March 2010
MSPmentor

GreatAmerica Leasing Corp., a U.S. commercial equipment finance company, is making multiple moves to engage managed services providers, managed print experts, and VARs that participate in HTG Peer Groups. Here are some of the emerging details.

First, the big picture: GreatAmerica provides financing and consulting services in all 50 states and some U.S. Territories. The company has 300-plus employees with offices in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, and Missouri, according to the company’s website.

GreatAmerica already has longstanding relationships with a range of printer companies — folks like Kyocera, Oki Printing Solutions, and Xerox. Building on those relationships, GreatAmerica will launch a Managed Print Services (MPS) Navigator planning session in April. The session will help dealers and MSPs to develop a business model and operational structure, compensation plan, and go-to-market strategy for managed print services. In some ways, GreatAmerica’s efforts sound similar to Photizo Group’s MPS Conference series.

Engaging VARs and MSPs

Still, managed print is only part of GreatAmerica’s strategy. Apparently, the financing company is planning a closer working relationship with HTG Peer Groups, an organization that includes dozens of VARs and MSPs that share best practices.

The forthcoming GreatAmerica-HTG relationship surfaced on HTG’s Twitter feed. What exactly will it involve? I’ve got a note into HTG seeking additional comment.

In the meantime, GreatAmerica’s work with the channel sounds encouraging. At a time when so many solutions providers and small business customers are stretched for cash, leasing programs can certainly come in handy.

Source: http://www.mspmentor.net/2010/03/17/greatamerica-leasing-makes-managed-services-moves/