OnForce, the service provider marketplace, today reveals the OnForce Services Marketplace Index (OSMI) results for Q1 2010. OSMI is designed to reveal IT spending and project trends across the U.S. The latest results show some positive IT trends, but OnForce Director of Marketing Diana Ermini says now’s not the time for irrational exuberance. Here’s why.

First, a little background. The OnForce marketplace is a bit like an eBay for service providers. VARs can bid on consumer and corporate IT projects, which can range from a basic LCD TV install to a massive POS (point of sale) project roll out. Ermini says overall services transactions on OnForce picked up in Q1 2010 vs. Q4 2009, but break-fix and warranty repairs remained “dominant.” OSMI indicates that installation work held steady at about 32 percent of total work orders. The fact that growth remained flat isn’t as exciting as a sharp upward climb, but after the economic train wreck that was 2009, it’s a good thing to hear.

What’s hot in the market place? Ermini points to networking, security, teleconferencing, Unified Communications and wireless services — even more so if you’re operating in the government vertical. OnForce is also expecting an uptick in POS work as retailers get more aggressive with product refreshes.

The OnForce index isn’t quite as upbeat as the Spiceworks survey results we saw last week. Still, both reports point to improving demand for IT services.

Meanwhile, OnForce itself is looking to make some business moves for 2010. The online marketplace is seeking a chief operating officer (COO) to assist CEO Peter Cannone with OnForce’s positioning and growth.

- via MSPMentor

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