Our current Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider gives us about a 10% discount compared with buying directly from Microsoft, which has worked well financially. The relationship was also strong initially because we had a knowledgeable contact who could help us navigate licensing options. Recently, though, we've experienced recurring billing problems, and our contacts sometimes take several weeks to respond. We're now considering switching providers.
We're looking for a CSP in the western United States that can offer a competitive discount and dependable support. This would mainly be a transactional licensing relationship, so we don't need a large managed-services package—we just want accurate billing, responsive communication, and a straightforward transfer process. We have roughly 150 users. Are there providers you've had consistently good experiences with and would recommend?
3 Answers
iT1 is another option to evaluate. They advertise west-coast coverage, a self-service portal, Microsoft-certified staff, quick response times, and discounts in the 12–15% range. Those figures should be verified in a quote, but the combination of portal access and a mostly transactional model may fit what you’re looking for.
I’d compare CSPs using a short checklist: current Microsoft pricing versus their discount, invoice accuracy, response-time commitments, portal and self-service capabilities, escalation contacts, renewal handling, and cancellation or transfer terms. Ask for two or three references from organizations with around 100–200 users. That should reveal more than a sales pitch and help avoid ending up with another unresponsive account team.
A few providers worth researching are RapidScale, Blue Mantis, CallTower, and Dataprise. I’d still ask for references from customers of a similar size and get the billing and support expectations in writing before switching. The transfer itself is usually fairly straightforward, but confirm whether your current provider can delay or reject the request under your agreement.
Dataprise had a strong reputation in the past, but some customers felt service declined after its ownership changed and experienced staff left. I’d definitely seek recent references rather than relying on older recommendations.
The provider transfer process was described as a simple request to the current CSP, although the existing provider may have contractual grounds to refuse or delay it. Check the agreement and make sure there are no outstanding billing disputes before initiating the move.