Transformation has become a way of life in today's ever-changing business and tech environment. If you're not upgrading, shifting models, or retooling the portfolio to meet the latest demand, you may need to rethink your strategy.
The IT Services and Support Community found itself in a similar situation. With several years of diverse membership growth, and its recent merger with the Managed Print Services Community, the group's goals had shifted somewhat ‒ and its name no longer reflected that mission.
In their breakout session at ChannelCon 2017 in Austin, TX, Chair Aaron Acker, VP of Business Development at Deployment Pro, addressed that concern while unveiling a way forward. ITSS will now be known as the Technology Lifecycle Services Community.
"We felt the time was right to update our name and mission statement to reflect better what we do as a community, and the types of support our members provide to their customers. The Technology Lifecycle Services Community provides a forum for business executives to meet and discuss issues and opportunities," adds Acker.
Their mission statement has been similarly updated to reflect the increased client focus. With more than 50 new members in the Austin meeting, the need and interest in business improvement and collaboration are huge, and the Technology Lifecycle Services Community is ready and willing to help.
The new mission statement:
The Technology Lifecycle Services community provides a forum for business executives to meet and discuss commonality within the technology service industry. This collaborative group engages in thought leadership which drives industry-specific education/tools and promotes innovation and business excellence in the service industry
A Legacy of Accomplishments
ITSS was the original CompTIA peer collaboration group, hailing back to the day when break fix services were the channel standard, and most of their projects focused more on tech than on the business side of the channel.
That last point is not intended to downplay the importance of the IT skills. In fact, the IT Services Section ‒ the community's original CompTIA name ‒ fostered several industry-shaping initiatives that continue to change the lives of an entire generation of technical and channel professionals today.
The CompTIA A+ and the CompTIA Server+ Certifications are among their accomplishments. In fact, the first accreditation remains the vendor-neutral industry standard for tech professionals more than 24 years after its introduction.
ITSS was also an incubator for other CompTIA Communities and work groups. Recognizing the opportunity for channel professionals, its members built a managed services initiative when RMMs and PSAs were still in their infancy. Many other groups owe their existence to ideas generated at ITSS meetings, phone calls, and conversations.
The name change won't change their passion. In fact, the community is building and adapting to take advantage of new business models, and its members are working harder than ever to improve the lives and careers of other channel professionals. That mission is intact, and the channel will surely benefit from their future contributions.
