D&H Distributing, a Harrisburg, Pa.-based IT distributor, has initiated a program called “Make the Move from XP” that consists of educational sessions and resources to help resellers capture upgrade sales by transitioning their customers away from aging Microsoft Windows XP environments. The distributor’s Web-based training sessions became available January 23.
As the April technical support deadline for XP grows nearer, businesses will be motivated to migrate to newer equipment and software, since XP-based networks will be vulnerable to viruses and issues that Microsoft will no longer resolve. The opportunity is huge, since close to 40 percent of the market was reportedly still working in an XP environment in 2013. The Make the Move initiative gives resellers product information, marketing materials, statistics, and strategies to help them educate their SMB customers and subsequently capture upgrades.
The program includes a Make the Move landing page at dandh.com, with stats and product details that resellers can use to encourage their customers to make a transition. It features an outline on the indirect costs associated with use of an outmoded computing environment. For example, PCs that are more than four years-old have 50 percent more problems than newer models, and carry a 30 percent higher cost-per-repair. The page also explains the various advantages of Windows 8, with direct comparisons to Windows 7 and XP.
D&H is offering a full webcast and three short-subject programs through its Web-based Solutions Lab. Available as of January 23, these pre-recorded presentations offer tips and instructions regarding the migration. See below for specifics on each session, which explore Microsoft tools and resources to aid the transition.
The distributor’s Partner Services marketing resources library has several customizable templates relevant to this topic as well. The “Goodbye XP-the Times They Are A-Changing,” “Empower Your Business with Windows 8,” and the Intel-sponsored “Are Aging PCs Becoming a Company Liability?” templates can be customized with the VAR’s own branding.
The D&H Solutions Lab Migration Sessions are as follows:
- Webcast: Opportunity of a Decade: Migrating Customers from Windows XP
D&H’s Solutions Lab expert Bill Hersh explains the best ways to transition customers away from Windows XP, and the best reasons why. This includes strategies on engaging customers in the conversation and information on free tools. Attendees can receive $50 savings on one of several eligible Touch Wins devices, and will be entered for a chance to win an Xbox One console. - XP Migration Short #1: Plan Your Migration Ahead with MAP
This session will review Microsoft’s Assessment and Planning Toolkit. MAP is a free, robust evaluation tool that helps VARs create a comprehensive inventory of all desktop and server equipment deployed at a customer’s location. - XP Migration Short #2: Prepare Your Clients for the Move
D&H provides helpful XP migration tips, including use of Microsoft’s Windows Easy Transfer Utility. - XP Migration Short #3: Making Windows 8.1 More Familiar
D&H shares simple tweaks and tips resellers can pass along to customers to make a new Windows 8 PC feel a little more familiar, to ease the transition.
Each of the short sessions will be presented by Solution Lab team member Matt Allison. To register, D&H customers can click on the Solutions Lab tab on dandh.com.
