CLP Central is a new web-based portal designed for Information & Communications Network Technology solution vendors and integrators who recognize the market role and influence of independent industry consultants and who want to help these consultants bring more solution options and value to their mutual large enterprise, mid-sized and small business customers.

Many larger, well established vendors support consultants through what are commonly called Consultant Liaison Programs (CLP) to increase the knowledge and confidence consultants need to consider, represent and recommend the vendor solutions that best meet the needs of their clients. Today, more and more new or smaller vendors and solution integrators (SIs) have been at a disadvantage because they don’t know where or how to start a CLP, or cannot allocate the necessary budget or headcount required to develop and manage an effective CLP. These vendors and SIs are missing potential new opportunities consultants represent and consultants are missing out on learning about new, alternative solutions they can bring to their clients.

CLP Central offers vendors or SIs looking to start a CLP or augment an existing program the following core CLP support services:

• Target, qualify, recruit and engage the right consultants. CLP Central maintains a comprehensive database of more than 9,000 independent consultants globally;
• Develop and deliver messaging campaigns that keep consultants up-to-date on the vendor or SI solutions;
• Provide a password protected, integrated and easy to navigate multi-vendor portal providing consultants the relevant and current documents, tools, events and news that they want and need most;
• Track and report consultants’ understanding, considerations, and recommendations of vendor solutions and their share of consultant influence (SCI).

Recognizing the support needs and opportunities vendors and consultants represent to each other, CLP Central offers them a very efficient and cost effective way to connect. Consultants register for free and gain access to new and more vendor solution information and support – the documents and tools they need – all in one place, through one registration form. Vendors subscribe to CLP Central and select the mix of services that best help them offer consultants a new CLP or supplement, expand and promote an existing Program. Resellers can also register and be listed in a reseller directory, at no charge, to make it easier for consultants and resellers to find each other and partner.

After 18 months of planning, CLP Central was co-founded and developed by Mick Sawka (The Brookside Group) and Jim Burton (UC Strategies) who together have a strong and complementary history of tracking and supporting industry channel needs, trends and opportunities. According to Sawka, whose Brookside Group has tracked the consulting market and worked with many vendor CLPs since 1993, “Vendors who support consultants through an effective CLP, like they do channel partners, will drive new opportunities and together bring more value to their mutual customers. CLP Central will help more and more vendors, especially those without CLPs, engage the right consultants, help them bring more solutions and value to their clients, build new business opportunities for both parties, and increase their share of consultant influence.”

CLP Central also supports resellers and their growing relationship with consultants. “Nearly 60% of consultants work with vendor partners (resellers) in joint support and management of solution deployment for the customer,” according to Burton. “As vendors increasingly sell through the channel, consultants are increasingly seeking qualified resellers as both potential providers of solutions for their clients and as solution deployment partners. Resellers and SIs will be able to reach out to consultants through CLP Central’s reseller directory or through their own CLP.”

A growing number of vendors, consultants and resellers recognize the opportunities they represent to each other, especially as key market trends such as unified communications, the cloud, mobility, BYOD, wireless infrastructure and migration to new technologies, bring new players and solutions to the customer. CLP Central strives to help these three groups connect, partner, drive new opportunities and better serve this evolving market.

A representative mix of new and established industry vendors and SIs has already subscribed for charter 2013 CLP Central memberships. CLP Central charter memberships offer complete new CLP program support services for as low as $2,000 per month and supplemental support services for existing programs from $1,000 per month.

Join now or learn more at http://www.clpcentral.com

About CLP Central

CLP Central is a new, highly interactive information and communications technology industry resource that brings more industry vendors, consultants, and solution integrators/resellers together. All to better serve their mutual enterprise, mid-market, and small business customers. Through one easy-to-access portal, CLP Central:

• Connects vendors and solution providers with the right consultants
• Promotes networking and learning among vendors, solution providers and consultants
• Helps consultants learn and gain confidence in new vendor solutions – bringing more value and options to current and new clients
• Helps vendors quickly and effectively start a CLP or expand an existing program
• Promotes the consultant community and client success stories