ChannelTrends: Driving New Revenue with Mobility

As a frequent traveler and lover of the outdoors, I have a special place in my heart for the critical business tools that can be easily packed and transported wherever I’m going. My first ThinkPad, a pre-Lenovo, “brick-by-today’s-standards” laptop, introduced me to the benefits of the mobile workplace that’s become commonplace today. Rather than saving work to those lovable floppy discs in my corporate office and transporting them home at night to toil away on my home PC, the laptop gave me the freedom to use a single system—wherever I was. That revolutionary device didn’t just offer freedom, but increased my productivity significantly, allowing me to write, prepare presentations and complete reports from virtually anywhere.


Of course, the technology available on the first ThinkPad pales in comparison with the applications and options at hand in today’s mobile devices. We’re still undergoing the next revolution, with a plethora of apps and cloud solutions that allow workers to do virtually anything outside the office that they could do while sitting in front of a traditional desktop PC.


Over the past few months, MDM (mobile device management) has become more prominent in many solution providers’ businesses, and a common topic at industry events. The great thing is it’s not just the latest channel “buzz word,” but a resolute and feasible opportunity for VARs and MSPs.  How many businesses aren’t awash in smartphones and tablets, even if the company hasn’t purchased a single mobile device? People love the latest technology toys and happily encourage their employers to let them use the devices in the workplace, and many organizations are realizing the benefits of implementing an MDM program.


We all know how useful mobile devices have become— even when employees never leave the building. Smartphones and tablets give workers the ability to roam untethered without missing (or dropping) a call, email, or web session. The business benefits seem to be growing as fast as the applications and services being offered. That’s why, despite many MDM policies being driven by employee demand, employers are quickly jumping on the bandwagon. But few businesses have the capability to support these programs on their own, leaving a substantial opening for the properly prepared solution provider.


Creating and Advancing a Successful Mobile Practice

Starting a new business practice isn’t always as easy as it looks and, to a solution provider unfamiliar with MDM services, the obstacles can appear to be quite overwhelming. While the experienced professionals aren’t saying it’s an easy solution to deliver and support, most do acknowledge that the tools are available to simplify the start up.

For those who’ve identified their clients’ specific mobility needs, or are just looking at the opportunities available to their businesses, CompTIA Breakaway is a must-attend event.  This year’s conference (July 30^th-August 2^nd at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas) features a number of educational workshops focused on building new business practices, including a series on constructing a viable mobility offering.

The CompTIA Executive Certificate in Mobility series offers solution providers a clear path to building a feasible and valuable business unit to support their client’s specific needs, including:

• Course 1: Attendees will learn all about the opportunities available in mobility, starting with detailed CompTIA research and key adoption trends. The instructor will point out what it takes to be a successful mobility specialist, beginning with how different organizations use mobility to enhance productivity and streamline operations. Of course, a number of industry best practices will be presented, with audience participation encouraged (discussing their own ideas and plans with their peers).



• Course 2: In this workshop session, the instructor will take a deeper dive into enterprise mobility and MDM, including a number of key responsibilities and options for solution providers. Attendees will be introduced to a framework for mobility management and the tools available to manage them, and should leave the class with a solid plan for crafting their own service offerings based on their particular team’s skill sets and clients’ needs.



• Course 3: In the final Breakaway mobility session, the class will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of hiring, acquiring, or partnership options for application development. Several approach alternatives will be offered, allowing participants to construct a flexible plan that ensures the most success for their specific organization.

With no prerequisite courses required for either session, Breakaway attendees can check into one (or all) based on their own personalized show schedule. If you’re ready to help support the mobility revolution, register for Breakaway today—and highlight these valuable courses on your agenda.


Brian Sherman is founder of Tech Success Communications, specializing in editorial content and consulting for the IT channel. His previous roles include chief editor at Business Solutions magazine and industry alliances director with Autotask. Contact Brian at Bsherman@techsuccesscommunications.com.