QBS boss prepares to be SaaSy at the Channel Leadership Forum
Dave Stevinson (pictured), Group CEO of QBS Software, explains in this sponsored article why he has signed up as a key supporter of the event and why there are so many opportunities for resellers around Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
With less than a month to go until the CRN Channel Leadership Forum (CLF) takes place in East Sussex, key sponsor QBS explains why it has been so important for the software platform to get behind the event.
The Wembley-based SaaS specialist, which is recognised by CRN as one of the top 25 UK distributors, recently celebrated its 35th birthday, and claims to operate Europe's largest software delivery platform.
Group CEO Dave Stevinson said the firm has definitely come of age. "We are certainly not a toddler anymore and we have scaled rapidly (5x) in the last four years. What we do enables resellers to build compelling sales of SaaS without the cost, complexity and associated risks."
The CRN CLF, taking place on 29-30 June at the Ashdown Park hotel in East Sussex, is a unique networking opportunity for top-level channel management and is an invite only event. With a packed programme over the two days including a networking gala dinner and sessions featuring private equity specialists, futurologists, end user customers, and discussion panels, plus much more, it is an event not to be missed.
"We have got behind CLF for several reasons," Stevinson explained. "Firstly to raise our profile, secondly to put something back into the channel, and also to promote our software delivery platform and encourage resellers to partner with us. We are also keen to share our sustainability message."
QBS helps to take the pain out of SaaS for resellers, Stevinson said, by using its platform to orchestrate a large number of software providers - 11,000 so far and counting - packaging up the offerings according to the needs of each enterprise, and then allowing resellers to own the financial transaction too, whether that is perpetual, monthly billing, or consumption-based.
"There is a great opportunity for resellers as we move from selling atoms to bytes - in other words less hardware and more software," Stevinson explained. "We are taking a large amount of what used to be direct spend and bringing that back into the channel. This gives resellers a huge opportunity to improve relevance with their clients, and naturally to enhance revenues, profitability and ultimately their own valuation."
Customer needs are also changing, and this is where QBS's skills can help bridge that gap.
"All enterprises are increasing their software tooling but want to reduce their supplier base with one reseller or system integrator that can manage everything for them - this is where we can bring the two together," Stevinson said. "We can either bring it under QBS branding or white label the service for the reseller. It is a great way for resellers to make themselves highly relevant to their customers and more valuable to investors - it is a win-win."
Stevinson will also be giving a keynote at the CLF event expanding on the above and explaining how to make the long tail of software longer, fatter, and more channel friendly.
To register for a place at the event - and places are now extremely limited, please click here.