Solution Providers Upbeat About 2015 Outlook

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Cloud and managed services continue to bolster an upbeat channel, according to solution providers interviewed by CRNtv.

"We're really very optimistic about 2015," said founding partner of Valiant Tom Clancy. "The technology industry is definitely going through a lot of major change, but change is opportunity."

As the technology industry shifts to new innovations and services-based business models, channel partners' investments are paying off, big time.

"Our business outlook is very good; we're expecting over 50 percent growth," said Gerry Baron, CMO at Cisco partner Cirrity. "We focus on secure cloud services, and with all the demand there is for cloud, customers are beginning to take it more seriously, so we expect that to explode."

Baron added that with cloud installation and management come backup and recovery services, which boosts recurring revenue.

"I'm expecting the business to grow about 25 percent this year from new customers primarily in system replacement and virtualization, and in storage requirements for customers," said STSF President Josh B. Thomas.

Opportunities in the public sector also continue to increase, Larry Hedin, vice president at Heartland Technology Solutions, told CRNtv. Heartland, a Kansas City, Mo.-based solution provider, has focused on the K-12 space. In 2015, the government program E-Rate 2.0 resumed funding for internal connections, and allowed for managed services to be eligible for funding.

"With E-Rate 2.0, there's a lot of government funding, which all schools can participate in," said Hedin.

PUBLISHED MARCH 16, 2015