Dynamics Communities Biz Apps Partner Podcast

Biz Apps Partner Podcast: Velosio's Joe Longo on Evolving with Technology, Delivering Client Value

Episode Summary

In episode 20, John Siefert is joined by Joe Longo, Executive Chairman, Velosio. The two discuss Velosio's evolution through various shifts in the tech landscape phases, the business impact of AI, and tips for partners on delivering value to clients.

Episode Notes

Key Takeaways

• Overview: Velosio, rebranded six years ago, has evolved through various technological phases from Windows to AI and cloud, always focusing on the next big thing. Despite these changes, the constant has been clients seeking partners who understand technology to solve business issues, leading to long-term relationships spanning over two decades.
• Changing with the industry: For over two decades, Velosio has maintained a structured annual planning process where it reaffirms its mission, vision, and values, and creates an annual scorecard to align its goals across the organization. This process allows Velosio to adjust to changes, ensure alignment from top to bottom, and move forward effectively.
• Business impact of AI: Clients frequently ask how to mobilize AI within their companies, explains Joe, but the challenge lies in the quality and normalization of data, which affects AI's effectiveness. While AI is useful for daily tasks, its integration into business applications is slower due to security concerns and the need for clean data, but it will eventually happen.
• Tips for partners: Partners now have the opportunity to provide significantly more value to their clients than in the past, but this requires strategic thinking about how to achieve it. It's essential to decide whether to build, buy, or partner for resources, and to focus on specific areas of expertise while forming relationships with others to deliver comprehensive solutions. This approach ensures that clients receive the answers they need, even if it means partnering with other experts.
• Staying true: When it comes to mission, vision, and values, it's crucial to stay true to your core purpose. Velosio's mission has always been to bring the best business solutions to its mid-market and upper-mid-market clients, remaining product-independent as technologies evolve. By focusing on customer satisfaction, everything else, including financials and attracting talent, falls into place.