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, 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. The services offered include onsite and remote server and desktop support for Apple Mac, Windows, and Linux platforms, printer fleet management, and data center assessments. The company aims to cater to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) by offering fully managed outsourced IT department services.
Staples Technology Solutions operates under Staples Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples. The division was formed through the integration of Corporate Express and Thrive Networks, which were acquired by Staples in previous years. Kalinoski emphasized that the expansion into the technology space was a logical evolution for the company, as it responded to customer demands for both office products and technology solutions.
While Staples Technology Solutions does not carry enterprise-class servers or storage products, it can provide the necessary infrastructure to run a data center, including racks, cooling, heating, and power. 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 customers, it also plans to collaborate with solution providers for service implementations. The company has an existing relationship with OnForce for partner services engagements.
Staples faces the challenge of winning services from small, local providers but believes that its brand and nationwide coverage will give it an advantage. Bob Laliberte, a senior analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group, believes that Staples has a big opportunity in the market and that its brand can help consolidate services for customers.
Overall, Staples Technology Solutions aims to provide a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of businesses, leveraging its established brand and nationwide reach. The company is optimistic about its ability to compete in the business-to-business services market and offer value to its customers.