I'm currently in the process of selecting a Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) for our Microsoft licensing. I've narrowed down my options to two companies: Scansource (which used to be Intelisys) and Softchoice. I'm curious if anyone has experience with either of these providers, particularly in terms of licensing procurement. Additionally, I'm interested in their services related to the M365 and Azure ecosystems. We usually spend over $10,000 a month, so finding a CSP that can effectively manage our budget and provide insights on utilizing Microsoft tools is important to us.
4 Answers
Thanks for the info! I'm leaning toward Softchoice too, but I noticed Scansource gives better pricing by 5-10% across the board.
I've been dealing with Microsoft licensing for decades and here’s what I think really matters:
1. Make sure they're a full-service Microsoft Certified Partner (MCP); Softchoice definitely is. This can give them access to tools that smaller vendors might lack, improving migration processes.
2. The current team they have is vital. One time I worked with a vendor that had a lot of turnover, and the service quality dropped significantly, forcing me to handle everything myself. If you see high turnover, it may be a red flag.
We've been using Softchoice for nearly a decade and have had a pretty good experience. They have responsive account teams (only two in all my years), and the support staff know their stuff, unlike Microsoft’s outsourced teams. There have been some billing hiccups now and then, but that's mostly due to their outdated ERP system. So, while it can be frustrating at times, overall, I trust them.
I work with a smaller VAR, iT1, so I can share what might be important in your selection process.
- Ensure they provide detailed insights on all features in the chosen suite, like E3 and E5.
- Consider whether everyone truly needs an E5 license; maybe you could optimize usage.
- Look for capabilities in cloud governance and policy configuration for Azure.
- Ask about their in-house Microsoft support and response times.
- Check if they offer MDM Intune support, self-billing, and a cloud marketplace platform.
- Also, don't forget that MCPs might have access to programs that can fund Azure migrations.
If you want more information, feel free to ask!
Thanks for sharing this! I'd love to have a chat next week.