The ChannelPro SMB Forum hosted managed service providers and IT consultants at the Boston Marriott Newton on September 7 for a full day of networking and business-building educational sessions led by industry-leading experts and channel professionals. It was the sixth stop on ChannelPro’s 2023 tour of regional in-person events.
The ChannelPro SMB Forum covers the top issues that MSPs care about—growing revenue and profits, using AI to increase efficiency, building business resilience, staying out of legal jeopardy, capitalizing on new recurring revenue streams, and more. The sessions are delivered in interactive, informative, and fun-filled formats attendees won’t find at any other industry event.
At the product and services expo luncheon, attendees can see product demos, learn about show specials, and get updates on partner programs including training, marketing, and financing.
“ChannelPro stays on top of the latest trends like AI and new recurring revenue opportunities that MSPs and integrators can use to enhance their businesses,” says Michael Siggins, president and publisher of The ChannelPro Network. “Our events offer attendees an avenue to grow their peer networks and get up-close looks at the technologies and solutions that will allow them to prepare their SMB customers for the future.”
Attendees in Boston also had the opportunity to participate in a pre-day of activities on September 6, which included a Dell Technologies workshop, a facilitated peer discussion by ChannelPro association partner MSP-Ignite, and a welcome reception in the evening.
Educational sessions in Boston included:
How to Reach Your Next Million Dollars in Revenue – Successful MSP business owners Steve Alexander and Stanley Louissaint shared how they reached their own revenue milestones, and offered strategies on pricing, client acquisition, KPIs to focus on, and the tools successful MSPs need to increase business efficiency.
AI Tools to Increase Productivity Today – Consultants Adam Bielanski and Bill Stucklen separated the hype from reality around artificial intelligence, and discussed how MSPs can use AI to speed business and technology decision making, enhance service delivery, improve customer satisfaction, streamline service delivery, and create marketing campaigns.
Building Your Business for the Ups and Downs in the Economy – Business owners Rayanne Buchianico and Eric Shorr talked about some key ways MSPs can build business resilience to weather economic cycles and challenges. Their advice included how to keep the pipeline filled with profitable clients and contracts, how to manage key numbers to maintain a high business valuation, and more.
How to Keep Your MSP Out of Court! – Security and compliance expert Mike Semel shared five risk management strategies MSPs can use to protect themselves from expensive and embarrassing lawsuits. Topics included how to structure contracts to limit liability and exposure, why MSPs need to align sales and marketing to those contracts, why it’s important to audit service delivery, the latest compliance regulations, and E&O insurance policy tips.
Recurring Revenue Streams You Cannot Afford to Miss Out On – Longtime MSPs Chris Ploessel and Lisa Shorr walked the audience through the best new high-margin services to offer such as VoIP and UCaaS, physical security, disaster recovery as a service, advanced cybersecurity, and more.
Attendees also voted to award Boston sponsors the following:
- Best Cloud Solution – US Signal
- Best Hardware Solution – Carbon Systems
- Best New Solution – Monjur and Vanta (tie)
- Most Innovative Solution – Galactic Advisors
- Best Partner Community – ConnectWise
- Best Software Solution – ThreatLocker
- Best Revenue Booster – Galactic Advisors
- Best Add-on Product – Barracuda MSP
- Best On-Stage Presentation – Kaseya IT Complete
- Best Expo Hall Presentation (Gold and above) – Huntress
- Best Expo Hall Presentation (Silver) – Timus Networks
- Best Distributor – D&H
- Best Product/Tech Support – Pax8
- ROI Lightning Round Winner – Carbon Systems
- Best Vendor Participation – SOCSoter
- Best in Show – Kaseya IT Complete
“ChannelPro’s 2023 State of the Channel Survey, released early in the year, found that channel pros were optimistic about 2023, even in the face of multiple uncertainties, and based on the enthusiasm of our Boston area attendees, that has held true throughout the year,” says Siggins. “All of ChannelPro’s in-person and online events deliver insight on the trends and technologies our attendees will need to take advantage of current and emerging opportunities today and beyond.”
Many thanks to Titanium sponsors Dell Expert Network and IT Complete, the Kaseya Platform; Platinum sponsor Fortinet; Gold sponsors ConnectWise, Devolutions, Galactic Advisors, Hornetsecurity, Huntress, Mailprotector, NUSO, OITVOIP, OpenText, Pax8, PC Matic, TD SYNNEX, ThreatLocker, US Signal, and Vanta.
And thanks to our Silver sponsors Arista Networks, Avast Business, Barracuda MSP, Carbon Systems, Climb Channel Solutions, Critical Insight, Cynet, D&H Distributing, Excel Micro, Mindmatrix, Monjur, MSP360, Probax, SOCSoter, Syncro, Timus Networks, and Wildix; and Bronze sponsors Hunter Artemis and Snapcom.
Next up on the 2023 ChannelPro SMB Forum tour is Atlanta on October 11 (register here).
And don’t miss the all-new ChannelPro Defend: SMB Cybersecurity Strategies for IT Solution Providers, our first-ever national cybersecurity conference in collaboration with CompTIA on November 1-2 in Southern California. To register, go here.
Finally, capping off the year is the ChannelPro Online Summit, Managed Services and Cloud: Operational Excellence, on December 6. For more information, go here.
If you are an IT integrator, managed services provider, consultant, or VAR serving small and medium businesses, these events are for you! For information on all ChannelPro events go here.
