15 Cool Tools For MSPs From IT Nation 2014

Tools Of The Trade

At ConnectWise's IT Nation 2014 in Orlando, Fla., last week, vendors rolled out their latest and greatest tools for the more than 2,500 MSPs in attendance. With a wide variety of solutions, from financing to compliance solutions to marketing tools and more, MSPs had a lot to choose from at the solutions pavilion. Take a look at 15 cool tools that stood out at the event.

MSPCFO

Making the transition to managed services and then keeping track of the financials correctly is no easy task. MSPCFO looks to help solve that problem for MSPs by providing financial analytics and consulting designed just for them. With a brand-new app integrated with ConnectWise to easily view financials and trends, MSPCFO is definitely a cool tool for MSPs to keep an eye on.

LogicMonitor

From cloud to networks to storage, applications and more, there's a lot for MSPs to monitor today. LogicMonitor is one tool to help with that -- offering a single Collector solution to monitor the entire stack. The tool makes it easy to scale up to more devices, with a single Collector able to handle more than 100 devices, which can then be monitored on the computer on a mobile device.

Network Detective

MSPs at IT Nation highly recommended the Network Detective tool by RapidFire Tools, which they said helps them easily do an IT assessment and produce a branded report. Modules for the Network Detective include network, security, compliance and more. The company continues to expand, launching more than three new tools this year to keep up with emerging IT trends.

DirectCloud WebTop

For client companies with workforces on the go, DirectCloud's WebTop could be a great solution. WebTop offers a virtual cloud that allows users to access their office work in the cloud no matter where they are. With a wide range of applications and device support, WebTop is an affordable mobile workforce option for any size company. The solution is supported by its own private cloud, and is secure and encrypted.

JoomConnect

Marketing is a challenge for a lot of MSPs, and JoomConnect seeks to help. A lineup of tools, integrated through ConnectWise, help MSPs build email campaigns, website tools, lead processing, campaign tracking and more. JoomConnect also is integrated with social media platforms such as Facebook; email marketing such as MailChimp; and Constant Contact and website builders such as WordPress to help facilitate outgoing marketing.

VAR Staffing

With a tough market for talent in the channel, it can be tricky to get all the quality talent MSPs need to differentiate themselves in the market. VAR Staffing is there to help, with a variety of talent recruiting options, from project-based staffing to filling a permanent position. VAR Staffing has a long background in the channel, and focuses exclusively on finding talent for VARs and MSPs.

BizDox

BizDox helps MSPs by providing a documentation solution that it says not only easily captures current documentation but also helps them go deeper into it than they had been able to before. Features include ConnectWise integration, application and network architecture mapping, risk documentation and more. Prices range from $75 a month for the most basic package to $450 a month for MSPs with more clients to document.

GreatAmerica Financial Services

GreatAmerica Financial Services helps build financing programs specifically tailored for VARs and vendors in the channel. Using its market expertise, GreatAmerica helps build programs for unified communications and IT, office equipment, distribution, specialty markets, health care, strategic services and more. The financial services company said it prides itself on a deep channel expertise and integrity in its operations.

Datavo

At the IT Nation show, Datavo showed off its hosted phone systems that it said are great for every size business. The hosted phones are integrated with major VoIP phone manufacturers, such as Cisco and Polycom. For MSPs, Datavo offers a partner program with branding, easy management, and integration with major CRM platforms. Datavo also offers client support and setup services to its partners.

Reflexion

Reflexion offers a variety of affordable and effective white-label hosted email services solutions. From security, to archiving and disaster recovery, to encryption, there is a variety of cloud solutions to satisfy client needs. The vendor's partner program touts itself as one that "truly puts partners first," with no minimums, fees and features, such as compliance training, client education, and integration into ConnectWise and other platforms.

MSP Assist

MSP Assist lives up to its reputation of making solutions that help MSPs run their businesses more efficiently and effectively. Established by former MSPs, the company said it looks to address the common issues of an RMM tool that lacks value, building organized services and recognizing the changes needed to grow the business. MSP Assist offers a selection of services that are tailored to fit each client's level of maturity from an MSP just starting out to a more established MSP. The services include technical consulting for automation, integration and more, as well as business consulting around sales, marketing and operations.

VisiStat

With its cloud-based web analytics platform, VisiStat calls itself the "marketing person's best friend and a sales rep's secret weapon." Designed specifically for SMBs, the platform uses realtime data to give customers insights into online marketing and sales initiatives. In addition to analytics, the platform provides visitor identification for sales leads and a user interface for data visualization. MSPs can use the platform as a tool for their own business, or resell it to clients looking for their own sales and marketing boost.

JetStream

JetStream is looking to make life a little easier for MSPs with cloud offerings, providing a one-stop solution for cloud administration and provisioning. The CloudCommand web console is a single sign-on for email security, compliance, email hosting, encryption, archiving, file sync and more. Services can be turned on and off with a simple check box. The benefit for MSPs, JetStream said, is that they can increase efficiency and profitability by consolidating all of their cloud solutions under a single roof.

BVoIP

With roots as an MSP, BVoIP said it saw a problem in the market where many MSPs don't have enough time to keep up with everything on their plates, from planning to integration to maintenance. To that end, BVoIP has created a VoIP platform that standardizes by integrating into leading MSP platforms, and easily adds hosted or on-premises VoIP solutions and provides a ready-to-go solution. The platform aggregates what BVoIP perceives as the vendor leaders in software, cloud, dial tone and distribution. For partners, BVoIP provides sales tools, support and ability to set prices and margins.

TOGL Cloud

Three out of five MSPs are likely to go out of business if they don't offer cloud to their clients, according to Gartner, and TOGL Cloud thinks it is the best way to get into the cloud with its "complete cloud strategy in a box." Through the TOGL Cloud web interface, partners can provision servers, add applications, add new clients, manage licensing, migration and more. The channel-only offering is fully branded to the MSP and can be integrated into major PSA platforms.