Heat Software Expands Offerings For MSPs

Heat Software has expanded its offerings to its managed services provider customers including access to its secure cloud infrastructure.

"Historically, we have got a lot of customers that are MSPs, and the solutions we have provided to those customers have been unique to their explicit requirements and needs" said Mercedes Ellison, Heat’s senior vice president of channels and alliances. "But what we are doing with this program is creating an MSP-specific bundle and attaching the control center and all of the other components."

Prior to the release of the program, according to Ellison, MSPs serving the mid-market had access to only the Heat cloud SM solution, which could be configured to address their critical needs, but required extensive professional services to meet the needs of the MSP environment.

The new solution is tailored to Heat's average midsize [50- to 500-person] MSP customers and allows them to access Heat’s MSP Control Center, the company’s cloud offering and its cloud service management system, all bundled in a flexible, pay-as-you-go billing model.

The control center, according to Ellison, allows MSPs to achieve rapid results, allowing them to monitor, all their clients, while enabling reporting and administrative capabilities on one platform, with over 100 embedded, out-of-the-box properties built specifically for MSPs to utilize so they can begin to use the offering as quickly as possible.

Heat's cloud offering within the bundle comes with built-in, preconfigured MSP business process modules, which includes reports and dashboards that are distinct from those offered to direct customers and enable MSPs to effectively manage their businesses.

Sitting on top of all the offerings is Heat’s Software's Cloud Service Management System, which allows MSPs to configure and customize their own offerings, even allowing certain administrator capabilities for the MSPs’ customers.

"We understand not all MSPs are the same," Ellison said, "and this offering allows them to change the settings to fit their own customer bases."

Ellison said Heat, based in Milpitas, Calif., is doing more business in the channel, with 40 to 50 percent of the company's global sales now coming through it.

"There are other companies doing this model," she said, "but what differentiates us is our bundled program, which we have built to include MSP-rich tools and productivity."

Ellison said Heat's key differentiator is what it has to offer MSPs both inside and outside the new program.

"We want you to allow us to go along with you on your journey, and as you have other needs, we will be able to do them for you," she said.

With Heat’s capabilities in the IT service management space, as well as its position in endpoint management and security, Ellison said the company wants to create a relationship with MSPs so they know where to go when they want to utilize more of Heat's services.

The program launched Tuesday in North America, and Heat is planning to expand it internationally over the rest of the year.