Channel Awards and Listings ArchiveQuality Time With The Channel Chiefs
In our 2009 Channel Chiefs special report, posted this week, we introduce over 150 partner program executives from the top channel vendors. We've given each a chance to spell out, in their own words, what theve accomplished in their channel programs, and where they intend to drive them in the coming year. Posted by Joe Caponi at 02:49 PM, February 26, 2009 VARBusiness 500 Deadline: February 19
Okay, you've got a little more time. The nomination period for the 2009 VARBusiness 500, our annual listing of the top solution providers in North America, ranked by revenue, has been extended one additional week. You've got until next Thursday, February 19, for the chance to include your organization among technology's best. Entries are free, and can be found at crn.com/v500reg. Posted by Joe Caponi at 03:07 PM, February 12, 2009 Apply For The 2009 VARBusiness 500
Solution providers, this is your day. Applications are now open for the VARBusiness 500, our annual ranking of the top solution providers, VARs and technology integrators in North America. Coming this May, the 500 is the industry's definitive list of the elite of the channel. Even if you don't pull in the revenue of an EDS or an Accenture, there are 498 other opportunities to showcase your organization. Applications are free, and open until February 12. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:41 AM, January 21, 2009 Last Week To Sign Up For Channel Chiefs, and Distribution Chiefs
In February, we'll recognize the top vendor Channel Chiefs and Distribution Chiefs in the industry, in our free directory in print and online. To nominate an executive, apply now: Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:28 AM, January 9, 2009 The Top Stories Of 2008
We've put together our retrospective on the big stories of the year. From the hot hardware, (hint: rhymes with "art hones") to the top IT trends (cloud computing, green solutions) to the biggest of pictures (the electon, the economy), it's been quite a year. Posted by Joe Caponi at 02:49 PM, December 11, 2008 The Test Center's Products of the Year
Today, the EverythingChannel Test Center announces it's Best Products Of 2008 -- their annual awards for the products that make the most important advances in end-customer functionality, as wall as solution provider opportunity: "The Test Center evaluated hundreds of products in 2008, from the palmtop to the data center and everything in between. In selecting each product of the year, Test Center editors needed to make sure that there was a critical offering to the market at large, significant value to the end user and immediate impact on how the lion's share of solution providers in the channel would think about and deliver technology."
Posted by Joe Caponi at 12:00 PM, December 8, 2008 Tech Innovation Awards and State of Technology: Storage
Two important technology features I should have mentioned last week: The Tech Innovator Awards are VARBusiness annual honors for companies creating new product opportunities for solution providers. Presented at XChange, we have a slide show honoring the winners, and one spotlighting scenes from the event. In addition, Ed Moltzen takes an in-depth look at the new generation of innovators, and we profile Intel, our award winner for most innovative company this year. In State of Technology: Storage, our quarterly report turns to ways solution providers can profit from storage solutions, and identifies: 100 storage solution providers; 20 strategic vendors and a dozen storage products that drive revenue. Posted by Joe Caponi at 02:06 PM, December 4, 2008 Sign Up Now For Partner Programs and Channel Chiefs 2009
Vendors: Apply now for two upcoming guides that solution providers will use to make their partnering decisions. Partner Programs (see the 2008 PPG) is our annual directory of hardware and software vendor programs, and is used by solution providers year round. Our annual roundup of Channel Chiefs (See Channel Chiefs 2008) puts a face on vendor programs and recognizes top leaders in the channel. Register for Partner Programs Keep an eye on all award and directory opportunities at the Directories and Awards 2009 FAQ page. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:27 AM, December 3, 2008 The Top 25 Executives Of 2008
They range from top vendor executives and channel chiefs to solution provider leaders and corpoate CIOs. Together they make up our Top 25 Executives Of 2008, a varied group of individuals who share a commitment to the channel and a passion for growing their businesses no matter what obstacles they face. We highlight the winners in our slide show, and dig deeper in individual profiles of each of the Top Executives. Posted by Joe Caponi at 03:09 PM, November 24, 2008 Component Vendors: Sign Up For Ultimate PC
At our All Systems Go! event in December, the Channel Test Center will once again be building the Ultimate PC, and they're looking for the top products in every PC component category. If you're ready to compete against the industry's best, enter your products now. Posted by Joe Caponi at 03:50 PM, October 27, 2008 Fast Growth Summit And Awards
Last week, Everything Channel rolled into Chicago for the Fast Growth Executive Summit and Awards. Our editors sat down with execs from some of the fastest growing solution provider organizations in the country, and exchanged tips on succeeding in trying times; and finding opportunity even in a down economy. The event was highlighted by the presentation of the 2008 CRN Fast Growth 100 Awards to those companies that managed to achieve both rapidly increasing revenue as well as strategic excellence in their markets. Our slide show, 20 Scenes From 2008 CRN Fast Growth 100, gives more of the flavor of the event. Published this past summer, the Fast Growth 2008 Special Report includes the definitive list of all the VARs that busted their seams, money-wise, this year. Posted by Joe Caponi at 12:44 PM, October 22, 2008 VARs To Vendors: Fix Those Sites
Jennifer Bosavage has been looking at the Annual Report Card research and has found an area where all vendors were miserable, at best: the quality of their partner portal web sites: "A world-class portal could provide current communications, training and postsales support documentation (even video!) and hit upon all areas that VARs repeatedly said need improvement. Simply put, effort in improving partner portals could pay off in at least three different [ARC] criteria, but sadly, no vendor has stepped up their efforts. Last year, partner portal averaged a dismal 62; in this ARC, VARs gave the criteria an average score of 57." Taking a quick flip through the full scorecards shows all the disappointing details: EMC's portal grade of 75 from their Network Storage VARs was the highest portal grade. (Second place? EMC again, for storage management.) Take it from me, building web sites just isn't that extraordinary an accomplishment. Can't any vendors play this game? Posted by Joe Caponi at 04:47 PM, October 20, 2008 Annual Report Card 2008
The awards were presented in August, but it's time to crunch the numbers: the full Annual Report Card is online now. The Annual Report Card is VARBusiness yearly analysis of how technology vendors are rated by their own solution provider partners in the areas of product innovation, support and partnership. This year, fifty leading channel companies are put to the test in eighteen technology categories. You'll find the detailed report cards for each category, and a search engine to display how any company has performed in the last dozen years of the ARC. Features in the report include: a look at the top takeaways of the report; a look at Dell's attempts to crack into the channel; our analysis of how EMC excels at handling channel conflict; and more. Posted by Joe Caponi at 04:30 PM, October 17, 2008 RSS Feed Updates
I recently received an email from the folks at Fixed Bid Consulting, regarding the ThreatWatch series of articles from our Channel Test Center: "Is there any way I can receive each new post in an email message?" While we are evaluating some 'narrowcast' newsletter options, none are on the immediate horizon. But as I thought about it, I realized there was another way we could easily honor the request -- with a custom RSS feed. On our RSS Feeds Page, you may subscribe to our 'standard' news and blog feeds, but we've also made it possible for readers to roll-their-own feeds based on one or more technology topics, or on individual keywords you're interested in... a company or product name, or even the name of a series of articles. Here's ThreatWatch in RSS feed form, for instance: http://www.crn.com/rss/custom/threatwatch/customFeed.xml I'm happy to report the folks at Fixed Bid liked it, too. Speaking of the RSS Feeds Page, we've just updated it to to give you one-click access to call up our most popular feeds in the most popular feed readers. You'll still find the tools for customized topic feeds and keyword-specific feeds, as well as more general information on using RSS. My slide show on The Best RSS Feed Readers has some more ideas. Posted by Joe Caponi at 03:41 PM, October 1, 2008 Relationships Are Key For Fast Growth Retailers
Tell me if any of this sounds familiar: "Micro Center doesn't focus on the sale... but on the buyer--cultivating customers to make the first time someone steps into one of its stores the first time of many. It's all about offering them the tools and solutions that best fit their lifestyle." Solution providers know all about solution selling. But retailers? That quote comes from Kevin Jones, vice president of merchandising at Micro Center, a 21-store Ohio-based retailer. With big box retailers struggling, the Fast Growth Retailers featured in our latest CRN cover story are taking a different approach. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:55 AM, August 25, 2008 Annual Report Card Awards 2008
Monday night, Everything Channel presented it's Annual Report Card Awards, where vendors are rated by their own solution provider partners in eighteen technology categories, and scored for product innovation, support and partnership criteria. At the end, Cisco walked away with the ARC Company of the Year award and HP's Adrian Jones and Panasonic's Sheila O'Neil wom Channel Executive of the Year awards, chosen by Everything Channel editors. Full scorecards for each category will be upcoming on ChannelWeb and in VARBusiness. The award ceremony was one highlight of the XChange '08 conference. Don't miss these other Slightly Strange Scenes from the show. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:39 AM, August 21, 2008 The Most Powerful Women of the Channel
In our latest issue of VARBusiness, we recognize some of the Most Powerful Women of the Channel, including those at solution provider, distribution and vendor organizations. They describe how they've pursued their careers, and what challenges they're facing next. This year's report also spotlights some professional organizations for women that are making a difference; and some of the best advice our women of the channel have received. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:11 AM, August 19, 2008 CRN Fast Growth 2008
What does it take to grow a solution provider business in today's moribund economy? For many of the 2008 CRN Fast Growth companies, success comes from aiding other business in dealing with that very same moribund economy: "In years of economic slowdowns... companies typically look to streamline operations, reduce costs and increase efficiencies. They also look to solution providers to help them achieve those goals." And while customer focus is essential, it's also important to keep an eye on your own operations: "Smart, fast growth means balancing risk-taking with the core competencies that got your company where it is, said Brady Kavulic, a marketing manager at Intelligent Decisions, a systems integrator and IT service provider... Kavulic says the ratio of investment in existing business and technologies to exposure in new potential growth areas is roughly 70 to 30 at Intelligent Decisions." Our complete Fast Growth report includes the complete Fast Growth list, profiles of the fastest growers, and an advanced search tool for our Fast Growth Databank.
Posted by Joe Caponi at 02:31 PM, August 5, 2008 Now Open For Nominations: Tech Innovators 2008
Tech Innovators, our annual awards for the most exciting new channel products, is open for nominations now! To be presented at November's XChange Tech Innovators, the awards honor companies offing hardware and software products that create new markets and opportunities for solution providers. See last year's Tech Innovators for an idea of what it takes to compete in this crowd. The deadline is August 27, so now is the time for vendors to get in there and apply.
Posted by Joe Caponi at 12:58 PM, August 4, 2008 Plugging Into The Retail Channel
When we say we're "Everything Channel," we're commiting to bring you news and information on every route to market for technology solutions. It won't surprise many of you to hear that the world of retail is a significant slice of the technology purchase pie, even among larger organizations, and certainly among smaller ones. So we have a number of initiatives in the works to provide more information for you on the Retail sector. To being with, we've launched our Retail news section, covering the key issues and most important players in that marketplace. With our acquisition of Vision Events, we're now pleased to host the RetailVision web site and conference series. Our next RetailVision conference will take place in August in San Diego. Finally, we're focusing our powerful research laser on retail. To that end, we've opened up applications for our first Fast Growth 50 list for retail, in search of "the 50 fastest growing computer/electronics/software retailers in the U.S." Applications are open now through July 8. If you're a retailer, Apply Today. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:27 AM, June 23, 2008 Sign Up For Channel Executive of the Year
Our highest honor for vendor executives, Channel Executive of the Year is open for applications now. Oracle's Rauline Ochs took the top award last year at our XChange '07 event, and this year's award will be presented at XChange '08 in Dallas, TX. Executives will be judged on "the influence his or her channel organization has over corporate strategy, demonstrable innovation, major accomplishments, partner satisfaction and visibility within the industry." Apply Today!
Posted by Joe Caponi at 12:20 PM, June 20, 2008 ChannelWeb Named To BtoB's "10 Great Media Web Sites"
BtoB magazine covers the business publishing marketplace, and last year named ChannelWeb one of their "10 Great Media Web Sites." Well, it's happened again. BtoB has just included us on their list of 10 Great Media Web Sites for 2008, and in addition, we are the only site to appear on the list both years! This year, we're sharing the honor with sites like AviationWeek, CNNMoney, the Hollywood Reporter and Marketwatch.com. In the Channelweb profile at BtoB, they say: "One way in which ChannelWeb stands out among most of its peers is with its array of work-flow tools... The Lead Generator enables the channel audience to send marketing e-mails to targeted lists of IT end-users; the Solution Provider Locator helps IT end-users find VARs... Thank you, readers, for your support, and thanks to BtoB for the recognition! Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:49 AM, June 10, 2008 Bouquets And Basketballs For The VARBusiness 500
Tuesday, I did follow my colleagues into New York City for the VARBusiness 500 awards. Held at Gotham Hall, which is just as dramatic and Batman-y as it sounds, the awards were only three blocks from Madison Square Garden. That was appropriate, as our keynote speaker, famed basketball coach Rick Pitino, enjoyed some (but certainly not most) of the top moments in his career right there. I covered Pitino's talk in this slide show. Rick preceeded the actual presentation of the VARBusiness 500 Awards, to some of the country's top solution providers and organizations, including awards to Executive of the Year Rich Fennessy of Insight; Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and TIG CEO Bruce Geier; and Presidio, our Company of the Year. The awards capped a full day of scrutiny on the solution provider marketplace. Earlier sessions examined green computing, the state of the current market for IT spending; and the prospects of the overall economy. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:34 AM, June 6, 2008 VARBusiness 500 Awards Tonight
It's quiet in the office today, as most folks have already headed for New York and today's VARBusiness 500 Awards Conference. Highlights include panels on how solution providers are navigating the current economy; addresses from economist Todd Bucholtz and and Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino; and tonight's VARBusiness 500 Awards themselves, honoring excellence among the top solution providers. Look for more coverage starting tomorrow. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:07 AM, June 3, 2008 The VARBusiness 500 Headquarter Maps
The VARBusiness 500 really embody that old chestnut, "think globally, act locally." With business operations, customers and partnerships around the world, their global influence is considerable. But they also serve thousands of small accounts, and maintain offices in locales across the U.S. and Canada. We've just launched a compelling way of visualizing that reach--and one of my favorite parts of the VARBusiness 500 project--our maps of the headquarters locations of all 500 solution provider companies, along with those top 40 major vendors with services divisions. Through these eight maps, (New England, Mid-Atlantic, DC Region, South Atlantic, North Central, South Central, Pacific, California) you can virtually tour the VARBusiness 500 landscape, and call up our complete data set on each company. Poke around! Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:11 AM, May 28, 2008 2008 VARBusiness 500
It's here: Our annual list of the top solution providers in North America, ranked by revenue. The full lists are available from the 500 home page, but check out the advanced search for more ways to utilize the data. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:44 AM, May 19, 2008 Sign Up: Fast Growth 2008
With a hat tip to Bob Dylan, Steven Burke says the choice facing today's soluition providers is Grow Or Die Hard: "Everything Channel has classified [solution provider businesses into] one of three buckets: lifestyle business, moderate growth and hypergrowth. The place to be, obviously, is hypergrowth. That is where channel stalwarts are working hand in hand with partners to drive crucial midmarket sales" And once again, we're on the lookout for hypergrowth VARs. Our upcoming Fast Growth 100 report will spotlight the fastest growing solution providers, and detail how they've gotten themselves into that enviable position. If you think you're one of those business, Apply Now. Inclusion on this list will demonstrate that your organization is one of the leaders of the technology industry, as well as being really cool, to boot. The application deadline is May 21. For a better sense of what makes the Fast Growth tick, see our 2007 Fast Growth special report. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:50 AM, May 13, 2008 Apply Now For Our 'Women In The Channel' Special Report
We're once again looking for a few good women - the leading women at solution provider organizations, vendors and distributors involved with the channel. In last year's report, VARBusiness recognized 50 women driving innovation and creating opportunities at channel organizations. To be considered for this year's listing, apply today
Posted by Joe Caponi at 04:35 PM, May 9, 2008 Sign Up For The 2008 Emerging Technology Vendors Directory
In last year's Emerging Technology Vendors special report, we wrote "[Emerging vendors offer] far superior technology, more robust margins and uncompromising technical support... they're reshaping the information technology industry, solution providers say, by handily beating established vendors in head-to-head product, margin, technical support and field engagement comparisons... It's not even close." Smart solution providers are always looking for new opportunities, and once again, we're looking for the newest vendors reaching out to the channel. If you're a vendor (under $1B in revenue) selling though the channel, Sign Up Now. The deadline is next Thursday, May 15. Posted by Joe Caponi at 05:04 PM, May 8, 2008 20 Great-Looking Solution Provider Websites
Like Captain Kirk, when he was split into good and evil halves, great technology solutions won't thrive without great design. While great design doesn't always come naturally to solution providers, it can provide a key differentiator in positioning their businesses. And I've found some sites that do just that. We've just posted "20 Great-Looking Solution Provider Sites," a slide show I've put together, recognizing some of the sharpest sites in our industry. Starting with the 2007 VARBusiness 500 companies, I whittled the list down to sites that demonstrate appealing design, imagery and typography, along with elegant navigation, and I learned quite a bit myself. Coming soon: What not to do.
Posted by Joe Caponi at 03:20 PM, May 7, 2008 Channel Champions
Today we present the complete report on this year's Channel Champions Awards. Features look at which vendors are earning the loyalty (and dollars) of solution providers in twenty-six different product categories. The complete scorecards are online, so you can see how vendors fared in specific technical, program and financial criteria, as well as who scored the best and worst totals overall. Craig Zarley puts the results in perspective: "HP won six overall awards and tied with IBM Corp. for a seventh. By contrast, Cisco Systems, the vendor with the next most overall awards, won in four categories. IBM won three and tied with HP in a fourth. And Robert DeMarzo explains the answers to Wanna Be A Champ? 5 Things You Must Do, including: "Don't overarchitect your channel program. Sure, a partner program is important, but many SMB VARs would prefer to sell your product sourced through distribution rather than join your program. A great program can never make up for a poor product no matter how hard you try." If you're a solution provider, Channel Champions can be your guide to which vendors are best serving the market, and how.
Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:11 AM, April 28, 2008 Awards From min
Monday afternoon, I had the privilege to attend min's 2008 Best of the Web awards in New York, where Everything Channel was up for three honors. While we had to settle for being merely a finalist in the Redesign/Relaunch category for the launch of this site last spring, we did take top honors in the Marketing Campaign for the relaunch, and for best Virtual Trade Show. With competitors including Uniliver, PC Magazine, Esquire.com, Better Homes and Gardens and NewYorker.com, the awards are a terrific confirmation of what we already knew from your comments (and web traffic): that we're in the right market with a terrific audience and the best content and tools. Onward and upward! Posted by Joe Caponi at 03:28 PM, April 16, 2008 New PPG Tools, Part 3
Okay, I think this is it (for now). The latest PPG tool is the Executive Search. Plug in the name (or part of a name) of any executive you're looking for, and we'll search the PPG database and come back with any matches, including CEO, and North American and Worldwide channel chiefs. How are you using the Partner Programs Guide? Are there additional tools you would like to use to access that data? Let us know and we'll try to get it out there. Posted by Joe Caponi at 04:22 PM, April 9, 2008 New PPG Tools, Part 2
The latest addition to our Partner Program Guide: Advanced Search. Search across our entire database of channel vendors based on vendor size, market segments served, awards won, or number of partners--or search all at once! Posted by Joe Caponi at 04:32 PM, April 8, 2008 Two New Partner Program Guide Tools
I'm still at work on new ways to access our Partner Programs Guide research on the top solution provider programs. This week, I've posted two new tools: First, our maps (East Coast and West Coast) display the headquarters locations of all our PPG vendors. (The six headquartered in Canada all fit nicely on our East Coast map.) You probably have someone closer than you thought. Second, our Compare Two Programs tool enables you to select any two programs from the entire database, and see all their program elements displayed side by side. Can you get a better deal from a different vendor? Find out. Posted by Joe Caponi at 03:27 PM, April 4, 2008 Channel Best Sellers
Where's are VARs really putting their product dollars these days? Working with the research firm NPD Group, we've put together our list of Channel Best Sellers in over twenty technology categories, including networking, scanners and printers, storage, servers and security. In addition to overall sales, we've also got the growth (or decline) in market share of each brand. Quick read: a good year for Check Point; a bad one for Lenovo. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:56 AM, March 31, 2008 Partner Programs Guide 2008
If Hot Topics has been quiet the last few days, it's been for good reason. We've just launched our 2008 edition of the VARBusiness Partner Programs Guide, our annual directory of hardware and software vendor programs for solution providers. In a series of features, we look at what it takes to rate among solution providers's favorite vendors, but the heart of the PPG is our detailed database of 128 programs, complete with Silver and Gold 5-Star rankings of the top programs. Dive in! Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:58 AM, March 24, 2008 Channel Champions 2008
Last week, at Solution Provider XChange in Los Angeles, CRN announced their Channel Champions Awards for 2008. Thousands of CRN readers joined in choosing the top vendors in 26 products categories. We've got the winners, along with a glimpse at the event, online now. Look for complete results soon.
Posted by Joe Caponi at 09:55 AM, March 12, 2008 On The Prowl For Great VAR Sites
I'm at work on a feature to highlight some of the best solution provider web sites -- ones that are effective, functional and great looking. If there's a site you'd like us to take a look at, let me know at editor@channelweb.com. We'll be highlighting some of the best later this month. Posted by Joe Caponi at 02:21 PM, March 6, 2008 Everything Channel
Big doings with the company (and parent company). Robert Faletra explains: "Today is the start of a new era. We've been a companion to the Channel for 25 years and I am very excited to introduce you to our new company -- Everything Channel. Whether you know us as CMPChannel, CRN, VARBusiness, ChannelWeb or through our events, services, tools, research or education today we have become an independent Channel focused company." More on what's up with the rest of the 'classic' CMP Technology. UPDATE: An outside take, here. Posted by Joe Caponi at 09:59 AM, February 29, 2008 Channel Chiefs: It Starts With Trust
Robert Faletra looks at the most important characteristics of top channel chiefs: "The No. 1 trait is trust. If you can't trust the person heading up the channel program at a supplier, it becomes very difficult to invest too much of your business in that vendor." Are you tracking the channel chiefs at your top vendors? In today's Channel Chiefs feature, we talk to solution providers about what they watch for. To get to know the channel chiefs at your vendors, head on over to our A-Z listing.
Posted by Joe Caponi at 02:45 PM, February 25, 2008 Snow Day Links: Channel Chiefs and Alternative Vendors
I'm a big fan of snow. Much of the rest of the country has had more than enough, but here on Long Island it's been a little tough to come by. Until today.
Wherever you find yourself, we've got two major features this week to keep you up to date. Today we've launched our directory of over 100 Channel Chiefs, from vendors large and small serving the channel. You'll find the lists broken down by product categories, along with a full databank where each chief discusses what they think are the key components of their programs, where they're heading, and how they see their partner relationships, along with some more personal insight into their most important influences. Also this week, VARBusiness launched its annual look at Alternative Vendors. For many VARs, avoiding the market share leaders gives them access to leading technology, and a way to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. We highlight fourteen product areas where alternative vendors offer real opportunity, including VoIP, network storage, displays and server virtualization. And don't miss our slide show on 26 Alternative Products VARs Should Know. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:40 AM, February 22, 2008 Apply For The 2008 VARBusiness 500
For solution providers, this is the big one--the VARBusiness 500, our annual ranking of the top solution providers, VARs and technology integrators in North America. While applications are only open for the next two weeks, the joy of making the list could be yours forever. Inclusion on the list establishes you as one of the elite technology organizations, and provides valuable exposure for any company--see last year's 500. Apply now, at crn.com/vb500. Applications are free, and the deadline is February 19. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:57 AM, February 6, 2008 2008 Channel Chiefs
Happy New Year! CRN will be profiling the leading channel chiefs of hardware and software technology vendors in February, based on their "business innovation and dedication to the partner community." We're looking for your help in putting together a list of the people solution providers need to know to get business done in 2008. Nominate your Channel Chief here. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:07 AM, January 2, 2008 Sign Up For The 2008 Partner Program Guide
Vendors -- it's time to register for the 2008 Partner Program Guide, our annual directory of hardware and software channel programs, in print and online next spring. Like the 2007 Program Guide, the 2008 edition will be used year-round by solution providers researching new vendors, so it's the place be. But time is short, so apply now! Posted by Joe Caponi at 04:20 PM, December 10, 2007 Top Products Of The Year
The Channel Test Center has chosen it's Top 10 Products of the Year. It may be most interesting who didn't win--not Windows Vista, not Mac 'Leopard', not even Ubuntu 'Gutsy Gibbon' in OSes; and not the iPhone in SmartPhones. But see all the products that did win, in our Top Products Slide Show, and read the full details in our Top Ten feature, and let us know what you think! Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:50 AM, December 6, 2007 The Biggest Kahunas: Top 25 Execs
I was away at an early family Thanksgiving, so I missed Monday's launch of the Top 25 Most Innovative Executives of 2007. It doesn't look like many of you missed it, though--Monday was our biggest day of the year, web-traffic-wise. Our annual Top 25 report honors those executives who've make the biggest impact in the technology channel. As the Top 25 introduction says: "The most influential executives today are those who innovate and whose business innovation affects the lives of today's solution providers. For instance, an executive can spearhead the development of a new product but its potential will never be reached unless he can find an innovative way of bringing that product to market and, in doing so, have legions of solution providers line up waiting to sell it." Congratulations to our winners--you'll find the full profiles online, or click through our slide show featuring all our honorees, from Arrow's Kevin Gilroy through HP's Mark Hurd. Finally, don't miss Craig Zarley's looks at the behind the scenes action in choosing this year's list.
Posted by Joe Caponi at 02:38 PM, November 14, 2007 Foruteen Days Until Our Virtual Trade Show
It's now two weeks until our Virtual Trade show opens it's online doors. Just like our 'real-world' XChange events, our Virtual Trade show brings together solution providers, vendors and speakers who understand the channel, and are committed to helping grow your business. Unlike them, you can attend without the time or expense of travelling. And it should be fun!
For more information, visit our VTS home page; check out this demo of the event provided by our partners at Unisfair; and then register now to be eligible to win an iPod or XBox 360 bundle. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:17 AM, October 25, 2007 Salary Survey 2007
An annual highlight, our Salary Survey is online now. We examine why this has been a good year for channel salaries; highlight some of the most important findings in our salary research; and best of all, provide our salary calculator where you can evaluate your earnings based on title, experience, training and location. Go ahead, you know you want to! Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:24 AM, October 15, 2007 Vendors Under The Microscope: The Annual Report Card
Online today, the VARBusiness Annual Report Card tells the story of the state of partner/vendor relations. We asked thousands of VARs to rate their vendor partners on product quality, support and partnership. According to Research Editor Jeanette Boyne, while most vendors got good scores on the product side... "When it came to partnership and support issues, VARs were more stingy with their ratings. The average satisfaction score partners gave for product quality and reliability was 74 out of a possible 100... But, among the 17 remaining criteria, which measure partner satisfaction against qualities important to the channel, 10 of the average satisfaction scores were 65 or lower..." Robert DeMarzo says it's a warning vendors would be wise to take... "I don't think I'm going out on a limb by stating that not a single vendor excels in the area of partner satisfaction today... The logical conclusion is that if many vendors don't shore up their approval ratings, their relevance in the channel will soon fade away." To dive into the complete data, you can page through the report cards themselves, or see the top-line results for every ARC category and company over the past 12 years. Also, don't miss our slide show of the Best and Worst of the ARC, or the ARC winner's photo gallery from our XChange '07 event.
Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:45 AM, October 8, 2007 Fast Growth 100 Awards
In the wake of July's Fast Growth 100 special report, CRN brought solution providers together Tuesday to discuss what it takes to thrive in today's economy, and to hand out the Fast Growth awards to VARs that had achieved notable sales growth over the last two years. "Novacoast CTO Adam Gray said a bet on identity management six years ago and a tight partnership with Novell paid off in sales that have shot up from $8.5 million in 2005 to an estimated $16 million in 2007." You can do that to, if that's really what you want. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:46 AM, September 20, 2007 TechInnovator Nominations: More Categories, More Time
Do you sell a leading-edge channel product? VARBusiness has just added three new product categories (Printing & Imaging, Enterprise Business Software and SMB Business Software) to their Tech Innovator Awards program, open for nominations now. Winners will be announced in October, at XChange Tech Innovators. VARBusiness has also extended the application deadline to next Wednesday, September 12. Apply Now! Posted by Joe Caponi at 12:04 PM, September 6, 2007 XChange '07 In Pictures
I've already mentioned our XChange '07 show, held in Orlando last week, and crowned by the VARBusiness Annual Report Card Awards Tuesday night. Now, to really get the feel of XChange, our largest channel event, we've posted three slide show of the action: a look at what some solution providers were buzzing about at the show; some of the hot products on display at XChange; and at the winners of our 2007 ARC Awards, including Executive of the Year, Oracle's Rauline Ochs. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:35 AM, August 28, 2007 VARBusiness' Annual Report Card Awards
Tuesday night, VARBusiness presented their Annual Report Card awards at XChange '07. Awards went to top hardware and software vendors, as selected by their own solution provider partners, in fifteen technology categories. The event also featured the presentation of CMP Channel's Channel Executive of the Year Award, won this year by Rauline Ochs of Oracle. You can read all about the winners now, but watch for complete scorecards and category breakdowns online in October. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:38 AM, August 24, 2007 This Week's XChange '07
It feels like October in New York this morning, but it's hot and sunny in Orlando, where most of our crew will be spending the week. XChange '07, CMP Channel's largest event, brings together hundreds of solution providers with top hardware and software vendors. Look for the Annual Report Card awards to be given out Tuesday night, along with more show coverage all week. To start with, Jennifer Follett provides a preview of what security vendors are bringing to XChange in terms of new products and program updates. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:02 AM, August 20, 2007 Apply For Our Tech Innovator Product Awards
New, innovative channel products drive sales, increase margin, and open up solution provider opportunities. So we just love 'em. Apply now for this year's Tech Innovators awards and you may be collecting the trophy at XChange Tech Innovators in October. Entries are being accepted in a dozen product categories, including Managed Services, Virtualization, Storage, and PCs. Don't miss last year's winners, to see what it takes to win. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:13 AM, August 9, 2007 Help Us Find The Channel Executive of the Year
Each year, CMP Channel selects one individual from the vendor community for our Channel Executive of the Year award. The award recognizes "the influence his or her channel organization has over corporate strategy, demonstrable innovation, major accomplishments, partner satisfaction and visibility within the industry." IBM's Donn Atkins won last year, while Intel's Steve Dallman won in 2005. Which vendor executives are making a difference for your business? Nominate them now and they might soon owe you one very big favor... Posted by Joe Caponi at 04:57 PM, August 1, 2007 Recommend This!
Our newest tool--Channel Recommends--lets you submit and review links to the best technology and business content, from ChannelWeb, or anywhere else on the 'net. Nominate any page you think deserves the attention of solution providers. (If you'd like to recommend one of our articles, you can use the handy buttons you'll find on each article.) Then you, and your colleagues, can vote postings up or down. If there's anything to the Wisdom of Crowds, we'll wind up with the best links for VARs. Give it a try! Posted by Joe Caponi at 04:40 PM, August 1, 2007 Ten Great B-2-B Web Sites (Cough, cough)
B2B's Media Business magazine just selected 10 Great Media Web Sites that serve the business community. Winners included The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Hey--Look at that! ChannelWeb is also one of the ten. "ChannelWeb is designed to distinguish itself in the marketplace by delivering software applications customized for its audience of solution providers--as well as tools other CMP IT audiences can use to get closer to these influential value-added resellers." Thanks, B2B, we appreciate the honor. And thanks to our readers, for keeping us on our toes. Though we're prone to letting these things go to our heads, we'll try and concentrate on some of the great content and tools we've got in the works. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:22 AM, July 24, 2007 Women In The Channel Forum
Senior Editor Shelley Solheim launches our new Women In the Channel discussion forum: "I’m heading up this year’s VARBusiness Most Powerful Women of the Channel awards program. In response to the huge interest this program has generated throughout the channel, we’ve decided to start a forum solely dedicated to the topic. Watch for much more in the coming weeks. Posted by Joe Caponi at 09:52 AM, July 20, 2007 The 2007 Fast Growth 100
In business, growth is the ultimate validation that you're doing something right. CRN's 2007 Fast Growth 100, online now, looks at what it takes to achieve dramatic, even startling levels of growth, in today's economy. We've included a full listing of the organizations that have ballooned their solution provider revenue over the last two years; a slide show along with more detailed profiles of some of the hottest companies, and a search engine to help you spot potential partners (and competitors) within the list. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:00 AM, July 9, 2007 Call Up Our Smart Phone Site
We're testing out a new version of ChannelWeb for smart phone users. To call up our latest headlines anytime, point your phone to http://wap.crn.com. Let me know how it works for you, and what we can do to improve the service. Posted by Joe Caponi at 04:17 PM, July 2, 2007 The 2007 VARBusiness 500
Business is brisk for the top solution providers in North America. In the past year, the VARBusiness 500 -- announced today -- pulled in $344 billion dollars in revenue, a new record. Likewise, the online VARBusiness 500 special report is our biggest ever, with tools and analysis to show what it means to become one of the industry's elite, and what it takes to stay there. Continue reading "The 2007 VARBusiness 500" Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:59 AM, June 11, 2007 CRN's All Time Top Tech
CRN has put together a slide show of the Top Technology Breakthroughs Of All Time. Now, I can be a bit of a traditionalist, so I'd have put in Eniac and the HP-35, and possibly fire, but if you've got some suggestions, let them know what you'd add. Posted by Joe Caponi at 03:53 PM, June 8, 2007 Women In The Channel--Sign Up Now
VARBusiness is hard at work on this year's Women of the Channel special report, and is on the lookout for women making a difference at solution provider, distributor and vendor companies. If you know someone like that, or if you are someone like that, sign up now and you may be included among the channel's elite. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:33 AM, June 7, 2007 Emerging Tech 2007
Dynamic new tech vendors offer innovative technology, healthy margins and rich support options, and solution providers are increasingly taking them up on the deal. CRN's Emerging Tech 2007 reveals that VARs are engaging more vendors, for more strategic solutions, than ever before. Craig Zarley and Steven Burke report: Continue reading "Emerging Tech 2007" Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:13 AM, June 4, 2007 VARBusiness 500 Event: Be There Or...
Thanks for the kind words, Joe. Hi, all -- like me, I'm going to keep this short and sweet, with a few shameless plugs for my buds at VARBusiness. First on the list: I cordially invite you to attend the VARBusiness 500 Conference and Awards event, to be held June 11-12 at the Marriott Marquis in NYC (you can walk from Penn if you're feeling ambitious). Stephen J. Dubner, author of "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything," has been tapped to headline dinner for the second night, which is when VARBusiness honors the cream of the crop from its 500 ranking of North American solution providers. Click here for more details and to register to attend. Also, in the category Hey, That's Cool!, VARBusiness editor Larry Walsh is holding his first virtual meeting in Second Life tomorrow, May 15. Here's his plan, plus how you can participate. Posted by Gayle Kesten at 03:12 PM, May 14, 2007 Channel Champions 2007
In Channel Champions 2007, CRN asked more than 2,000 of its readers to select their top vendors in 27 different product categories. Each vendor was rated on the tecnical quality of their products, the strength of their partner programs, and, new this year, on their capacity to generate financial opportunities for VARs. With 54 vendors in total participating, some of the highlights included: HP took top honors in desktop PCs and notebooks; Microsoft beat out Oracle in databases and Red Hat in network operating systems; Viewsonic edged out the pack in a tight displays category; and IBM won in the data backup category. UPDATE: Steven Burke surveys the results and declares it a rout for HP over IBM and Dell: "What HP Chairman and CEO Mark Hurd has done in a relatively short period of time is cleaned up a lot of conflicting sales motions, instituted some no-nonsense compensation metrics and driven a new level of channel excellence... To put it simply: HP's gain is IBM's pain." Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:07 AM, May 7, 2007 2007 GovernmentVAR Awards
Last night, to cap our XChange Government Integrator event in Washington, GovernmentVAR presented its annual GovernmentVAR Awards to top vendors and solution providers serving the public sector. Winners included ASAP Software, ITT Defense Electronics, Capgemini, and Ingram Micro's Bob Laclede, who won Government Channel Executive of the Year. Jill Aitoro, senior editor of GovernmentVAR and author of our Public Eye blog, has the whole story. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:15 AM, April 27, 2007 2007 GovernmentVAR 100
The GovernmentVAR 100, online today, ranks the top solution providers serving public sector markets. Led by Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics, these businesses seem like a breed apart from conventional networking VARs and IT consultants, but they share many of the same challenges, and provide valuable examples for savvy solution providers. And they've been thriving, as Lawrence Walsh explains: "Add to the challenge of achieving success in the government channel the long sales cycles, different contracting requirements and razor-thin margins and you've got a recipe for low, slow growth. Quite to the contrary, though, government solution providers are knocking the cover off the ball." The complete GovernmentVAR 100 list is online, linked to a page of details on every company on the list, such as this one for Northrop Grumman. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:20 AM, April 25, 2007 Try Our New RSS Feeds
We've just upgraded our RSS Feed offerings with customizable feeds on topics, companies and even keywords. Along with our existing news, publication and blogger feeds, we've added in specific feeds for coverage of six key vendors (Cisco, Dell, HP, IBM, Microsoft and Symantec); a tool to generate a single feed of coverage of multiple technology and business topics; and a tool to enter any keyword or string -- a company name, a person, a product or technology, even a location -- and keep up with everything we've got to say on that subject. Try it out and let me know how it works for you. If you're unfamiliar with RSS, it's a great way to track web content in real time, and is easy to use in any recent web browser. There's a quick description at the bottom of the RSS page, along with links to some RSS reader sites and software. There's also more from me from last October. Posted by Joe Caponi at 04:40 PM, April 20, 2007 VARBusiness 500 Signup: Two More Days
That's all that's left to apply for consideration for this year's VARBusiness 500. Research Director Marilyn O'Hara offers a complete Q&A on the whole (painless) process. But maybe you're not one of the biggest VARs. That's cool. Are you one of the fastest growing? Then CRN wants to hear from you: "CRN is compiling a comprehensive listing of the 100 fastest growing solution providers--as determined by the total growth of net sales revenue between 2004 and 2006--and analyzing the factors that contribute to their success." Not to be outdone, CRN has their own Q&A on the Fast Growth project. Posted by Joe Caponi at 05:28 PM, April 4, 2007 VARBusiness 500 and GovernemntVAR 100: Apply Today
Solution Providers--time is fast running out to apply for the VARBusines 500 and GovernmentVAR 100. These directories identify the industry's elite--the largest solution provider organizations in North America--and could provide valuable visibility for your organization. Apply for both listings at one url: www.survey99.com/surveys/cm36.htm. Applications are free, but the deadline for the GovernmentVAR 100 is tomorrow, and for the VARBusiness 500 it's March 31. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:14 AM, March 22, 2007 Partner Programs Guide 2007
Choosing the right vendors to help achieve your business and technology goals is one of the most critical decisions solution providers make. To help out, VARBusiness has published it's annual Partner Programs Guide for 2007. This comprehensive report looks at the state of partner enablement; introduces the top vendor channel executives, along with some up-and-coming channel stars; provides a database of 226 partner programs, along with 87 government partner programs; and reveals the Five-Star vendor programs among both general and public sector companies; and, of course, much more. Start here. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:39 AM, March 22, 2007 CRN Seeks White-Box Builders
If your organization built at least 500 "white box" PCs and laptops last year, CRN is looking for you. Our fourth annual survey of system builders is open now though April 20th. Enter your company today (free, of course). More details here, and last year's report is online as well. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:28 AM, March 8, 2007 The VARBusiness 500: Early Admission
What can you do, right now, to make sure your company gets considered for the VARBusiness 500, our exclusive listing of the largest solution provider companies in North America? Sign Up! VARBusiness has opened nominations for the 2007 VARBusiness 500. Provide some quick contact info now, and if your company looks like a contender, you'll hear back soon. It's free, and a spot on the VARBusiness 500 would place your organization among the industry's elite. Posted by Joe Caponi at 01:49 PM, February 15, 2007 2007 Channel Chiefs
CRN profiles the vendor executives leading the largest partner programs in its annual Channel Chiefs special report: "In the span of just one year since our last Channel Chiefs report, Microsoft, IBM and Hewlett-Packard, which rely on solution providers for a huge portion of their annual revenue, have seen major changes in their channel chief ranks. What's more, solution providers say the new wave of emerging vendors that is relying almost exclusively on the channel to make their mark needs to make the channel chief the most important executive in their organizations if they hope to succeed." Don't miss the full Chiefs Directory and a slide show of New and Noteworthy channel chiefs. Posted by Joe Caponi at 12:52 PM, February 12, 2007 PPG and Top Execs: Last Day to Apply!
Today's VARBusiness Insider leads with the alert that it's the final day to sign up your vendor company for this year's Partner Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:39 AM, January 18, 2007 New Year, New Magazines
With their first issues of the year, both VARBusiness and CRN have gone through a variety of changes. On CRN, the most obvious change is to the publication's size--now in magazine, rather than tabloid, format. But there's more inside. Heather Clancy has the details. Posted by Joe Caponi at 04:59 PM, January 12, 2007 ChannelWeb Events Calendar
I knew there was something I had to do in January! The ChannelWeb Events Calendar is updated. Posted by Joe Caponi at 03:50 PM, January 10, 2007 Partner Programs Guide Registrations
Vendors: It's time to sign up for VARBusiness' 2007 Partner Programs Guide and Government Partner Programs Guide. The PPG, to be published in March in VARBusiness, is the definitive annual guide to vendor's channel programs, and is a key resource for solution providers researching new vendor partners. Don't be caught having to explain why your competitor's in it and you're not! Sign Up Now. Posted by Joe Caponi at 09:50 AM, December 21, 2006 Products of the Year
The CRN Test Center has identified the top ten Products of the Year!: "The one thing all these products have in common is their uncommon flexibility, unshackling the imagination of solution providers and enabling them to write their own rules with respect to configuration and customization options. And, of course, the companies behind these products share a true dedication to reaching customers with the channel" Posted by Joe Caponi at 05:10 PM, December 20, 2006 Try Our Solution Provider Locator
Our newest tool on the ChannelWeb network provides an unmatched database of over 200,000 solution provider locations, and is searchable by services, technical specialties, customer sizes and locations. Use it when you're looking for a partner to complement your capabilities and provide customer solutions you hadn't thought possible. Test-drive it now! Posted by Joe Caponi at 08:18 AM, December 14, 2006 TechInnovators 2006
In November, VARBusiness presented it's Technology Innovator Awards, recognizing the people, companies and products providing the most dramatic new opportunities for technology solution providers. This week's Tech Innovators special report fills in all the details. Online, you'll find: How Innovative Company Winner IBM stays on the cutting edge; Profiles of the winning products in all thirteen tech categories A photo slideshow of the awards; A database of the over 700 products our judges' considered; and more... Posted by Joe Caponi at 02:00 PM, December 5, 2006 The Ultimate Channel Blogroll
Over on VARBusiness, online editor Gayle Kesten has put together a tremendous directory of channel business and technology blogs from vendors, solution providers, reporters and analysts. Click around, and feel free to send in any blogs you recommend. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:05 AM, November 2, 2006 2007 Editorial Calendars
Media buyers, concerned citizens, industrial spies... our CRN and VARBusiness 2007 Editorial Calendars are online. Posted by Joe Caponi at 04:05 PM, November 1, 2006 Emerging Channel Vendors
CRN highlights new, emerging vendors providing innovative technology and actively engaging the channel. "Not since the dot-com phenomenon at the turn of the century has there been such an infusion of new companies with new technologies bent on disrupting the way that old-guard IT vendors and their channel partners conduct business. But unlike the dot-com mirage, these new emerging vendors are real companies with real technologies, and solution providers that join forces with them are making real money." Online, find a database of emerging vendors and their technology specialties, including Virtualization, VoIP, Security, Networking and Storage. Posted by Joe Caponi at 12:50 PM, October 27, 2006 Tech Innovator Awards
VARBusiness presented their Tech Innovator Awards last night. Awards went to products in thirteen categories, including servers, storage, wireless and security, as well as to the top Innovative Company, and to the Technologist of the year. See all the winners online now, and look for more details in an upcoming VARBusiness. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:35 AM, October 24, 2006 Nominate Your Top Technologist
Online today, VARBusiness is opening nominations for its Technologist of the Year awards, to be presented later this year. Sure, executive vision and channel smarts are key to any successful product, but here, VARBusiness is recognizing those CTOs and product development managers who create the tech breakthroughs we all count on. Posted by Joe Caponi at 05:12 PM, August 23, 2006 Annual Report Card Awards '06
VARBusiness presented their Annual Report Card awards last night at XChange '06. In the ARC, vendors are rated by their own solution provider partners in one of our largest annual research projects. In nineteen technology categories (operating systems, storage, networking, mobile computing and more), top vendors were scored on product innovation, support, partnership, and loyalty. "But, of course, the highlight of the evening and the epitome of ARC fame is the coveted CMP Channel Group's Channel Executive of the Year Award... The award went to Donn Atkins, IBM's General Manager of Global Business Partners. Atkins took the reigns at IBM's partner organization back in 2004 and has spent just shy of 30 years at Big Blue." Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:20 AM, August 16, 2006 Tech Innovator Awards Open For Submissions
Posted by Joe Caponi at 01:50 PM, July 10, 2006 Best Midmarket Products Application Deadline
Tomorrow is the last day to submit entries for VARBusiness' 2006 VARBusiness Best Midmarket Products Awards. These will be products sold to businesses having between 100 and 1000 employees, and which offer the best channel business opportunities. If you've got one, apply today. Posted by Joe Caponi at 09:55 AM, June 27, 2006 VARBusiness 500 Interactive Map
Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:53 AM, June 22, 2006 VARBusiness Best Midmarket Products Awards
VARBusiness has opened nominations for their Best Midmarket Product Awards, to be announced in the August 7 issue of VARBusiness, and on VARBusiness.com. They're looking for products sold through the channel that are appropriate for customers with between 100 and 1000 employees, and that provide the most opportunity for solution providers. But time is short--the nomination deadline is next Wednesday, June 28. Posted by Joe Caponi at 12:38 PM, June 20, 2006 The 2006 VARBusiness 500
If blogging's been light, there's been good reason: The 2006 VARBusiness 500, the annual ranking of the top 500 solution providers in North America, is online now. Continue reading "The 2006 VARBusiness 500" Posted by Joe Caponi at 05:31 PM, June 9, 2006 Channel Executive of the Year Nominations Open
Nominations are open for the CMP Channel Groups' second annual Channel Executive of the Year. This award, to be given in August at XChange '06, recognizes the vendor executive who has demonstrated the "influence his or her channel organization has over corporate strategy" along with "demonstrable innovation, major accomplishments, partner satisfaction and visibility within the industry." The award is presented by CMP Media's Channel Group as a whole, including CRN, VARBusiness, ChannelWeb and XChange. Posted by Joe Caponi at 01:22 PM, June 5, 2006 |
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Stop in anytime on November 8, 2007, beginning at 11:00am EST and running until 6:00pm. You may want to make a special point of catching the opening keynote, on selling to the mid-market, from our own Robert Faletra. 
Do you know a new product that's technically innovative and rich with channel opportunities? VARBusiness wants to hear about it. Nominate it now for this year's 
On particularly fun element of the 
