Software

Artificial Intelligence

Toronto’s Ada sees strong momentum for its no-code automated AI chatbots

January 22, 2021 Mark Cox Comments Off on Toronto’s Ada sees strong momentum for its no-code automated AI chatbots
2020 was an uneven year for the Automated Customer Experience startup, thanks to COVID in the spring but momentum quickly mounted during the year, which included increased interest from channel partners.

DevOps

Channel-friendly automated incident response startup StackPulse exits stealth with $28 Million Series A

January 19, 2021 Mark Cox Comments Off on Channel-friendly automated incident response startup StackPulse exits stealth with $28 Million Series A
StackPulse uses DevOps best practices and software to automate incident responses across platforms, ensuring uptime and reliability. Unusually for a startup in this space, they are doing this with a channel out of the gate.

Backup

Quest sees major solution, channel synergies with erwin acquisition

January 7, 2021 Mark Cox Comments Off on Quest sees major solution, channel synergies with erwin acquisition
While both Quest and erwin have hybrid sales models, erwin’s channel has been more successful at driving new business, something that Quest is eager to emulate as it expands its channel business beyond fulfilment.

Cloud

Sage launches Partner Cloud Program to facilitate migrations to Azure

December 18, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Sage launches Partner Cloud Program to facilitate migrations to Azure
The program, which covers the U.S. and Canada, covers Sage 100 and Sage 300, which in Canada will overwhelmingly be Sage 300.

Cloud

Morpheus Data adds downmarket option with Morpheus Essentials

December 17, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Morpheus Data adds downmarket option with Morpheus Essentials
Morpheus also enables non-technical users to spin them up without waiting for IT, and enables strategic and channel partners to more easily make additional integrations of their own.

Hardware

ScalePad offers partners bullish outlook, new incents at first big partner event since rebranding

December 15, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on ScalePad offers partners bullish outlook, new incents at first big partner event since rebranding
ScalePad’s introductory free trial of their Software Asset Management ends December 31, but the company announced new measures to replace it at their virtual conference for their MSPs on Monday.

Software

Lenovo DCG unveils new data management solutions

December 3, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Lenovo DCG unveils new data management solutions
The announcements strengthen Lenovo’s storage and data management portfolio, and improve their ability to deliver an end-to-end analytics-driven solution.

Managed Services

Centreon reinvents global partner program to impart lessons of partner-first subsidiary in North America

November 30, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Centreon reinvents global partner program to impart lessons of partner-first subsidiary in North America
Centreon is based in France and has sold open source-based IT infrastructure monitoring for 15 years through a hybrid model, but the subsidiary set up in North America in 2018 was channel only, and the changes to the global program come from that subsidiary’s lessons about partner needs.

Cloud

Sage deepens value of Sage Business Cloud with launch of Canadian marketplace

November 27, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Sage deepens value of Sage Business Cloud with launch of Canadian marketplace
The Canadian version of Sage Marketplace launches with over 35 validated apps, some of which are larger players, some of which are Canadian companies, and with VAR partners as well as ISVs being encouraged to submit their solutions.

Backup

Quest makes major business unit organization to improve focus and synergy

November 24, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Quest makes major business unit organization to improve focus and synergy
Heath Thompson, who joined Quest a month ago, takes over a new Information Systems Management business unit that consolidates three of the five former ones, and emphasizes that the channel will play a more significant role as Quest drives forward in its new strategy.