Making The Transition

Avtex Solutions, a Minneapolis-based solution provider that got its start in 1972, wasn't exactly born the cloud era. But the solution provider has matured its business into a consultancy and services organization that has become a trusted IT provider to its end customers. 

Avtex, with 210 –employees, helps companies establish their customer service strategies. To do that, the provider partners with unified communications (UC), contact center and collaboration software and service providers, such as Interactive Intelligence and Microsoft. As these vendors move toward providing more flexible, cloud-based offerings, a big part of Avtex's business has become a cloud consultancy practice, according to President and CEO George Demou.

After "jumping into cloud with both feet" about four years ago, Avtex now helps customers determine what technologies are critical to their business and how to migrate the right stuff to the cloud, and  assists with ongoing cloud management and support.

In a Q&A with IT Best of Breed, Demou shares how Avtex made the leap into the cloud, how it’s paying off, and how other solutions providers can snag a piece of the ample recurring revenue opportunities the cloud is giving to partners.