IT Optimism Increases; New Tools for Business Growth

As the U.S. economy continues to recover, TEKsystems, a leading technology staffing and services company, found that more organizations are feeling increasingly optimistic about their contingent hiring for the next quarter. While 23 percent of companies planned to increase their temporary IT hiring in the second quarter of this year, according to TEKsystems research, 29 percent plan to do so in the third quarter. TEKsystems, a Breakaway sponsor (Booth #708), helps clients successfully plan, build and run their critical technology initiatives.  

As optimism grows, Breakaway attendees in San Antonio this week are being asked can they handle the extra load of more business.  During a strategic planning session on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., attendees can learn how to improve their sales and pipeline management as well as capacity planning in order to grow their businesses.  Heartland Technology Solutions (HTS) executives Arlin Sorensen and Larry Hedin lead the discussion and will help attendees to understand the difference and importance of a pipeline versus a forecast.  Attendees will consider when is it time to add sales capacity, how to grow a sales team and how to manage sales effectively.

HTS is joining forces with Ulistic, (Booth #418) a Canadian Internet consulting firm to help MSPs and IT VARs craft their message and win new business opportunities through online business newsletters, social media and search optimization. This strategic partnership will offers the IT channel an online marketing solution leveraging HTS’ newsletter and content library services with Ulistic’s search engine optimization, social media and Internet marketing and consulting programs.

During Breakaway, more than 200 companies are displaying a host of VAR and MSP tools.  NASBA (in the Breakaway Partner Pavilion) is showing its new set of wireless services (activations and management) that provide an opportunity for resellers to be a more active participant in their customers' total business. This particular service is the latest in a broad set of programs and services that help resellers make money, save money or get trained.

Spiffs.com (Booth #919), the sales incentive community connecting vendors, VARS and salespeople within the IT channel, is offering free sign-up to VARS and salespeople at Breakaway.  Plus swing by its booth to roll the dice to win a $25 Visa Prepaid gift card.

Live Virtual Help Desk (Booth #416) is showcasing its services for desktops, laptops, servers, network and hand held devices. The company white labels its services for MSPs. It has lined up a range of remote monitoring and management integrations and MSP partnerships.

Taking content management to the next level, Yfactor (Booth #703) added more tools, more control and enhanced functionality to its iCMS content management system.  It can be configured with an unlimited number of websites and has functional tools like member, donor, asset, attraction and directory tools. iCMS also comes with multi-user management, workflow approval, polls, forms and surveys.

Cloud Services Depot, (Booth #519) a channel-focused distributor, joined the Kaseya On Demand Partner Program.  Resellers can get the latest version of Kaseya’s cloud-based IT systems management tools along with several value-added services from Cloud Services Depot. Available as a monthly subscription, Kaseya’s cloud-based solutions include hosted applications, dedicated account management, 24x7 telephone support and an industry-leading service level agreement. 

N-able Technologies (Booth #506) launched N-able MSP supplemental services with support from NetEnrich. The services gives N-able partners new capabilities for delivering comprehensive network operations center (NOC) and help desk services to customers. In addition, MSPs gain a remote and fully secure option for the management, monitoring and remediation of their customers' IT infrastructures.

Through a new partnership, Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions will connect its global network of VARs to Verio’s suite of services (Booth #319) including virtual private servers, managed private servers, shared hosting, domain name registration, hosted Microsoft® Exchange and SharePoint, and other SaaS solutions. Arrow ECS VARs now can offer hosting and other managed solutions to their existing customers and prospects, representing an alternative form factor to traditional IT services.

Verio’s new viaVerio marketing campaign program also offers pre-built emails, landing pages and postcards in seven creative themes so that partners can launch marketing campaigns quickly without the need or cost of working with an external agency.

The show floor at Breakaway opens this Tuesday at 3:15.  See you in San Antonio.