May 20th, 2008 - Xsilva Systems, Inc. has certified an additional 56 resellers from around the world to resell LightSpeed Point of Sale (POS) solutions on Mac OS X.
The resellers, from as far away as Australia and Saudi Arabia, as well as from across Canada and the U.S., were certified at the fourth LightSpeed Certification Camp, Spring 2008 Edition, held recently in Santa Barbara, California.“We decided to bring our Certification Camp closer to our resellers on the west coast of the US, and the response was overwhelming,” said Xsilva CEO, Dax Dasilva. “We have seen the momentum of our reseller network soar over the past year, and it was great to see the seasoned pros there alongside resellers attending for the first time. Hosting the camp in stunning Santa Barbara was just icing on the cake.”
More Learning, More Hands-On
Expanding the length of the training to a full three days allowed for a more comprehensive learning experience for resellers. Resellers spent the first two days learning about the complete array of LightSpeed features and components, which have developed a great deal in the months since the last Certification Camp.
The third day was devoted exclusively to interactive workshops that allowed resellers personal consultations with Xsilva staff, capped off by a roundtable discussion, allowing resellers the chance to contribute their ideas for feature requests, or to provide feedback on the Camp. Said one reseller, “It is nice to be treated as a 'participant,' rather than an outside observer to the process.” Added reseller Ron Braithwaite, of Computer Stores Northwest, “I think this has been one of the best workshops in my career. Good work!”
In addition to the regular training sessions presented by the Xsilva team, a number of special guest presentations were given by OpenBase CEO Scott Keith, On-Target Reports CEO Aaron Bratcher, Rage Software CEO Paul Levine, and event sponsors Axia and Merchant Warehouse.
When the Sun Goes Down
An integral part of the success of Certification Camp continues to be the locations and social events that make the event so memorable. This camp was held at the world-class Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara California, and included a rooftop cocktail party overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, dinner at the El Paseo Restaurant, and a nighttime trolley tour that showcased the city’s incomparable beauty.
Looking Forward
The coming months will be busy ones both for LightSpeed, its resellers, and customers, with many exciting developments and enhancements planned for the software, including an expanded POS screen and new features for Web Store, Multi-Store, and more. “As LightSpeed’s reseller community continues to grow, so does the expertise and experience of our resellers,” continued Dasilva. “We have to make sure we develop a system of certification that accurately reflects the various levels of knowledge that is now possible with such a deep, expansive piece of software.”
Dasilva is encouraged by the prospect of even more growth for LightSpeed. “We have so much planned, both for the software and for our resellers, that when you take a look at the ground we’ve all covered together since the beginning, you can’t help but be excited.”