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If Alex Rogers has his way, Bakersfield will become the center of the managed services universe.

Today, his company, CharTec, opens a new 20,000-square-foot facility in California’s Central Valley, of which nearly half is devoted to CharTec Academy for training would-be and existing hardware-as-a-service partners. MSPs attending the training will not only have access to two-days of classroom instruction, but the ability to tour and interact with the staff of CharTec’s own MSP, ARRC Technology.

“This is a big step for us. Others are coming into the market with our secret sauce of how to do HaaS. They’re only offering fancy financing on hardware. We’re taking it to the next level. We’re taking everything we learned from running a success MSP and passing it on,” said Rogers, the company’s CEO.

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CharTec and ARRC Technology are two of the better known success stories in the MSP and HaaS market. ARRC is a traditional managed services company that provides remote management of hardware and infrastructure, which is predominantly equipment supplied through CharTec. CharTec was formed to capitalize and extend the HaaS lessons learned through ARRC.

CharTec works with other MSPs to facilitate and provide equipment for HaaS/managed services engagement. The company currently has more than 700 partners. Rogers is unabashed when he says that the continued success of CharTec is dependent upon its partners understanding and executing on the integrate HaaS/managed services model. And that’s why the company is investing in training facility.

The CharTec Academy will run one two-day training per month, which will feature a curriculum on the technology that enables hardware and managed services, as well as techniques for product packaging, services sales, marketing and executive management.

Training managed services isn’t at a shortage. Currently, several organizations including MSP University, Stuart Selbst Consulting, TruMethods and others are offering self-paced and ongoing training and support for fledging and aspiring managed services. CompTIA last year formed a MSP coaches network that drew nearly 40 participants who specialize in helping solution providers and MSPs optimize their businesses.

Rogers believe CharTec Academy will be different in that attendees will be able to talk with actual practitioners working in the different divisions of ARRC.

The outcome and goal of the CharTec Academy is also transparent. Rogers readily admits that training will build affinity with his products and services, and facilitate CharTec’s growth. He fully believes the training will be the dominant activity among his three lines of business since it will drive activity through CharTec and ARRC, as well as influence future programs.

“We learn something from almost everything single one of the [attendees] and that benefits our MSP business,” Rogers says.

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Lawrence M. Walsh is CEO and president of The 2112 Group, a technology business advisory service that specializes in optimizing indirect channels and partner relationships. He’s also the executive director of the Channel Vanguard Council. He is the former publisher of Channel Insider and editor of VARBusiness Magazine. You can reach him at lmwalsh@the2112group.com.

On Twitter:
Larry Walsh:@lmwalsh2112| Channelnomics: @channelnomics

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