Continuum, the channel-only provider of fully integrated managed IT services solutions, has launched a new private forum for its 3,500 MSP partners. Continuum made the announcement†at Navigate 2014, the company’s inaugural customer conference being held in Boston. The new Collaborate forum enables Continuum’s MSP partners to securely connect and share with their peers.††
“For a long time partners have been asking for a community site,” says Dee Zepf, vice president of products and technical services at Continuum. “This event [Navigate 2014] is the launch of our community physically. It’s a place for all product updates, and where partners can comment and ask questions.” It’s also a place where partners can discuss business issues, best practices, and market opportunities with their peers, she adds.††
Built with Get Satisfaction and featuring a single sign-on, Collaborate replaces the company’s current partner support portal, which Zepf says was mostly an information push. Continuum says the new site offers resources for the entire Continuum partner community—owners, sales, marketing, and tech support—while providing quick access to the Service Desk.†
Also at Navigate, Mark Connolly, Continuum’s VP of sales, opened the first full day of the conference by†announcing that Navigate†attendees†have free access to the new Sync247, Continuum’s file sync and share product, for the next 100 days, which means 100 percent margin. The top three Sync247 partners will be going to Navigate 2015, which will be held in Las Vegas. The top seller receives ticket, airfare, and hotel; the second place winner receives ticket plus airfare; and the third place winner receives a ticket to attend.†
“We wanted to do something meaningful and substantial [for Navigate attendees],” says Zepf. “The idea behind Sync247 was to make it simple for the end-user client. It also needed business security. Consumer [file sync] products don’t have encryption, [features for] corporate governance, so adding business-grade security is key. It was also important that it was designed and built for the channel.”†
For MSPs and their customers, she says, Sync247 “is a nice on-ramp to the cloud.”†
Zepf says after the 100 days, Continuum will continue to offer free trial periods for everyone that onboards customers.†
Continuum partners can immediately access Collaborate at https://community.continuum.net.
