The latest ChannelPro SMB Forum event, originally slated to take place in Raleigh, N.C., on July 8, took place instead as an expanded, innovative virtual gathering with specially created content aimed at helping MSPs and IT solution providers navigate the fast-changing business climate and the impact of COVID-19. And for the first time, the agenda featured an IoT Online Forum presented in conjunction with IoT Playbook.com and RiOT, an economic development organization focused on emerging markets.
“We continue to ride this rollercoaster of reality since mid-March as a result of the global health crisis and resultant economic downturn, and just as IT solution providers had to shift to delivering the same great service to their SMB customers remotely, the ChannelPro event team shifted to deliver the same great educational and interactive content online,” said ChannelPro President and Publisher Michael Siggins (pictured above). “Particularly now, IT business owners need the sales, marketing, product, and operational insight that the ChannelPro SMB events are known for to keep their businesses healthy and even growing during this extraordinary time.”
The IoT Online Forum on July 7 covered topics that included new services enabled by IoT cameras, intelligent video analytics, structuring and managing video data, connectivity and security policy, and utilizing the IoT to drive exponential growth.
Thanks to our IoT Keynote sponsor Dell Technologies/Dell Expert Network, and Event sponsors Domotz and RiOT.
The two-day ChannelPro SMB Forum main event included live, interactive sessions delivered by industry experts who provided strategies for running an MSP business now as well as making adjustments as the economy re-opens at different stages throughout the country. In addition, there were panel discussions on the latest technology trends and solutions, and a virtual expo hall where attendees could browse sponsor booths and interact live in videoconference sessions.
Keynote speaker Gary Pica of TruMethods was featured in a special ChannelPro Weekly live podcast interview. Hosts Rich Freeman and Matt Whitlock spoke with Pica about preparing your business for the post-COVID future.
The educational sessions included:
Weathering the COVID-19 Storm: A Survival Guide—Expert managed services consultants Rayanne Buchianico and Manuel Palachuk outlined the financial and operational moves channel pros must make now to preserve cash and maximize profit.
Peer to Peer: Best Practices for Big Challenges—MSPs and IT business owners Bruce McCully, C.J. Ezell, and Joanna Sobran talked one-on-one about how they are tackling the challenging issues of keeping sales flowing, hiring and retaining employees, and developing a vertical focus.
IoT Playbook – Growing Your Way Through the COVID-19 Crisis—Leading-edge channel pro Luis Alvarez provided an up-to-the-minute account of how he’s supporting clients, securing their work-from-home technology, and expanding his Internet of Things business despite the COVID-19 outbreak.
Securing Clients, Securing Your Future—Managed security experts Scott Beck, Robert Boles, Angela Hogaboom, Joshua Liberman, and Rory Sanchez took a frank look at best practices for keeping customers safe now and building the security practice SMBs will need when conditions start returning to normal.
Coronavirus and the Cloud—Leading-edge cloud service providers Malik Kahn, Antwine Jackson, and Eric Long shared insights on keeping clients connected from home today and capitalizing on exploding demand for cloud solutions tomorrow.
“We live in a time of seemingly endless change,” said Rich Freeman, ChannelPro executive editor. “Our latest SMB Forum event provided our audience plenty of suggestions for getting through that uncertainty but also lots of ideas for growing and expanding their business in exciting areas like cloud computing, cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things as the economy and our country rebound.”
The event concluded with attendees voting to honor vendor sponsors with the following awards:
- Best Cloud Solution – Trend Micro
- Best Hardware Solution – Epson
- Best IoT Solution – Ingram Micro
- Best New Solution – Ooma
- Best Partner Community – Datto, The 20 (tie)
- Best Revenue Booster – Cytracom, Datto (tie)
- Best Software Solution – Trend Micro
- Best Product Tech Support – Dell Expert Network
- Most Innovative Solution – ELO Digital Office USA
- Best Add-on Product – Beachhead Solutions
- Best Vendor On-Stage Presentation (Virtual) – Cytracom, Trend Micro
- Best Booth Presentation Premier Sponsor – The 20
- Best Booth Presentation Silver Sponsor – Buffalo, ChannelOnline (tie)
- Best Distributor – Ingram Micro
- Best Selfie Video – Liongard
- Best in Show – Datto
Thanks to our Diamond sponsor SolarWinds MSP, Platinum sponsor Dell Technologies/Dell Expert Network, Sapphire sponsor Datto, Premier Gold sponsor The 20, and Gold sponsors ConnectWise, Cytracom, D&H Distributing, Epson, Ingram Micro, IT Glue, PC Matic, Tech Data Security Solutions, ThreatLocker, Trend Micro, and Webroot.
And thanks to our Silver sponsors ABC Solutions, ASCII Group, Beachhead Solutions, Buffalo Americas, bvoip, ChannelOnline, Eaton, Egnyte, ELO Digital Office, ErickSimpson.com, ESET, Liongard, Manuel Palachuk International, Marketopia, MSP360, Ooma, RapidFire Tools, RiOT, ServicePulse, SMB Nation, SMB TechFest, SYNNEX, Tech Data Cloud Solutions, TruMethods, Untangle, and US Signal.
Next up in the 2020 ChannelPro SMB Forum series is Boston on September 2-3. Attendance and sponsorships are filling up fast. Register here.
“Our event team is monitoring the government guidelines for re-opening businesses. If we are unable to offer an in-person event in September, we will deliver another great virtual event for everyone in the Boston area,” says Siggins, “and we will look forward to seeing everyone face to face as soon as it is safe to do so.”
ChannelPro also has an upcoming Cybersecurity Online Summit on August 5. Details are here.
