ConnectWise, LabTech, Quosal Pitch ModernOffice Suite

MyOfficeBundle (backed by ConnectWise, LabTech Software and Quosal) apparently has been rebranded as ModernOffice Suite. What’s behind the name change and why should IT service providers care? The VAR Guy has a few hunches… and he tends to be on the mark about these things. Here’s the update.

ConnectWise Capital invested in LabTech Software and Quosal in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The idea was to give IT service providers (VARs and MSPs) a family of business automation and management tools that can help channel partners lift their profit margins.

By November 2011, ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini unveiled his software suite concept at the annual IT Nation conference in Orlando, Fla. At the time, Bellini assured partners that ConnectWise would continue to offer open APIs and integrations with various RMM (remote monitoring and management) and sales quoting software. But ConnectWise also made it clear that tight integrations between its flagship PSA software, LabTech’s RMM offering, and Quosal’s quoting software was on the way.

Also at an IT Nation conference (back in 2010 perhaps?), Bellini floated the idea of the modern office — showing channel partners that they must defend the last mile of IT from cloud computing companies. Even as the cloud takes off, Bellini noted, the modern office would contain plenty of endpoints for MSPs and VARs to manage. Not by coincidence, the ConnectWise Capital portfolio of solutions would manage IT lifecycles for those devices:

• LabTech allows channel partners to discover customers’ network and PC infrastructures, and channel partners can pinpoint aging weak points that need replacement.
• Quosal allows those channel partners to develop sales proposals for those potential upgrades and network build-outs.
• ConnectWise allows the channel partners to manage projects, staffing and billing for those build-outs.
• Then the cycle repeats back to LabTech.

That sounds pretty compelling. But there has been some healthy debate within ConnectWise, LabTech and Quosal about the actual software suite branding strategy. The picture came into focus around January 2013, when ConnectWise’s sales team was cross-trained to sell and support all three of the products. The suite initially was called the IT Office Bundle and then the MyOffice Bundle. But somebody within the halls of ConnectWise must have given Bellini’s IT Nation presentations from yesteryear a look. The modern office message continues to echo. Say hello to the ModernOffice Suite.