The VAR Guy

CompTIA’s Authorized Service Center (ASC) Program is getting a facelift with a brand new search engine to help pinpoint the right VAR for the job. Better visibility for VARs? The VAR Guy likes that. But what information will CompTIA’s ASC search return, and more importantly, is CompTIA’s offering the only game in town? Our resident blogger’s channel perspective follows …

First, a quick refresher on the CompTIA ASC: Essentially, it’s a community of certified professionals who have skills ranging from networking to PC repair and everything in between. Finding the right person for the job is certainly easier when there’s a central repository, but being able to search that repository adds another layer of usability. So, enter the ASC search engine. Users now can search for professionals based on their specific trade and technical expertise. Plus, as an added bonus, the ASC Locator allows a user to determine which professionals are the best or closest to them. It all comes at a cost of zero dollars.

VARs and professionals working with CompTIA in the ASC program should be happy to know there are more than a few improvements. The improved ASC site now includes automatic payment ability, enhanced profile features and better management of contacts for multiple companies. If you’re an MSP or VAR interested in joining CompTIA ASC, check out the program certification offerings here.

CompTIA ASC curates its community by ensuring members adhere to “industry best practices and initiatives.” Translation? No amateurs, and that’s good for the end user. But that doesn’t mean CompTIA ASC is the only game in town with a list of certified pros. OnForce and Microsoft Pinpoint have been providing similar offerings, and The VAR Guy has been proactively covering the still invitation-only WorkMarket.com service. All these companies contain search engines, credential verification and more to ensure quality professionals are on the other side of the screen to help.

Bigger picture? Forget Craigslist or other listings — the future is in searchable communities such as these. Signing up and becoming certified could be key for ensuring a constant flow of business, especially during economic downturns when businesses are wary to spend money on untested services.

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