Managed Services, Cloud Solutions Spur Growth

Cloud and managed services solutions continue to pick up steam, according to a new survey of channel leaders from Nintex. Many of these execs said cloud and managed services solutions bring shorter sales cycles, more predictable revenue and higher profits. To get the most from cloud and managed services opportunities, a significant share of these leaders said they're developing new sales strategies, such as the targeting of specific verticals and solving tech challenges, according to the study, which is based on a poll of more than 150 channel executives and was conducted by Research Now. Yet respondents find that cloud and managed services pose unique challenges, including a shortage of available talent and cash flow. By addressing these challenges, they can gain an edge in their markets. An emerging route to "profitability for channel partners is to grow their managed services practice areas," said Josh Waldo, vice president of channels and product marketing for Nintex. "A cloud service subscription model presents an incremental partner revenue opportunity, even as customers continue to consume much of their software on-premise."