Tech services distributors are in an arms race to give partners the best resources in the industry.

The technology advisor channel, more colloquially known as the telecom agent or broker channel, relies heavily on tech services distributors (formerly known as master agents). The TSDs play an indispensable role for their agent partners by generating enough sales volume with their supplier partners to maintain agreements that the agents use. They collect commissions from from these suppliers and pass them down to the agents, who engage with the customers. But in recent years the TSDs have been proclaiming that they offer much more value than that. The largest players are touting the pre- and post-sales tools they offer, in addition to deepened financial programs and engineering support.

Although consolidation has narrowed partners' amount of choices, the remaining players nonetheless present varying strengths and weaknesses. Agents will benefit from learning about the differences between these TSDs. To that end, Jamaal Savwoir, Intelisys vice president of partner experience and marketing, and Bana Qashu, Avant regional vice president of sales for East and Canada, will participate in the "The Great Technology Services Distributor Debate," Sept. 15 at the MSP Summit/Channel Partners Leadership Summit.

IQwired CEO Darcee Nelan will moderate the conversation.

Nelan and Savwoir previewed the discussion in a Q&A with Channel Futures.

CF: How have TSDs historically differentiated themselves from each other, and how is that changing?