The Trusted IT Advisor: Recent Episodes
Mike Monocello
Join Mike Monocello and guests as they share advice for helping IT solutions providers (VARs, MSPs, integrators, and software developers) increase revenue, reduce expenses, and become trusted IT advisors to their customers.
The POS industry is changing. Today, one of the biggest threats and opportunities to traditional POS resellers is the POS-as-a-Service model. This model is essentially bundling POS hardware, software, and services into a solution for which customers pay a monthly fee. This, as opposed to the lump sum the traditional sales model yields.
While there are many ways to provide this model, it was made famous -- or infamous -- by Harbortouch. Early iterations of their program literally were met with boos from traditional POS dealers whose entire business model relied on those lump sums for sales. With the new model, customers could obtain their POS equipment for a low monthly fee. Due to that, many in the industry fought against the model. However, today, many of those same dealers are now drinking the Kool-Aid.
One reseller who was an early adopter was Ted Kramer of POS of Michigan. I met Ted at a Harbortouch conference a couple years ago and was struck by his healthy and realistic view of the model and the direction of the industry. He's my guest today to talk not just about how great the model is, but where it falls short and how his business continues to evolve.
You’ve poured your blood sweat and tears into your company. But what is your company worth? If you plan to retire soon or years from now, how much will you get for your company? Many solutions providers are shocked to find that their businesses aren’t worth what they think it should be. Let’s fix that. We’re talking exit strategies today with Bruce Teichman on the Trusted IT Advisor. Teichman specializes in helping IT companies through acquisitions, giving him a wealth of knowledge on the topic.
I first spoke with Teichman for an article in the Nov. 2015 issue of Business Solutions magazine. That article can be found here: Building An Exit Strategy.
Cogent Growth Partners is a buy-side merger & acquisition advisory firm that exclusively specializes in helping IT services companies in the MSP, CSP and Hosted Services sectors, grow their business more effectively via strategic acquisition. Learn more about Cogent at www.cogentgrowthpartners.com.
It's no secret that many IT solutions providers struggle when it comes to marketing. At Business Solutions, we recently conducted a survey and wrote a report on the state of marketing in the channel -- what works, and what doesn't. Coincidentally, at a recent Channel Transitions conference, one of our panelists shared a marketing idea that got the crowd (and other panelists) pretty excited. Today, I speak with that panelist, Dave Wilkeson, about his idea and he shares all the details you need to make it a reality for your business.
Omni-channel is all the rage in retail, but is it something small retailers want or even need? What did you miss at NRF last week that could make you more successful in 2016? We’re talking retail technology with Matt Pillar, retail guru, on this episode of the Trusted IT Advisor.
Do you have an MSA? If you do, is it good enough to protect you from harmful situations lurking around the corner? Bradley Gross, an attorney who specializes in IT law, shares some common mistakes most solutions providers make with their MSA. The legal advice he shares is worth its weight in gold as it can help you avoid costly lawsuits and ugly client-related situations.