From the Trenches: Vee Dub Club

OPINION: There’s one word to describe Nerds On Site: cool (see the cover story in CRN, Issue 176). Maybe the public perception of the humble computer nerd is changing -- hopefully for the better.
 
It’s no coincidence that in an area of consolidation in the IT channel, the franchised reseller model is something that more industry executives are exploring as a better way to make a living.
 
The Nerds in their bright red VW Beetles with their cheap and cheerful service have taken the self-employed concept further. In fact, I wonder why it’s taken the industry so long to discover the idea of driving a brand harder (pardon the pun).
 
Nerds On Site can thank their friends in Canada for the idea -- that’s where the concept began.
 
Brands work. People identify with a brand and use its services, sometimes even when they don’t entirely trust it. McDonald’s, Nike, Coca-Cola and Microsoft are brands that billions of people recognise.
 
In the IT channel, Nerds On Site and Jim’s Mowing/Computer Services (again, see our cover story) want their brands synonymous with cost-effective, quality and speedy service. As a consumer, you want your service delivered quickly and with the least possible fuss. We live in a throw away society full of people with a desire for instant gratification.
 
This type of franchised reseller represents a new breed of service provider that will come to your door and won’t necessarily charge you $100 for half an hour’s work. And if the customer has a problem with the service, they know exactly who to call.
 
What is particularly interesting about Nerds On Site is the lack of certifications and a policy that says it is not attached to any particular vendor partner. This idea is a big shift away from the way the traditional IT channel has operated. Some resellers live and die by their certifications and the support their vendor partners provide.
 
I have to ask whether or not certifications make a difference to the customer. When a plumber comes to your house or business, do you check his training and certification credentials? When the guy from Lube Mobile services your car on-site, do you ask whether he has worked on your type of engine before? No, you assume he knows what he’s doing and you’ll pay for it without hesitation when he has finished.
 
Surely the same can be said for IT technicians. Do consumers and SMB customers care about certifications and which particular brand of PC or network infrastructure they are being sold? Probably not.
 
Email me what you think about this business model.
 
Does it have legs or is it a load of codswallop? Will this model put pressure on your business? Let me know what you think.

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