Discover how IT leaders use a $1.5 billion technology cooperative to maximize ROI and take advantage of skilled experts at no cost, without letting vendors take control.

By Phil Howard, Managing Partner, AppSmart & Host, Dissecting Popular IT Nerds

As the IT leader in your company, you have two groups of internal customers: the end users who depend upon you to keep the technology they use in good working order and the executives who expect you to manage the technology upon which the business depends. Management of that technology entails a myriad of responsibilities, not the least of which is managing relationships with vendors and getting the best value for the company’s investment in hardware and software.

Corporate efficiency depends largely on the functionality of the technology used, so it’s up to you to know which software and vendor interfaces are easiest to manage; which platforms are flexible and easy to upgrade; whose support is truly proactive, responsive, and accountable; who has functioning, interoperable APIs; and who actually meets compliance requirements.

All within budget, of course.

Vendors are concerned with selling products and services and making a profit, not with helping you solve problems. This explains why customer service comes mostly as an afterthought with help desk personnel falling short with regard to response time, personal training, or an ability to complete simple change requests.

Business media giant Forbes shows research that backs up what you already know: the top three industries customers hate most are cable companies, internet providers, and wireless phone companies. With such poor statistics, you may never find a company that can truly demonstrate service, even after months of vendor research and a proper needs assessment. Even with your team, you can’t conduct thorough research and testing of all the available options, so you’re likely to miss out on the one practically perfect solution that checks all the boxes for robust performance, scalability, ease of use, efficiency, and technical support.

However, there’s a resource you can use to do just that at no cost to you. Really.

Imagine a technology co-op of you and 90,000 colleagues coming together to exert your cumulative influence upon major technology vendors like AT&T, Kaspersky, Microsoft, and Amazon. Your collective’s list of requests might include:

• Provide us with the extra resources, your best people, and a dedicated support staff who know our networks
• Provide us with competent, friendly, helpful tech support.
• Stop your sales reps from pestering us.
• Give us bigger discounts and special help on all our projects, because we bring you more business.

In return, you and your colleagues will bring those vendors easier pre-qualified sales without the added burden of having to hire and pay more sales staff. This is exactly what Amazon did with the U.S. Postal Service and what the federal government (Medicare) does with Big Pharma. They combine the bargaining power of multitudes as one powerful force providing economic incentive to vendors. The result is that vendors make more money and customers get better service and value for their money. Both parties win.

Behind the Dissecting Popular IT Nerds podcast is a special IT support program funded by AppSmart® that does just as this not-so-imaginary co-op does—and the big companies listen. Over the last 10 years, this collective has developed strong economies of scale resulting in $1.5 billion of buying power. Their combined experience in terms of years and tech industry know-how imparts great, vendor-neutral insight that you can take advantage of though AppSmart for free.

Today, AppSmart’s 90,000-plus customers can access skilled, industry-certified experts and additional support at no cost, enabling them to drive their companies’ technology by leveraging a transparent, vendor-agnostic group.

Everyone knows that the best business comes from referrals. With AppSmart, you get knowledgeable referrals from experts and colleagues who do what you do. This knowledge base gives you insights acquired through insider knowledge and personal experience. Even better, you’ll learn how to get the tech support you need without having to call 1-800-go-pound-sand.

At Dissecting Popular IT Nerds, we believe that IT leaders not only deserve competent, impartial support and insight, they also deserve a seat at the executive table. Our unique skill set, background, and cumulative industry knowledge coupled with the benefits of $1.5 billion in buying power helps you procure, manage, and customize best-in-class technology to boost ROI and eliminate problems. We help you justify and earn your seat at the executive table.

IT leaders are invited to schedule a free, one-on-one phone call with one of AppSmart’s managing partners and the leader of Dissecting Popular IT Nerds, Phil Howard. He will show you how to leverage $1.5 billion in buying power to benefit you at no cost to you. No strings attached. Just a conversation.

Schedule a complimentary Value Discovery Call with Phil Howard and his team of experts for a deep dive into what you have and what you need. You’ll receive industry advice for better pricing and suggestions to modify unfavorable contracts, to maximize ROI, and to reduce project workload.

About the Author

Phil Howard is a managing partner for AppSmart®, the premier marketplace to find, buy, and manage all business technology services, including connectivity, cloud, wireless/mobility, software, infrastructure, security, energy, managed services, and telecommunications. He helps businesses scale by implementing true end-to-end technology solutions and IT leaders procure, manage, and customer best-in-class technology.

Contact him directly at phil.howard@appsmartmpp.com or listen to his podcast, Dissecting Popular IT Nerds, at https://www.dissectingpopularitnerds.com.