Monday Morning Impact – October 29

Tech Data Launches Bundled Pricing Strategy

Tech Data has rolled out “Tech-as-a-Service for Advanced Solutions,” a new utility-based billing program that allows customers and end users in the U.S. to bundle data center hardware, software and services into a consumption-based pricing model. This program allows customers to have private, dedicated hardware either on premise or in colocation with a public cloud-style billing structure on an OPEX basis.

“We’ve seen a critical shift in the way organizations want to pay for and use their data center technology,” said Jolea Kidd, vice president of Financial Solutions, Americas, at Tech Data. “Many have chosen not to adopt an absolute public cloud strategy, and our new program gives them the best of both worlds—the ability to pay and consume as if it were public cloud, but with dedicated hardware that resides in the location of their choice.”

Monitoring tools provide visibility into consumption as well as chargebacks to specific areas. Additionally, the monitoring software enables channel partners and customers to see when the infrastructure is close to capacity, and in need of expansion or upgrade.

Channel Impact^®
Through this offering, channel partners have the ability to maximize the efficient use of technology, increase worker productivity, and also reduce IT and procurement costs by bundling hardware and services in a pay-as-you-go plan.

D&H and SaaSMAX Forge Deal for Hosted Applications

D&H Distributing has signed with SaaSMAX, a San Diego-based cloud aggregator, to deliver hosted SMB and cybersecurity applications developed by allied software vendors through the D&H’s Cloud Marketplace. Using this self-serve transactional portal, partners can choose from a series of hosted solutions to deliver on a monthly basis.

“The synergistic relationship between SaaSMAX and D&H will provide both of our partner communities expansive access to a unique set of hosted vertical solutions that create value for the end-customer,” said SaaSMAX CEO Dina Moskowitz. “The SaaS catalog gives VARs ample opportunity to offer cloud-based operational efficiencies and revenue-generating tools, which complement D&H’s portfolio of empowering solutions and services.”

SaaSMAX will also provide expertise and strategies to ease adoption and help partners to sell the services. The overall portfolio targets key areas such as HIPAA compliance, collaboration, mobile device management, hosted Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint management, security authentication, back-up, business intelligence, and mobility. New SaaSMAX-based applications are expected to be added on a regular basis.

Channel Impact^®
The agreement is intended to introduce partners to a variety of hosted applications focused on key verticals such as education, healthcare, government, and financial services. The net result is an opportunity for partners to grow their managed service revenues.

IT Glue Announces New Pricing to Gain Down-market Traction

IT Glue, a Vancouver, Canada-based company that has developed a documentation application for MSPs, has announced a new pricing structure that includes no user minimum on Enterprise seats and a 90-day money-back guarantee.

The solution allows MSPs to document the IT assets centrally and in a standardized manner, enabling critical information to be more efficiently stored and accessed.

“While the MSP industry is rife with mergers and acquisitions, there is a huge number of smaller, independent IT providers that are competing head-to-head with the bigger firms on service quality,” said CEO Chris Day. “IT Glue offers MSPs of all sizes the ability to scale in efficiency, which is why we’re thrilled to offer a new no user minimum seat option for smaller MSPs to take advantage of the same benefits as the larger ones.” 

By lowering barriers to entry, IT Glue hopes to attract a wider range of potential MSP customers. Partner program features include checklists, flags, runbooks, a mobile app, and the ability to execute online purchases without additional sales interaction.

The company claims more than 5,000 partners in 30 countries, serving over 60,000 users and 500,000 businesses.

Channel Impact^®
The new pricing structure is intended to attract smaller MSPs, thereby extending the sales potential for vendors and partners alike.