature monitoring and management solution. We love what we see in MW 2011. But more importantly than the technological advances, which are cyclical among all software developers, is the relationship. We selected Level because of its people – who have integrity, honesty, and dedication to a unified vision – which is embodied in the 2011 release.
If you haven’t seen MW2011, stop reading this and go look at it now! Seriously taking a great product and giving it a quantum leap forward is about the best way to describe MW2011. Well executed product from start to finish, too many new features to mention. This deserves a serious look from all MSP’s.
Michael, Matt: Thanks for your perspectives. Can you disclose your company affiliations/employer names? We value reader comments but always push for such disclosures so that readers can make more informed conclusions about comments posted. Thanks again.
-jp
I could not agree with everyone more. LPI is the place to be in 2011! I should have the release canidate today and can’t wait to start playing with it. The features and functionality will be a welcomed addition to our MSP offering!
MW2011 Rocks! I cannot wait to get my hands on the new release! It has a TON of new features. It now has agents! Makes laptop monitoring a breeze. Also, with all of the new scripting, I don’t know what I will do with the time I am going to save…got any ideas?
Joe, Sure full disclosure and transparency. I am an Engineer with TS Tech Enterprises, Wyomissing, PA. My initial post does sound like I am a shill for LP, (No I am not on thier payroll) I have used the product for 3 years and have had a lot of frustrations with it at times, to the point of testing some of the alternatives.
Each RMM tool has its pros and cons. This new verion strengthens a lof of areas where previous versions of their product were lacking.
This version is a better out of box experience. More importantly the ease of using it vs the previous versions is what is impressing me the most. If people previously wrote off that this wasn’t the product for them, they really should give it a look.
Joe,
Sorry. Our company is NetGain Information Systems in West Central Ohio. Fast Growth 100, Inc. 5000, CRN Top 40 Most Innovative MSPs in 2010.
Michael Minnich, CEO
Matt@6, Michael @7: Thanks for coming back and sharing the corporate background. I appreciate your readership and your time. Keep MSPmentor posted as you plot more moves for 2011.
-jp
Osama Faris, CEO of FAR, an MSP in Ottawa Canada. We’ve been an LPI partner since 2003. Its been a long road, but one thing that’s been consistent is the integrity and perserverence. Through good times and bad, LPI team has been there. I purposefully didn’t attend the 2011 showcase – staff attended and came running to my office, absolutely stoked about the changes. As a long time partner, the MW system has been the centerpiece of our MSP offering since 2003 anand will continue to be so for a very long time.
We’ve done two demos of MW2011 and are installing the release candidate today. It is absolutely awesome and a game-changer. We’ve been an LPI partner for three years and have always been pleasantly surprised with the level of support they provide to our business and the commitment they have to constantly improving their product.
Osama@9: Thanks for the update. Seven years on a specific managed services platform is impressive.
Brendan@10: Let us know how the install goes.
Thanks for reading MSPmentor.
-jp