Comments on: Open source software from a VAR perspective http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/open-source-software-from-a-var-perspective/ Your daily IT cuppa Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:14:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Mind Of Root » Blog Archive » Episode 41 - Star Blazers http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/open-source-software-from-a-var-perspective/#comment-6068 Mind Of Root » Blog Archive » Episode 41 - Star Blazers Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:23:53 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/open-source-software-from-a-var-perspective/#comment-6068 [...] Open Source Software from a VAR’s perspective [...] [...] Open Source Software from a VAR’s perspective [...]

]]> By: Jack Hughes http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/open-source-software-from-a-var-perspective/#comment-6064 Jack Hughes Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:17:01 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/open-source-software-from-a-var-perspective/#comment-6064 @Denny - thanks for dropping by. I'd be prepared to bet that VAR sales as a percentage of your sales isn't what it was ten years ago. That's really what I was getting at in the post. You do a great job with your website and I'm sure many customers feel they would prefer a direct relationship with the software developer than a VAR. Open source solutions offer a number of opportunities to the VAR IMHO because VARs are able to add value to an open source solution in a way that can be difficult with closed packaged software. In addition, whilst it used to be true that packaging of open source software left a lot to be desired, I don't think the gap exists any more. The gap has been closed by tools like OpenNMS, Zenoss & Hyperic. @Denny - thanks for dropping by. I’d be prepared to bet that VAR sales as a percentage of your sales isn’t what it was ten years ago. That’s really what I was getting at in the post. You do a great job with your website and I’m sure many customers feel they would prefer a direct relationship with the software developer than a VAR.

Open source solutions offer a number of opportunities to the VAR IMHO because VARs are able to add value to an open source solution in a way that can be difficult with closed packaged software.

In addition, whilst it used to be true that packaging of open source software left a lot to be desired, I don’t think the gap exists any more. The gap has been closed by tools like OpenNMS, Zenoss & Hyperic.

]]> By: Denny LeCompte http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/open-source-software-from-a-var-perspective/#comment-6063 Denny LeCompte Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:05:22 +0000 http://www.openxtra.co.uk/blog/open-source-software-from-a-var-perspective/#comment-6063 Jack, You make a great point about the challenge that both open source software and more commoditized commercial software presents for VARs. I'm actually the product manager for SolarWinds Orion, so it’s an issue that my colleagues and I spend time thinking about. Although making money on a product like Orion is different than making money on the “big 4”, VARs can and do make money with Orion. In fact, the simplicity of a "packaged" product enables our VAR partners to serve (sell/install/configure) more customers in a given amount of time. This opens more end user doors for other value-added services from the VAR down the road. Regards, Denny LeCompte Sr. Product Manager, Orion SolarWinds, Inc. Jack,

You make a great point about the challenge that both open source software and more commoditized commercial software presents for VARs. I’m actually the product manager for SolarWinds Orion, so it’s an issue that my colleagues and I spend time thinking about. Although making money on a product like Orion is different than making money on the “big 4”, VARs can and do make money with Orion. In fact, the simplicity of a “packaged” product enables our VAR partners to serve (sell/install/configure) more customers in a given amount of time. This opens more end user doors for other value-added services from the VAR down the road.

Regards,
Denny LeCompte
Sr. Product Manager, Orion
SolarWinds, Inc.

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