Autotask Founder Bob Godgart Shares Vision But Steps Away

Mobile: Smart phone sales are overtaking PC sales. Within weeks, Autotask will launch an updated mobility app for tech and sales pros with full CRM capabilities. It will include a free read-only version.

Business Social: It’s time to organize and aggregate information, Godgart said. The future of Autotask involves a business social user interface that looks like Facebook.

Service Intelligence: This is business intelligence for solutions providers. The Autotask platform will include a strong reporting engine.

Convergence: Godgart reinforced a familiar theme, describing how professional audio video experts, telecom agents and copier experts are moving into the IT world. And on the flip side, IT professionals will be moving into the AV and copier worlds.

Cloud: It’s not hype anymore, Godgart asserted, because it’s about the business model. He recommended that VARs and MSPs avoid the broker approach and instead pursue a white label approach to control the brand and the end customer. Godgart previewed a recurring service contract worksheet to help update all customer contracts more quickly.

Community: Godgart pointed to the new CompTIA MSP Partners Trustmark as a key community opportunity for VARs and MSPs. “It’s the premier business credential for MSPs,” said Godgart.

Your Business Next: Have you thought about “what your business next means?” asked Godgart. He pointed to Larry Kesslin, Paul Meyer and Jackie Freiberg as three key sources to help VARs and MSPs drive their businesses forward.

Have a cloud strategy

Have a vertical market strategy

Create multiple sources of recurring revenue

Participate in communities

Implement at least one idea from Autotask Community Live per week.