ConnectWise, HTG Peer Groups Ink Strategic Alliance
Peer groups — which allow VARs and managed service providers to measure their business performance against each other — continue to evolve rapidly. The latest move involves a strategic alliance between HTG Peer Groups and ConnectWise. Here are some details, plus a podcast with HTG Founder Arlin Sorensen and ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini.
No doubt, peer groups are a hot trend across the IT channel. Organizations like HTG, True Profits and Taylor Business Group allow VARs and MSPs from non-competing geographies to hold closed-door, confidential business performance meetings. (Side note: True Profits’ website has been offline for at least a few weeks… I need to check that out.)
Problems and Solutions
But here’s a key challenge: Many of the peer group members may not be running the same business reports. And they might measure their business performance using different metrics.
The solution, according to ConnectWise‘s Bellini, is a common business operating system that allows peer group members to speak the same business and financial language.
Yes, Bellini’s “common business operating system” vision has some self-serving aspects. But it’s also accurate. And Bellini is investing in the effort with new tools for the HTG peer groups.
- Here’s my podcast conversation with Bellini and Sorensen (recorded June 29).
The Age of Standardization
We’ve all worked in companies where multiple departments use different CRM and ERP systems. The result was a hodgepodge of information, rather than standard business discussions across the company. Gradually, large businesses began to standardize their internal ERP and CRM systems so that all departments were working from the same play book.
The same holds true in the managed services market. MSPs that come together in peer groups need common tools to see and manage their businesses, and share best practices. In HTG’s case, the stated “common platform” is ConnectWise.
In some other cases, we’re seeing vendors (such as Autotask and N-able, respectively) form peer groups around their respective user bases.
I have dozens of additional thoughts on the evolution of peer groups. And I’ll be back with more thoughts — including some risks that peer groups could encounter in the years ahead.
But in the meantime, here’s the podcast with Bellini and Sorensen, explaining the ConnectWise and HTG connection. You’ll find it below.
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HTG has been the cornerstone to my business and personal life success. I just don’t know where I would be without the leadership training, business acumen, peer interaction and life development without HTG in my corner. HTG saved my marriage, my health and my business from a disaster. Without HTG I would not be where I am today, that is for sure.
ConnectWise is another cornerstone of my business. Without ConnectWise providing the platform to keep my business on track we would struggle through some of the easiest of tasks.
The teaming up of these two industry thought leaders is a match made in heaven. Now MSP’s and IT Professionals can execute, be accountable and win in the marketplace with the best tools available to them.
Cheers
Stuart R. Crawford
Bulletproof InfoTech
Calgary, AB
http://www.bulletproofIT.ca
Stuart: How do you really feel? Kidding aside, thanks for the thoughts.
I don’t want to paint peer groups as “perfect.” There are some challenges ahead for all types of peer groups. And I will organize my thoughts on that for a future blog post.
But I have noticed a strong correlation between (A) successful MSPs and (B) peer group membership.
I have been a member of HTG for over 3 years and have used Connectwise for even longer. I think this alliance not only makes sense but will allow even better discussions at my meetings and help me to be even more successful. I look forward to
I have been a member of HTG for over 3 years and have used Connectwise for even longer. I think this alliance not only makes sense but will allow even better discussions at my meetings and help me to be even more successful. I look forward to the future!
Joe – good reporting as usual.
Can you please expand this conversation to give me the context of this current news vis-a-vis Ingram Micro’s “merger announcement” with HTG last year. Is it now Ingram Micro/HTG/ConnectWise (IMHTGCW?).
Please advise and keep up the good work.
Thanks!
harrybbbb
Harry,
I have a dinner date (thanks to you, ironically) but I will be back with more thoughts regarding your Q.
-jp
Joe,
Thank you for getting the word out about HTG and the partnership with Connectwise. We’ve been involved in HTG for over 2 years and using Connectwise before that. Those 2 things have made a larger impact on our business than anything else we’ve implemented.
I like the comment Arlin made about where HTG as a peer group needs to go – this really needs to get deeper than the level of interactions that we are currently getting. If attending a conference might have an impact of 2 on a scale of 1 to 10, then HTG may currently be a 6 or 7 on that impact scale. I don’t think Arlin will rest until it’s a 10 out of 10; meaning when HTG can evolve to the point that my group is truly like my board of advisors and they begin to tell me what my goals need to be and what I need to do in my business … now that’s real impact, and that will drive business to a new level.
The announcement of the partnership with Connectwise is an important piece of the puzzle, and I think it makes great sense for both parties. I know it will make a difference!
Bradk
Harry/Joe
Great memory Harry. Let me take a stab at describing the strategic alliances we have in place at HTG. These alliances are core to our mission and vision of “business and personal growth driven by execution”. Last fall we announced an alliance with Ingram Micro as our exclusive distribution partner. That does not mean members can only do business with Ingram, but the alliance gives our members a host of valuable benefits that they did not have prior to our alliance. All HTG members are now part of Ingram’s VTN or SMB Alliance affinity programs. Those bring significant value to our members through disty benefits, education, resources and a host of other things. Ingram is also helping us manage our vendor program and assisting in a number of other ways as we build a sustainable model for the future.
Early this year we announced a strategic alliance with MSPU to educate our members. Erick Simpson, Gary Beechum and team have been delivering a host of training for us at our events and group meetings around sales and service topics. As we take HTG to the next level, we recognize the need to go deeper into the organizations beyond the decision maker/owner levels. The majority of our members have a team of folks who manage the company and we need to provide training at the functional role level, which is where our alliance with MSPU makes sense.
In April we announced our strategic alliance with Service Leadership led by Paul Dippell to provide us with benchmarking. This data is critical for our quarterly meetings as we do peer review and deep analysis of each other’s businesses. It is important to have a standardized way to measure and report what is happening in each member company, and then to present that data in a meaningful way that allows us to dig deep and provide prescriptive guidance for change. Service Leadership has helped with core business training in Accounting 101, Summit presentations and guidance for increasing valuation. As an FYI, Service Leadership is also used by Ingram, MSPU and ConnectWise in serving their customers as well so lots of synergy with them.
This week we announced our fourth strategic alliance with ConnectWise. HTG is moving to a common business operating platform that will again allow us to compare and coach each other more effectively because we will all be speaking the same language and have the same levers. By getting our members on the same platform, we will be able to provide prescriptive guidance, assessments, and tools that will make driving execution much simpler. We need to equip members with actionable tasks as they leave our quarterly meetings, not a list to go back and try to figure out. So this alliance not only gives us that common platform, but it also gives us access to ConnectWise University, ConnectWiseTV, the ConnectWise people/team/expertise and a host of other resources as well.
So we currently have four key strategic alliances in place that enable us to provide significant value to our membership. They align with our business pyramid model to give us the needed resources to execute against that long term vision. It is an exciting time for HTG and it members. 2010 will be a breakout year as we execute in tandem with these strategic partners and provide much enhanced value to our membership. It is going to be a great time to be in HTG!
Arlin Sorensen
Founder / CEO – HTG
[…] Congrats to Arnie and the team for taking over HTG Partner Groups; Yeah, yeah, strategic partnership sounds better in a press release but when you force software and invoices down the entire organization it’s pretty obvious what happened. You can read about it here (Peer Power), and listen to Arnie and Arlin here (MSP Mentor).nbsp; […]
I have been with HTG since January so I am newbie, but it has had a huge influcence on IS Support and mysefl in a very short time. I am in the newest group and the group came together on the first meeting. Our facilator has really lead us well which I contribute to his 3 year tenure in HTG. He knows the HTG way. One of the first decisions that I made in March based on HTG’s influence was to purhcase Connectwise. I went live on Connectwise on June 1, and I have been very pleased. Arnie and his company have done a fabolous job of creating a product that works for IT consulting firms.
My next meeting with HTG is in August tied together with the Ingram Micro event in Charolette. I am really looking forward to this event. Not only do I get 2 days with my HTG group then I get a few days at an Ingram to understand there products better.
Thanks.
Steve Combs
CEO
IS Support, Inc
scombs@issupport.com
(713) 861 7870
@Steve: Please do me a favor and send us an update after your August HTG meeting. We’d love to hear how things are progressing.
@Vlad: I liked your pro-con blog entry… a lot.
@Arlin: Thanks for the in-depth info. I know it takes time to pull together such extensive thoughts. So thanks for articulating your thoughts far clearer than I could have captured them.
@Brad: Looks like Arlin answered your Q’s. Any other questions for us?
-jp