Tuesday, July 24, 2012

How to Stop Being Such a Whiner and Start Obeying Process


If you are serious about growing your business, you have to pay attention to the details, lead by the numbers and make the tough choices.

In this business-building session, Tom Clancy, Vice President of Valiant Technologies will show you which metrics you really need to pay attention to, the traits to watch out for in your staff, and the way you can get over yourself and improve your business.

By attending this webinar you will:
  • Be inspired to make recurring live reports
  • Understand the secret phrase to ease termination (of staff, vendors and even pesky customers)
  • Get enthusiastic about metrics (no, really).
  • Be reminded that you're not alone in your daily challenges. Every one of us struggles with the same things every day. We are all works in progress.
Register Now!

Friday Coffee with Autotask: Want to keep projects on schedule? Project automation ensures team alignment and productivty


Workflow rules and notifications are at the heart of automation, efficiency and process.  Our June release brought the same level of automation to projects which is currently available to Service Desk.

Join us for a fast-paced overview of Project and Task workflow rules.  Grab a cup of coffee and take 30 minutes with Autotask's Joe Rourke. He'll demonstrate project workflow rules, task workflow rules, notification templates and client portal options.

What can workflow rules do?
  • Notify team members of changes to tasks or projects
  • Notify team members of pending or overdue tasks
  • Keep clients up to date on projects
  • Update tasks or projects
  • Update successor tasks based on changes to predecessor tasks
  • Create to-dos for a task
Register Now!

Managing a SBS Server Migration project Using Autotask


Whether you are managing projects and tasks using Excel spreadsheets, a combination of disconnected and costly tools, or nothing at all, you will want to sit in on this enlightening webinar.

In this session, Karl Palachuk, Senior Systems Engineer at America’s Tech Support, will give you a framework for managing your projects using Autotask’s integrated IT Business Management solution. You’ll learn how to manage projects using service requests and tickets as well as the project module. In this presentation, Karl will walk through managing a Small Business Server Migration project to highlight key features and functions in Autotask that simplify and automate the way you work.

Key features you will see include:
  • How tickets and workflow rules work together to automate communications and activities
  • How drag and drop dispatchers workshop simplifies assigning work
  • How project tasks and phases are used to organize work and assign resources
  • How time and expenses can be easily collected for billing and profitability analysis

Karl W. Palachuk is the author of nine books including The Super-Good Project Planner for Technical Consultants and The Network Migration Workbook.

Register Now!

Building The Perfect Strategy: The 5 Surefire Steps To Winning More Customers


Increase sales and gain more customers faster than ever before with this easy to follow sales and marketing roadmap!

Join renowned sales guru and president of MSP Sales Pros, Mark Woldman, and Autotask’s Business Development Manager, Rich Akullian, as they reveal the keys to winning more customers with higher close ratios and shorter sales cycles, and how Autotask can help you streamline everything from the initial call through servicing your new accounts.

You’ll learn how to create a compelling offer that will propel you past your competition and get you recognized as an industry expert every time, including:
  • Key Elements – how to create a repeatable process that delivers results
  • Loud and Clear – how to leverage compelling messages that make prospects want to talk to you.
  • Demand Generation – Put an end to " We already have an IT company" for good
  • Pipeline Management – how to identify hidden obstacles in every deal
  • Closing - How to be seen as the front runner every single time

Register Now!


Monday, July 9, 2012

Autotask helps Datrix improve customer service and reduce reporting burden

Professional Services Automation as SaaS helps IT channel clients increase profitability

RICHMOND, UK - May 16, 2012
 
Autotask Corporation, the world’s leading provider of hosted IT business management software, today announced details of how its customer Datrix, a UK provider of IT business solutions has improved customer service and profitability.

Established in 1994, Datrix provides end-to-end business solutions and consulting services to both the private and public sectors in the UK.  The firm had struggled to grow its helpdesk systems due to limited integration across messaging platforms and inefficient systems for tracking and reporting contracted hours.
Since implementing Autotask, Datrix has noticed major improvement in its business and client relationships. “We’re now logging 60% more calls,” explains DesirĂ© Cilliers, Service Manager at Datrix, “As well as increasing our revenue; we are also providing more detailed reports for our customers which show just how much work we are doing for them.”

With over 80% of its business generated through existing clients, it’s vital that Datrix continuously improves service delivery and demonstrates on-going value to its clients. ”We can see which contracts are profitable and which are not, as well as which areas need more support. We can even see where we need to provide extra training or additional resources for our engineers,” Cilliers adds.

Autotask provides deep integration with Microsoft Exchange resulting in a ‘live’ view of engineers’ activity. Datrix can now benefit from better reporting such as the ‘Block Hour’ facility, which provides reports on customers’ pre-paid hours. Overall, the switch to Autotask has helped reduce the time taken for reporting by 80% while ensuring reports are accurate and presented professionally.

“Autotask is the cornerstone of our business,” adds Mahmood Chaudri, Managing Director of Datrix, “We use almost every aspect of it to help us improve our efficiency, retention of customers, cost structure and productivity”.

Autotask software is currently used by thousands of IT service providers, value-added resellers (VARs) and managed services providers (MSPs) in 54 countries.  Autotask is a true multi-tenant SaaS that is accessible anywhere, any time with nothing to maintain, install or update. The software integrates a broad range of critical business systems, including customer relationship management (CRM), service desk, human resource scheduling, project management, billing and reporting, and provides real-time service delivery intelligence to help users understand the factors that drive their business and their profitability.
Autotask also integrates with leading financial software vendors including Sage, Microsoft Dynamics™ GP and Quickbooks® to help provide a complete picture of the business. The software is also available in six languages; German, Chinese, Spanish, French, Italian and Japanese.

About Autotask Corporation
Autotask Corporation provides the world's leading hosted IT business management software to streamline and optimize business processes for technology solution providers. The software integrates a broad range of critical business systems, including customer relationship management (CRM), service desk, tech scheduling, project management, billing and reporting, and provides real-time service delivery intelligence to help users understand the factors that drive their business and their profitability.
Autotask is accessible from virtually any computing or mobile device connected to the Internet and features a world-class API that seamlessly integrates with the other systems and tools that providers rely on to run their businesses.
For more information about Autotask Corporation and products, please visit http://www.autotask.com or call 518-720-3500 Ext. 1

Autotask Corporation Announces Integration with CNET Content Solution’s ChannelOnline

EAST GREENBUSH, NY - June 4, 2012
 
Autotask Corporation, the world’s leading provider of hosted IT business management software, today announced the availability of a new integration with CNET Content Solutions’ sales automation solution ChannelOnline.  The integration, offered as part of the ChannelOnline 5.7 release, which went live in May, enables IT resellers and retailers to effectively synchronize and exchange data between the ChannelOnline and Autotask platforms.

ChannelOnline, a complete sales-cycle automation solution, provides resellers with a web-based service that automates catalog integration, real-time price and availability, quoting, sales orders, procurement and includes an e-commerce store site. CNET and ChannelOnline consistently partner with leaders in the IT and consumer electronics industries, and Autotask is no exception.

Autotask Corporation’s hosted IT business management software streamlines and optimizes business processes for technology solution providers. The software integrates a broad range of critical business systems, including customer relationship management (CRM), service desk, tech scheduling, project management, billing, and reporting.

The ChannelOnline-Autotask integration answers reseller requests for the ability to import ChannelOnline product, quote and sales order data directly into an opportunity on the Autotask application. This was the driving force of the integration and provides resellers with the largest benefit of connecting the two applications.  Additional features were added to make it simple and easy to use for IT sales and service professionals.

The integration has concentrated on the following key areas of data exchange:
  • End-customer company and contact information
  • Products, quotes, and sales orders
  • Sales representative and employee information
“We have seen strong demand from both clients and prospects for an integration between Autotask and CNET’s ChannelOnline, and I am happy to announce that it is available,” said Len DiCostanzo, Senior Vice President of Community and Business Development at Autotask.  “Autotask has developed a very robust API to enable deep integrations with industry leading solutions like ChannelOnline, and to ensure our clients always have a choice in selecting the best-of-breed products they use to service their customers.”

Keith Wilson, Product Director for ChannelOnline says of the integration, “Autotask is a trusted leader in business management solutions. We are confident that by offering an integration with Autotask, our ChannelOnline VARs will be receiving a more robust application that will further streamline business processes and improve their bottom line.”

This dynamic integration with Autotask is another strategic enhancement for ChannelOnline and demonstrates CNET Content Solutions’ quest to consistently deliver fresh and cutting edge solutions to VARs, retailers, distributors and manufacturers worldwide.

ChannelOnline will be exhibiting at Autotask’s Community Live 2012 this June in Orlando, Florida, which is expected to be Autotask’s largest community event to date.

Readers interested in the integration are also invited to participate in a complimentary, 1-hour webinar on July 12, 2012 at 2pm US EDT.  For more information or to register, please visit http://bit.ly/autotaskcnet. A recorded version of this webinar will be available, on demand, after the event.

About CNET Content Solutions
CNET Content Solutions, (www.CNETContentSolutions.com), is the world's leading independent source of product information. With detailed content in 36 markets on over 6 million technology products in 18 languages, CNET Content Solutions helps thousands of resellers and retailers convert shoppers into buyers by providing product information and creating solutions that empower businesses to improve their customer experience and bottom line. Customers include CDW, Computacenter, Dabs.com, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Insight, Microsoft, OfficeMax, PC World Business, and Tech Data.  For more information about ChannelOnline, visit www.ChannelOnline.com or email Sales@CNETContentSolutions.com.
For more information about this specific integration or about ChannelOnline in general, contact a representative at (877) 276-5560.
Media Contact:
Jenifer Boscacci
415.344.2441
Jenifer.Boscacci@cbs.com

About Autotask Corporation
Autotask Corporation provides the world's leading hosted IT business management software to streamline and optimize business processes for technology solution providers. The software integrates a broad range of critical business systems, including customer relationship management (CRM), service desk, tech scheduling, project management, billing and reporting, and provides real-time service delivery intelligence to help users understand the factors that drive their business and their profitability.
Autotask is accessible from virtually any computing or mobile device connected to the Internet and features a world-class API that seamlessly integrates with the other systems and tools that providers rely on to run their businesses.
For more information about Autotask Corporation and products, please visit http://www.autotask.com or call 518-720-3500 Ext. 1

Autotask Corporation Extends Resell Agreement with Ingram Micro

Flagship Vendor of Ingram Micro Cloud Services Marketplace Looks to Build on Mutual Success in North America

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - June 6, 2012
 
Autotask Corporation, the world’s leading provider of hosted IT business management software, today announced that it has renewed its distribution agreement with Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) for an additional three years.  The renewal reinforces a technology and sales alliance the two companies have enjoyed since 2006 when Autotask was chosen as the preferred professional services automation supplier for Ingram Micro’s growing base of reseller, managed service provider (MSP) and cloud service provider partners in North America.

The agreement’s three-year term allows both companies greater opportunities to work on longer term strategic and tactical initiatives. As a result of the extended agreement, the company’s flagship software, Autotask Pro, will continue to be featured in the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace which provides channel partners access to hundreds of business, strategy, marketing, technical and sales resources.

More than 3,000 solution providers and MSPs access the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplaceto take advantage of the more than 750 free reference documents, sales resources and marketing tools available online at www.ingrammicrocloud.com.  Autotask software has been a part of the portfolio since 2007.
“We have a tremendous, ongoing relationship with Ingram Micro and I am pleased to announce that we’ve renewed and extended our resell agreement for another three years,” said Jake Carroll, Autotask Vice President for Channel Sales.  “We’ve enjoyed great success working closely with Ingram Micro to better service the business and technology needs of our mutual channel partners and continue to gain momentum within the distributor’s North America partner base.”

“Ingram Micro’s relationship with Autotask runs deep and represents an instrumental alliance within our Services Division,” says Jason Bystrak, director of sales, Ingram Micro Services Division, North America. “It’s great to see us extend our relationship with Autotask and continue to work together to help channel partners gain the business value and customer service edge IT service automation and management delivers.”
Autotask Pro is a SaaS-based, IT business management platform designed to streamline and optimize business processes for technology solution providers. The software integrates a broad range of critical business systems, including customer relationship management (CRM), service desk, tech scheduling, project management, billing and reporting.  Additionally, Autotask’s open platform provides an opportunity for technology integrations with many of the cloud and managed service solutions available in the cloud marketplace, resulting in increased automation and scalability while reducing data entry requirements and lost data.

The announcement was made this week during Ingram Micro’s 2012 Cloud Summit, the IT industry’s leading channel-focused education and training event that illustrates to managed service providers (MSPs) and solution providers throughout North America how to monetize the cloud using innovative go-to-market strategies, solutions and services.

About Ingram Micro, Inc.
As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics, technical and financial support, managed and cloud-based services, and product aggregation and distribution. The company is the only global broad-based IT distributor, serving 145 countries on six continents with the world's most comprehensive portfolio of IT products and services. Visit http://www.ingrammicro.com.
Media Contact:
Marie Rourke
WhiteFox Marketing (for Ingram Micro)
(714) 292-2199
marie@whitefoxpr.com

About Autotask Corporation
Autotask Corporation provides the world's leading hosted IT business management software to streamline and optimize business processes for technology solution providers. The software integrates a broad range of critical business systems, including customer relationship management (CRM), service desk, tech scheduling, project management, billing and reporting, and provides real-time service delivery intelligence to help users understand the factors that drive their business and their profitability.
Autotask is accessible from virtually any computing or mobile device connected to the Internet and features a world-class API that seamlessly integrates with the other systems and tools that providers rely on to run their businesses.
For more information about Autotask Corporation and products, please visit http://www.autotask.com or call 518-720-3500 Ext. 1

Delivering Title-Winning Support to Manchester City FC

How Synergy Technology uses Autotask to deliver premier league IT support

RICHMOND, ENGLAND - June 27, 2012
 
Autotask Corporation, the world’s leading provider of hosted IT business management software, today announced how its software has been used to support the continued success of Manchester City Football Club.  In addition to winning the Premier League, Manchester City Football Club is an ambitious organisation with a state-of-the-art football academy and a programme of high profile concerts from the likes of Coldplay, U2 and Take That.

Synergy Technology, a leading IT outsourcing and business solutions provider, has been working with Manchester City Football Club for over ten years. However, the plans and investment of the club’s Abu Dhabi-based ownership – have increased their demands on IT and infrastructure into the premier league.Manchester City is a football club looking to compete at the highest level, anoperation that employs 350 staff worldwide and welcomes nearly 50,000 fans every matchday.

Synergy Technology supports Manchester City Football Club’s IT from back-office to front-of-house on a 24/7/365 basis. In addition to call-centre support, the company has 5 staff on-site to support the club’s Directors, players and operational support. Synergy Technology partners with the club to ensure current needs are met and adequate preparations are made to support future growth.

Sanjeev Katwa, Head of IT at Manchester City Football Club has increased focus on monitoring performance against a service level agreement covering data reporting and analysis. The focus on data extends to capacity planning and prioritising investment. The club demands data and insight to ensure they make targeted strategic business decisions.

Tony Poole, Managing Director of Synergy Technology; “In order to support Manchester City Football Club and Sanjeev Katwa’s ambitions to monitor current performance and predicting future needs, we wanted a solution that could evolve and flex to different scenarios. We knew our needs and the needs of our customer were going to change significantly over time.”

The role of a managed service provider (MSP) software platform in service delivery
To meet the needs of customers, a high-performance business like Synergy Technology needs be able to collect and analyse a range of data about its service delivery and its customers’ IT. In order to guarantee service delivery and make informed decisions, this data needs to be accurate, timely and visible.
Synergy Technology needed a system that would collect data giving a holistic view of service provision and effectiveness. This visibility would enable Synergy Technology to provide information to Manchester City Football Club to enable the client to make well-informed business decisions when focusing their investment to support future operations.

An effective MSP software platform was required to help improve the user experience of the company’s service, streamline issue reporting and management, maximise uptime, resolve issues quickly and report with greater clarity.

During its procurement process, Synergy Technology reviewed 10 systems before selecting Autotask. The key decision factor was Autotask’s ability to develop and adapt to real-world situations.

“We were impressed with the vision behind Autotask, their approach and understanding of our type of business – managed service provision," confirmed Tony Poole. “We were impressed with the ‘Autotask Ecosystem' and felt that it was a platform that would allow us to grow business success. As our customer requirements evolve, our use of Autotask can evolve.”

Autotask’s customisable workflow means that it can be adapted to suit each customer, reflecting their business, their processes, their helpdesk set-up and their customers. “Autotask is a purpose-built platform specifically designed for managed services providers,” commented Mark Banfield, Managing Director International at Autotask. “We’ve built a dynamic solution that grows with our customers and is strongly positioned worldwide. With over twenty-five staff in Richmond supporting accounts, implementation and support, our clients receive an outstanding level of service from initial implementation to ongoing training so that they can grow their business profitably.”

The model has certainly worked well for Synergy Technology and MCFC - both have provided excellent feedback on the service.

About Autotask Corporation
Autotask Corporation provides the world's leading hosted IT business management software to streamline and optimize business processes for technology solution providers. The software integrates a broad range of critical business systems, including customer relationship management (CRM), service desk, tech scheduling, project management, billing and reporting, and provides real-time service delivery intelligence to help users understand the factors that drive their business and their profitability.

Autotask is accessible from virtually any computing or mobile device connected to the Internet and features a world-class API that seamlessly integrates with the other systems and tools that providers rely on to run their businesses.

For more information about Autotask Corporation and products, please visit http://www.autotask.com or call 518-720-3500 Ext. 1

Pricing For Profits: A Guide for MSPs and IT Service Providers


Nothing's trickier than coming up with the right pricing for IT services. Price yourself too high, and your prospects and customers will balk...price your services too low, and you'll leave money on the table - or worse, lose money.

If you're looking for actionable advice to increase profits on the services you already sell, then don't miss your chance to register for this live webinar.

During this information-packed session, Autotask SVP Community & Business Development,Len DiCostanzo will share his best tips based on his own success as a profitable MSP, and his work with hundreds of service providers around the world.

Register now to boost your confidence in crafting, selling and delivering profitable services. Walk away from this webinar knowing:
  • How to determine costs and profits for:
    • Managed services
    • Cloud services
    • Professional services
    • Break/Fix services
    • Time and material services
  • Five key factors to consider when pricing your services
  • How to build inclusive Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for profit
  • How to use automation to scale service delivery and profitability
  • How Autotask helps you understand profitability and continuously improve your pricing

See Autotask Live in Action!


Register now and join Tom Teta, Sales Engineer for Autotask on this important webinar on driving service profitability and accountability. Learn the essentials about fact based decision making and driving your business forward.

Autotask includes everything you need to organize, automate and optimize your IT business from a single, cloud-based platform that’s accessible from anywhere – so you spend less time managing your business and more time growing it.

By attending this event you will learn how to:
  • Win New Service Business
  • Improve Service Delivery
  • Reduce Billing Time by 85%
  • Capture More Billable Hours
  • Boost Profit Margins
  • Gain Control of your Business

Run Your IT Business like You're Going to Sell It: Maximize Profit Now and Build Business Value for the Future


Do any of these topics come into your mind regarding your IT business on a daily basis?
  • Profit
  • Growth
  • Insurance
  • Stability
  • Retirement/Moving On
Unless your business is really a hobby and you don't need the money, it's impossible not to have at least two of these items on your mind every day. When you own a business, these topics are what operating that business is all about.

Whether you plan on selling your business ever or never, setting your business up as if you were going to sell in the near future is the best way to maximize your personal income now. As a result you can actually have something of value to sell should you choose to, need to or have the opportunity come knocking on your door.

Register now and join Autotask’s Len DiCostanzo and Cogent Growth Partners' George Sierchio for an informative session on July 17th at 1PM EST to learn:
  • All the right reasons for running your business as if you want to someday sell it
  • Possible exit strategies available as an IT business owner and how they differ
  • How to maximize your business value and profitability to you and to a future buyer
  • Why planning/preparing to sell is a self made insurance policy
  • What positives can happen now as a result of structuring your business for a future sale
  • How Autotask’s IT Business Management solution can help you maximimize profit now and build business value  for the future.