General Consultant Discussion

The good times are rolling in ... there is a CRM solutions group meeting in Chicago tomorrow. I've just heard through my inside sources that they are going to announce a bigger push to doing ... wait for it ... direct sales for Sage CRM. Guess I should be looking into Sugar CRM after all.

Yeah.

We should all get a subgroup together to put some R&D into diversifying to other product(s).

Sounds like a good time to release Azamba CRM.

Sage believes they can do it better (selling) themselves verses the channel. This might not be a bad thing for the us. Let them into the fray. If they're more successful than us, well shame on us. On the other hand, maybe after they get closer to the propect/customer they'll hear things we've been hearing the last five years and maybe they'll start listening. My prediction is that if the direct sales model doesn't work, Sage UK will pursue a sale of the N.A. business segment. The acquiring company will seek to rebuild the channel; howver, by then it will be too late.

So, trash a bunch of brands in favor of ""Sage"", then sell it to another pointy haired boss who has to rename it all again...did Congress buy all the Sage stock? ""maybe they'll start listening"" ?? when Santa becomes anorexic

@MyronStevenson I am not being critical of your comment about selling the NA piece, it would fit with their recent behavior.

@MyronStevenson - yeah it's pretty shitty because the traditional role of Sage (and most software vendors) is marketing and R&D. Partners traditionally have been reliant on the vendor for marketing and leads. When the vendor goes into direct selling, it is a sure thing that there will be no more leads going to the channel. So .. the channel better get there asses in gear with marketing, roll into a bigger VAR that is already doing it or coast into retirement with services on their current clients. The irony is that option 3 (the coasting) is what too many of us do right now - which is justification for Sage to do direct sales.

@PeterWolf If it truly is option 3, wouldn't it be easier for Sage to just recruit more Var's? I don't think Sage wants a bigger piece of the pie, they want the entire pie.

@MarkKotyla - you might think so. The challenge is apparent when you look around at the other VARs in any get together. We are all old as dirt and there is really no fresh new blood starting up reseller practices these days. Somewhere along the way, our industry took a bad turn and has not cultivated the next round of entrepreneurs. Soon the landscape will consist of the vendors, a few huge VARs and a bunch of lifestyle consultants just doing it to earn some bucks as they are semi-retired. The oracle has spoken.

Ha! From: do-not-reply@socialcast.com [mailto:do-not-reply@socialcast.com] On Behalf Of Peter Wolf Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 3:51 PM To: Mark Chinsky Subject: [90 Minds Consulting Group] The good times are rolling in ... there is a CRM solutions group meeting in Chicago tomorrow. I've just heard through my inside sources t...