To deliver the best possible service to your customers, you need vendors that have your back. That starts with reliable products that are easy to deploy and manage. But that’s just the beginning. The best IT vendors are more than just technology providers. They deliver top-notch customer support, understand your business, and have a partner program that supports your revenue generation efforts.
As you are well aware, not all products are perfect. So, once you have a shortlist of potential solutions, it’s time to evaluate the vendors. User forums are a great place to start—who better to learn from than those who’ve used the products and worked with the companies firsthand? For MSPs, excellent tech support is critical, so that’s a good place to start. Ask vendors’ current and former customers about their experiences with tech support. If someone has had problems, they’ll usually be happy to let you know about it.
Conferences, channel networking events, and vendor roadshows are another good source of information. At these events, you’ll be able to speak directly with both end-users and vendors. This gives you the opportunity to ask questions about products, pricing, and their partner programs. For example:
- What’s the pricing model—will you need to make a capital investment up front or is pricing subscription-based?
- Do they incentive programs for top-performing partners?
- Do they facilitate testing/what is the testing process?
- How seriously do they take customer feedback on products?
Another thing that’s worth considering is the maturity of a company and its products. Look for established vendors that have a proven track record for growth. Of course, longevity is only one attribute you are looking for. Innovation is obviously important as well. Finding that balance between innovation and stability is key.
Choosing the right vendors up front can save you a lot of hassle in the long run. As you know, changing solutions can be challenging—especially for tools you rely on for many aspects of your business (think PSA/RMM). So, due diligence is essential. Ultimately, you are looking for a partnership, not just a company that sells technology.
To learn more about Carbonite’s Partner Program, check out the video below.
Why MSPs partner with Carbonite to expand their business from Carbonite on Vimeo.
