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

Technologies


Autotask Community Live: Five Questions Worth Asking

  • Written by Joe Panettieri 1
  • April 15, 2010
When the Autotask Community Live conference kicks off April 18 in Miami, I plan to arrive with plenty of questions. No doubt, Autotask and the broader PSA (professional services automation) market are evolving. New competitors. New strategies. New opportunities? Here are five questions and story angles I plan to pursue at the conference.

When the Autotask Community Live conference kicks off April 18 in Miami, I plan to arrive with plenty of questions. No doubt, Autotask and the broader PSA (professional services automation) market are evolving. New competitors. New strategies. New opportunities? Here are five questions and story angles I plan to pursue at the conference.

1. MSPs Meet Corporate IT?: Autotask promotes Taskfire as a tool that connects the dots between service providers and corporate IT. But is Taskfire catching on? Who are the adopters and why? And ultimately, can the managed services market grow by gaining deeper hooks into corporate IT?

2. New Competition?: Let me set the stage. The traditional PSA market (ConnectWise, Autotask, Tigerpaw) is evolving fast. On the one hand, those rivals are moving into new markets — pushing beyond traditional PSA and competing in different market segments.

But on the other hand, larger SaaS-centric software companies seem to be preparing PSA strategies. Two prime examples:

  • Right now, I’m at the NetSuite SuiteCloud partner conference in San Francisco. Later today, NetSuite will brief me about OpenAir — a professional services automation platform that the SaaS provider acquired.
  • In a few weeks, Salesforce.com will spend some time at the Ingram Micro Seismic conference in Dallas. Is Salesforce.com preparing to work more closely with MSPs? If so, will Salesforce.com eye the PSA sector?

Shifting gears back to the Autotask Community Live conference, I’ll be sure to ask the Autotask team if they anticipate newer, larger rivals potentially entering the PSA SaaS market and specifically serving the channel.

3. Pitching Products: It’s been a few weeks since Autotask acquired VARStreet — an online platform that allows solutions providers to source products from distributors. So, how does Autotask plan to promote Autotask Go and Autotask Pro to VARStreet users? And how will Autotask educate existing PSA partners about VARStreet? Answers will surely emerge at the conference.

4. Moving Beyond the Channel?: I’ve got to be brutally honest. I sometimes wonder if PSA and RMM software providers plan to push outside the IT channel to find new, broader customer bases. Here’s why:

  • On the one hand, plenty of MSP-centric software companies have enjoyed strong growth in recent years. VARs and MSPs are succeeding with recurring revenue models. No doubt, the need for remote management and automation tools within the channel continues to grow.
  • But on the other hand the vast majority of MSP software industry players generate $30 million or less in annual revenues. I suspect some of the best-known names generate $20 million or less. Some companies have outside investors and venture capitalists who will eventually want an exit strategy — or faster, exponential growth that delivers $100 million or more in annual revenues.

With those thoughts in mind, I often wonder if MSP software providers will diversify into new, alternative markets. Already, we’re seeing some RMM providers push into corporate IT. On the flip side, I wonder if we’ll see the PSA providers offer automation for different types of services businesses (electricians, plumbers, transportation companies, etc.).

5. MSPs as Independent Software Vendors?: Before I head to Autotask Community Live, I have to finish up my work here at the NetSuite SuiteCloud conference in San Francisco. The big theme here involves channel partners that have application-centric development expertise.

It sounds like NetSuite’s most profitable channel partners are writing custom code or offering specialized configurations on top of NetSuite’s SaaS platform. A similar trend is popping up in the managed services market, where so-called managed services middleware developers (companies like MSPintegrations and Directive Technology Integrators are creating integrations to Autotask, ConnectWise and other platforms.

At the end of the day, MSPs have to look in the mirror and ask: What is your core business asset and expertise? If the answer is basic, pro-active remote monitoring I think you’re in deep trouble.

On the flip side, I sense that MSPs that deliver some custom code are in good shape. As my first editor told me: Software never dies. Write some custom code that customers like, and you can lock them into your services for life.

I’ll be hunting for software- and application-centric MSPs at Autotask Community Live.

What Are Your Questions?

What key trends or issues do you expect to pop up at Autotask Community Live? What type of topics should MSPmentor explore at the conference? Let me know (joe [at] NineLivesMediaInc.com) and I’ll pursue the answers at the conference.

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 Cloud RMM/PSA Sales & Marketing Strategy Technologies

Most Recent


  • New direction
    Deal to Buy Unify from Atos Seals New Direction for Mitel, CEO Explains
    The deal also includes a role for RingCentral.
  • Momentum
    Microsoft Security Now $20 Billion Business with 'Tremendous Momentum'
    One analyst says there's few legitimate obstacles in its path for further growth.
  • Intelisys Pre-AMP'd Marketing Forum
    Intelisys, Suppliers, Agents Take Aim at the Partner Marketing Gap
    Marketing is historically a second thought for the sales-focused world of technology advisors.
  • Layoffs
    IBM and SAP Are the Latest to Announce Layoffs, SAP to Shop Qualtrics
    IBM Will Cut 3,900 employees, while SAP plans to eliminate 3,000 jobs.

5 comments

  1. Avatar Scott Spiro April 16, 2010 @ 6:07 am
    Reply

    Joe, looking forward to seeing you there! I will be sitting on a Cloud Computing panel hosted by Ingram Micro.

    Scott Spiro

  2. Avatar Joe Panettieri April 16, 2010 @ 2:23 pm
    Reply

    Scott: I’ll try my best to sit in on the panel.
    -jp

  3. Avatar vincent everts April 18, 2010 @ 10:46 pm
    Reply

    John,

    Will only be there virtually. Damm vulcano’s. Good questions to start with! I have one for you: Are the PSA vendors like AutoTask really using the social media wave which is changing the way to discus, decide amp; work together? Or do they see facebook, twitter, blogs only as an extra channel to spam their message through?

    See you tommorow.

    Vincent Everts
    Stuck in Amsterdam but there…

    (why did you not create a yubby channel 🙂

  4. Avatar Vlad Mazek April 19, 2010 @ 8:00 am
    Reply

    Vincent,

    As an Autotask software integrator, etc I can tell you that they have heavily relied on their forums that are built into the software – so they have been ahead of the curve of Twitter/Facebook, etc.

    You can see that activity on the #CommLive hashtag on Twitter, there is a fair bit of tweeting going on between attendees 🙂

    Sorry you’re missing the event due to the volcano.

    -Vlad

  5. Avatar Joe Panettieri April 19, 2010 @ 3:45 pm
    Reply

    [email protected]: I hope all is well. I really respect Yubby but we found a different way to monetize video. I will share details with you next time we talk. And I’ll see if we can come back to Yubby sometime soon.

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

  • Welcome Mat
    Ex-Telarus Exec Scott Forbush Leaves Upstack for PPT Solutions After 5 Months
  • Ransomware skull and crossbones
    JBS Did What it 'Needed to Do' with $11 Million Ransom Payment
  • hybrid clouds
    Nutanix, HPE Team on Hybrid, Multicloud via GreenLake
  • lone Arctic wolf
    Arctic Wolf Enhances Partner Program with 2 New Tiers

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

Deal to Buy Unify from Atos Seals New Direction for Mitel, CEO Explains

January 26, 2023

Intelisys, Suppliers, Agents Take Aim at the Partner Marketing Gap

January 26, 2023

Ivanti: Everyone Should be Concerned About ChatGPT and Cybersecurity

January 25, 2023

Industry Perspectives

View all

Make the Most of the Gift of Time in 2023

January 25, 2023

Strong Partnerships Ease Challenging UPS Upgrade

January 24, 2023

The Advantages of Managed Networking and Security During Economic Uncertainty

January 5, 2023

Webinars

View all

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

February 15, 2023

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

December 15, 2022
  • 1

Cybersecurity Certifications: Their Evolving Role in the Fight Against Increasing Attacks

December 13, 2022

White Papers

View all

Overcoming Your Endpoint Security Limitations with a Skeleton Crew

October 25, 2022

Embracing the Zero Trust Mindset For Endpoints

October 24, 2022

Endpoints are the Destination

October 24, 2022

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

The CEO of @Mitel discusses the likely outcomes of buying @Atos Unify. Note: @RingCentral will play a role post acq… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@msftsecurity surpasses $20 billion in annual revenue, analysts say it's a formidable #cybersecurity market conten… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

The adoption of cloud-based services ☁️ has spiked in the last few years and is among the top growth segments. See… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

[email protected], @NICECXone, @lumencpp, @CiscoPartners joined @IntelisysCorp and partners for a day of marketing worksho… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@IBM and @SAP announce #layoffs of thousands of employees dlvr.it/ShV2VY https://t.co/7QK1YqVpwa

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

#MSPs can boost #Channel business if they personalize the #DigitalExperience for partners, says @AvePoint.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

Consider mental health in the context of DE&I. Create safe spaces where employees can feel comfortable being who th… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 26, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@GoIvanti's CSO says #ChatGPT poses numerous cybersecurity concerns. dlvr.it/ShRmdt https://t.co/n22RZ4PZaO

January 25, 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