Staples Expands into Business-to-Business Services Market
Staples, the well-known office supply retailer, is making a bold move into the business-to-business services market. The company has recently launched Staples Technology Solutions, a comprehensive portfolio of data center, print, and managed services aimed at small businesses and enterprises. Joe Kalinoski, the Vice President of Finance for Staples Technology Solutions, expressed confidence in the new initiative, stating that it will offer competitive pricing and a great services story for customers.
Staples Technology Solutions will provide access to certified specialists in various areas such as Cisco Systems, Citrix, and Linux. Additionally, the company will offer onsite and remote server and desktop support for Apple Mac, Windows, and Linux platforms. Other services include printer fleet management, data center assessments, and 24×7 data center emergency supplies.
Operating under Staples Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples, Staples Technology Solutions is the result of the company’s acquisitions of Corporate Express and Thrive Networks. By combining these entities, Staples now offers a one-stop solution for office products, print solutions, and managed print IT services. The company believes that its expansion into the technology space was a natural evolution to meet customer demands.
Staples Technology Solutions will have operations in Massachusetts and Florida, with associates in Staples Advantage offices nationwide. While the company does not carry enterprise-class servers or storage products, it can provide the necessary infrastructure to run a data center.
For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with 10 to 250 employees, Staples can serve as a fully managed, outsourced IT department. Jim Lippie, Vice President of Staples Network Services, emphasized that Staples offers clients the best of both worlds by providing managed IT services as well as onsite support. The company plans to leverage N-able Technologies’ managed services platform for servers and Kaseya’s platform for desktops.
Although Staples Technology Solutions will compete with solution providers for the same customers, the company also plans to enlist their assistance for service implementations. Staples has a strong relationship with OnForce for partner services engagements.
Staples faces the challenge of winning services from small, local providers, but it is counting on its brand to attract customers it already serves in other capacities. Bob Laliberte, Senior Analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group, believes that partnering with Staples could provide smaller solution providers with instant credibility.
Overall, Staples is optimistic about its expansion into the business-to-business services market. With its established brand and comprehensive offerings, the company aims to become a leading provider in this space.