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Staples makes information services a staple for business customers
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September 24, 2008 – Two years after making a key acquisition and developing a market plan, Staples Inc. is launching network services for small business.
Staples, No. 2 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, is initiating a range of services, including anti-spam, anti-virus, anti-spyware, patch management, systems and networking monitoring, and platform support. The new services are being offered by Thrive Networks, a provider of information technology services to small businesses that Staples acquired in 2006.
“With the launch of Staples Network Services by Thrive, we allow people to focus on their business while we make sure their technology infrastructure is there to support them,” says Candy Murphy, vice president of Staples’ contract technology solutions.
In conjunction with the launch of Staples Network Services, the office supplies retailer also is rolling out Thrive Online Backup, a new service that offers smaller companies an automatic backup of their information in a secure and remote data facility. “Small and medium-sized business customers and suppliers are increasingly savvy, with high expectations for immediate and personalized service and support,” says Jim Lippie, president of Staples Networks Services by Thrive.
Staples won’t be offering its new information technology services directly on Staples.com. Instead users and customers will monitor network services on StaplesLinkPlus.com, a business-to-business e-commerce site. “Small and medium businesses will be able to manage their network infrastructure and data backup online,” says Murphy.
Other office supplies retailers also offer information technology services. Office Depot Inc., No. 3 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, owns and operates Techdepot.com. an online computer and technology reseller located in Trumbull, CT. Staples, however ,acquired Thrive Networks and launched Staples Network Services by Thrive to provide direct network and information technology services to small business owners and corporations. “We want them to think of Staples as a business partner with a serious interest in helping them to better manage technology,” Murphy says.