LabTech CEO Matt Nachtrab: Live Blog

Where LabTech Came From: The company was spun out of Nemsys, a managed services provider (MSP) in Toledo, Ohio. Nemsys generated 75 percent growth for eight straight years and continues to grow. EBITDA has grown from 5 percent to 30 percent by focusing purely on managed services.

MSP Roots: Nachtrab drove home the point that “we are you…” pointing out that the key LabTech team members are all former MSPs themselves. “We are obsessed with making you more successful and more profitable.”

We Won’t Go Direct: Nachtrab pointed out that during one of his MSP engagements, Dell took a deal direct. Nachtrab also mentioned an RMM vendor “out of Switzerland” that sold direct to an IT account, allegedly cutting an MSP out of the deal. It was a thinly veiled jab at Kaseya, though I have not heard any channel conflict stories involving that company in recent years. Nevertheless, Nachtrab asserted: “We will never compete with you.”

“When I wake up in the middle of the night I’m thinking about you. That may sound a little creepy but if we’re not successful you’re not successful.”

“Find your True North. Pursue it and you will grow more profitable.” It could be a vertical, for instance.

LabTech Ignite: Nachtrab described how the Ignite feature in LabTech 2012 offers a “standard house” for MSPs to more easily get started with managed services.

Nachtrab described the “one platform” vision for managing, monitoring and billing for everything. I missed some of the key terminology (sorry about that…).

Mobility: LabTech already supports Apple iOS and Google Android. But Microsoft Windows 8 mobile support could be coming, soon. “We are seeing a lot of good things on Microsoft. That’s probably something we’re going to do in the future but we’re no there now.” The strategy has three components: Support mobile platforms, promote a mobile control center app, and allow MSPs to manage customers’ mobile devices.

LabTech 2012: Nachtrab concedes that the 2012 launch hit some bumps. To avoid those issues in the future LabTech will (1) slow down to focus on more effort in fewer features, plus innovate with Beta Labs.

Nachtrab also offered a technology roadmap; we’ll post some photos later. He also demonstrated a web control center with an overhauled user interface.