The VAR Guy

SmartSource, which has been in the IT staffing business since 1996, has launched TecDirect, a self-service online directory of VARs, certified technicians, and other technical professionals. Like entrenched competitor OnForce, TecDirect is aimed at helping solutions providers connect with qualified field staff. Where the two differ is that TecDirect is free for solutions providers. Here’s some perspective.

Some industry reports are beginning to show a measured return of growth to IT budgets. But in many cases, IT leaders and solutions providers still need to squeeze the most out of their resources for quite some time. The challenge for readers like you: Making sure funded IT projects are successfully implemented and realize their potential quickly. And just how do you do that? Here are some answers.

No matter what the economic condition we find ourselves in, security remains an area that companies of all sizes continue to invest in.  And with very good reason — with every technological advancement comes a new security risk (and a new opportunity for VARs). Here’s why.

I was involved in a  recent survey of 200 VAR’s and systems integrators — and the results showed less than stellar usage of Social Media platforms. Under 60% use LinkedIn and approximately 38% are using Twitter. Okay, not horrible…but how many of them are using it correctly?

General crankiness with technology appears to be on the rise. Is it because of the stress in the US financial marketplace, are people in general just overworked? Are they getting what they were promised?  Were they promised something and didn’t get what was asked for? Here are five ways to prevent customer crankiness from spoiling your revenue stream.

Conventional wisdom says profits and revenues are the two most important metrics for measuring your business success. I believe in a completely different metric, however.