Issue #132 | Feb. 1, 2008 | by Andy Kowl

Last fall we asked a small group of Value Added Resellers what they liked most to be referred to. Frankly, we were not sure if being called “a VAR” sounded good or bad. We could not think of other businesses named by short acronyms.

Actually, nobody seemed to mind. That was good news, because not many of the alternative names roll off the tongue. There were two names the majority thought “were off target or uncomplimentary” and those were “Resellers” and “Channel Partners.”

That is interesting, don’t you think, especially with the widespread use of both designations? The only problem is the sample was too small to mean anything. We ran the survey on the eve of Labor Day and only a handful of people responded. By the way, the two names that fared the best were “System Integrators” and what we wrote as “(VAR) Value Added Resellers.”

Survey Reliability
Internet surveys are never scientific, reliable or accurate. Universally accepted methodology teaches that any self-selected survey group is flawed by definition. But when used as an indicator, these surveys can be worthwhile, except in cases where there is either an out-of-proportion incentive to stack the deck, or where there are groups of zealots involved, like Red Sox or Hannah Montana fans.

Nevertheless, since we were in a holiday mood, we asked, “Which, if any, of the following names do you find ‘lame?’” Think you know the only one that more than half of this small group selected? What makes me smile a bit is that winner of the Lame Name award was the most politically correct name: “Solution Providers.” Actually I don’t really believe this answer is accurate, because every day we talk with these system integrators who promote the solutions they provide.
 
As we develop our upcoming RFID Trade Mart, a dynamic portal dedicated to the success of these businesses, we would like your input. Every week we have VARs from around the world that have been dabbling with RFID work and looking for the best way to jump into the business in a profitable way. Texas Instruments has been giving this effort their sponsorship support as we prepare to open our doors.

Does your company implement RFID solutions for others? Do you offer other IT solutions to your clients? If so we really need your help. Here in the Washington, D.C. area they are threatening ice storms. Maybe you, too, will be hunkered down – or in the sun preparing for Super Bowl – and find a couple of minutes to take our short survey.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond.

TAKE VAR SURVEY