https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • SDN/SD-WAN
    • Cloud
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Telephony/UC/Collaboration
    • Cable
    • Mobility & Wireless
    • Fiber/Ethernet
    • Data Centers
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • IoT
    • Desktop
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Analytics
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Channel Research
    • Business Models
    • Distribution
    • Technology Solutions Brokerages
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Best Practices
    • Vertical Markets
    • Regulation & Compliance
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2022 NextGen 101 Rankings
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • From the Industry
    • Reports/Digital Issues
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • Channel Futures TV
  • EMEA
  • Channel Chatter
    • Back
    • People on the Move
    • New/Changing Channel Programs
    • New Products & Services
    • Industry Honors
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Advisory Boards
    • Industry Organizations
    • Our Sponsors
    • Advertise
    • 2023 Editorial Calendar
  • Awards
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501
    • Channel Influencers
    • Circle of Excellence
    • DE&I 101
    • Technology Advisor 101 (TA 101)
  • Events
    • Back
    • 2023 Call for Speakers
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • MSP Summit
    • Channel Partners Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
    • Industry Events
  • About Us
  • DE&I
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • SDN/SD-WAN
    • Cloud
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Telephony/UC/Collaboration
    • Cable
    • Mobility & Wireless
    • Fiber/Ethernet
    • Data Centers
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • IoT
    • Desktop
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Analytics
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Channel Research
    • Business Models
    • Distribution
    • Technology Solutions Brokerages
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Best Practices
    • Vertical Markets
    • Regulation & Compliance
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2022 NextGen 101 Rankings
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • From the Industry
    • Reports/Digital Issues
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • Channel Futures TV
  • EMEA
  • Channel Chatter
    • Back
    • People on the Move
    • New/Changing Channel Programs
    • New Products & Services
    • Industry Honors
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Advisory Boards
    • Industry Organizations
    • Our Sponsors
    • Advertise
    • 2023 Editorial Calendar
  • Awards
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501
    • Channel Influencers
    • Circle of Excellence
    • DE&I 101
    • Technology Advisor 101 (TA 101)
  • Events
    • Back
    • 2023 Call for Speakers
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • MSP Summit
    • Channel Partners Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
    • Industry Events
  • About Us
  • DE&I
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Agents
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • Channel Partners Events
 Channel Futures

Sales & Marketing


MSP Peer Groups: Will They Go Vertical?

  • Written by Joe Panettieri 1
  • June 8, 2010

I’m going out on a limb just a bit with this blog entry (surprise, surprise). It’s based on insights from only two managed services providers. But both MSPs strongly believe the peer group networking model will someday shift from (A) non-competing geographies to (B) non-competing verticals. Here’s what I mean.

First, a little background: Hundreds of VARs and MSPs participate in peer groups run by HTG, True Profits (anyone have a new URL for them?) and other well-known organizations. The peer groups allow VARs and MSPs to share business and financial information behind closed doors. Participants can measure their success against one another in a confidential manner. And all of the peer group members represent different geographies — ensuring no competitive overlap.

Evolving Market

Now for the twist: A small number of MSPs — I suspect fewer than 5 percent of them — are going purely vertical.

  • Alpha MSP may focus only on the legal vertical.
  • Beta MSP might focus only on the K-12 vertical.
  • Gamma MSP may focus only on the health care vertical.
  • And along the way, cloud computing may push each of those MSPs into bigger and bigger geographies.

The potential result: Vertical market focus — rather than geographic local — could ultimately determine whether or not MSPs compete with one another. And as a result, I wonder if we’ll see peer groups that are vertical in nature.

  • If you’re a financial services MSP, you may only want to sit down with peer MSPs outside of your vertical — in order to ensure you don’t give away your own company secrets to rivals.
  • Also, if you’re a financial services MSP, you may be willing to sit down with local MSPs from your same geography — as long as they compete outside of your vertical and aren’t pushing into your vertical.

Reality Check

I concede: I’m getting a bit ahead of myself. Most MSPs only dabble in vertical markets. Moreover, most vertical market MSPs dabble in multiple verticals. As a result, I don’t think vertical market peer groups will surface in 2010. And I doubt they’ll surface in 2011. But at some point, as vertical market MSPs gain critical mass, I suspect those vertical market peer groups will surface.

Still, I’m an outsider looking in. Only two MSPs have mentioned the potential vertical market peer group trend to me. When I asked HTG Founder Arlin Sorensen if vertical market peer groups would emerge, he offered the following insights:

“I would never claim to know what partners are going to ask for next.  The key to success is non-competing members — so I could see why some might think this makes sense.  However the purpose is to share ideas to implement which would quickly put these folks into potential competitive situations which is never a good thing for a peer group.  So while it seems good on paper — I would worry that it might create some long term issues.  I don’t see HTG moving down that path for those reasons.”

Added Sorensen:

“We try to start with as much space as possible between business models, geo and any other things we can use to differentiate members so we avoid the conflicts as long as possible.  With M&A, the wire, cloud and all the other changes — the IT landscape is shrinking quickly so we are working to figure out how to create groups that don’t cause conflict.”

We’ll be watching.

Sign up for MSPmentor’s weekly Enewsletter, Webcasts and Resource Center. And follow us via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; and Twitter. Plus, check out more MSP voices at www.MSPtweet.com.


Tags: Agents Cloud Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Leadership Sales & Marketing Strategy

Most Recent


  • ThreatLocker Zero Trust World Day 2 2023 Feature
    Zero Trust World 2023: ThreatLocker Unleashes Ops Threat-Detection Tool
    ThreatLocker also will be rolling out a new portal.
  • Layoffs
    Telecom-IT Layoff Tracker 2023: Cisco, RingCentral, Microsoft, 8x8, Sophos, More
    The onslaught of layoffs is bleeding over into this month.
  • Job Cuts
    January's Tech Layoff Scourge: Deep Dive Into Channel Impact
    We break down the seemingly daily layoffs impacting various companies doing business in the channel.
  • Cloud Merger
    Bam Boom! Pax8 Buys Cloud Company to Enable MSPs with Microsoft Dynamics
    The purchase will help partners automate clients’ business processes. Rob Rae will play a role, too.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Drive revenue
    Proofpoint Protect: Rising Vendor, Partner Revenues Amid COVID-19
  • Growth plan
    N-able Empower Day 1: How to Grow Your Business
  • Cloud Computing diagram for Microsoft gallery
    Avaya Cloud Office by RingCentral Adds Capabilities for Global Businesses
  • Call Center Contact Center
    Avant Analytics: Expect Big CCaaS Adoption, Fueled by AI, Through 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

May 1, 2023 - May 4, 2023

Channel Partners Europe

June 13, 2023 - June 14, 2023

Channel Futures Leadership Summit

October 30, 2023 - November 2, 2023

Galleries

View all

Zero Trust World 2023: ThreatLocker Unleashes Ops Threat-Detection Tool

February 2, 2023

Telecom-IT Layoff Tracker 2023: Cisco, RingCentral, Microsoft, 8×8, Sophos, More

February 2, 2023

January’s Tech Layoff Scourge: Deep Dive Into Channel Impact

February 2, 2023

Industry Perspectives

View all

How to Break Through the Growth Ceiling

February 1, 2023

5 Things to Look for in a UC Partner

January 31, 2023

The Benefits of Hiring an Investment Bank

January 30, 2023

Webinars

View all

Next-Generation MSP Platform: The Building Blocks for Your Business

February 15, 2023

How To Boost Your Business With White-Label UCaaS

February 28, 2023

Security Secrets of the MSP 501: How to Be a Cyber Leader in 2023

December 15, 2022
  • 1

White Papers

View all

6 UCaaS Reseller Challenges and How Real World Businesses Solved Them

February 1, 2023

Frost Radar: North American UCaaS Market, 2022

February 1, 2023

The Complete Guide to White-Label UCaaS for Reseller Success

February 1, 2023

Channel Futures TV

View all

Coffee with Craig and James Episode 117: Cato Networks, Video Killed the Podcast Stars

Retired Astronaut Capt. Scott Kelly Previews His CP Expo Keynote

December 21, 2022

Fusion Connect Eyes Future with Intrado UC, Managed Network Customers

September 23, 2022

RingCentral Focused on Hybrid Work, Microsoft Teams, Other Integrations

September 23, 2022

Twitter

ChannelFutures

Day 2 of #ZTW: @ThreatLocker unveils new Ops threat detection tool. dlvr.it/Shs93Y https://t.co/dAnj6IUiF2

February 3, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@broadvoice appoints a channel vet as new program leader. Before joining the company, he had risen through the ran… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

February 2, 2023
ChannelFutures

More activity over at @Pax8 (which just hired @RobTRae): the #cloud marketplace firm has purchased @BamBoomCloud.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

February 2, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@SamsungMobile launches #GalaxyS23 phones, new #GalaxyBook3Ultra at Samsung Unpacked. dlvr.it/ShrW8G https://t.co/DloltwdMsE

February 2, 2023
ChannelFutures

The new partnership between Channel Futures and @ITExchangeNet is poised to benefit the partner community.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

February 2, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@JuniperNetworks announces transition to “solution building outcomes," addresses pain points around quoting, prici… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

February 2, 2023
ChannelFutures

Day 1 of #ZTW23: @ThreatLocker hopes attendees walk away smarter about #zero trust and cybersecurity.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

February 2, 2023
ChannelFutures

6 UCaaS Reseller Challenges and How Real World Businesses Solved Them dlvr.it/ShpCHp https://t.co/Av6eJmYnnF

February 1, 2023

MSP 501

The industry's largest and most comprehensive partner awards program.

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Galleries

Educational slide shows and images from live events.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Events
  • Telecoms.com
  • MSP 501
  • Black Hat
  • IoT World Today
  • Omdia

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X