Change Log

The upside, we hope, is to gain greater scalability, security and performance for the ChannelWeb, VARBusiness, CRN and XChange websites. (Our IPED and Digital Connect websites are already on the new system.) The challenge is to be able to continue innovating within a more centrally managed environment. The downside, of course, is having way too many meetings.

The process has been lengthy -- after a long period of not answering our phones when our IT department called, we started preparing requirements documents nearly a year ago -- but it has forced us to come to grips with what works and what doesn't on the sites. An integrator was brought in this year to do much of the heavy lifting of the conversion, and, as any solution provider working with a customer can attest, we've been through many sessions of scrutinizing our workflow, determing what we really hope to accomplish, and sorting out the work.

Now we're at the stage in the process where we're must closely track the changes that are in progress on the current sites, so our onging work and that of our integrator don't stray too far apart over the next two months. But there's little point in building a change log and not sharing it with you, our readers. So here's the best of our recent efforts:

CMP Channel Group President Robert Faletra and VARBusiness Editorial Director Robert C. DeMarzo sat down for an exclusive interview with IBM Chairman and CEO Sam Palmisano. The interview was the core of our coverage building up to IBM's PartnerWorld show, and the full interview is available only to ChannelWeb members.

The PartnerWorld News Center was only one of three new News Centers posted online recently. We also ran extensive coverage of Cisco's Partner Summit, in Hawaii, and our own Solution Provider XChange, held in the sprawling Gaylord Opryland in Nashville.

VARBusiness posted its Partner Programs Guide, with features examining the state of vendor-partner relations, citations for the best partner program elements, a rundown of the hundred most influential channel chiefs, and a database of nearly 300 vendor partner programs.

CRN Editor Heather Clancy has launched her new blog, The Buzz. She says, "the Buzz will be about executive moves, program changes and business model shifts that will affect the inner workings of the channel." Few people understand the solution provider business as well as Clancy, so don't miss The Buzz and don't hesitate to send Heather your feedback.

Two of our sites focused on solution provider specialties have been refreshed for spring: GovernmentVAR is back for the new year, and Digital Connect sports a new look and much expanded content. Meanwhile, TechBuilder is closing in on 2,500 registered system builder users.

Finally, it's your chance to get in on the action, by including your company in the definitive annual guide to the top solution providers in North America. VARBusiness is evaluating companies now for inclusion in June's VARBusiness 500, and you can make sure they take a look at yours by filling out our online form today.