If you have read the news lately, you can’t have missed that artificial intelligence (AI) is all the rage for businesses and individuals worldwide. With recent advancements in AI technology, consumers and businesses are looking for ways to utilize the tools to help them grow and try new things.
There are many forms of AI on the market today. It may be defined as the perception, synthesizing, and inferring of information performed by machines, instead of by a human. This could include using AI to analyze large pools of data, or even generative AI, such as the popular ChatGPT technology, that can create original, logical text, images, and other forms of content by leveraging patterns of behavior and text.
For managed services provider (MSP) business owners, many potential use cases for AI could help them stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology, as well as keep up with increasing customer needs and services. The good news is that these aren’t futuristic use cases — many benefits are available today for MSPs like yourself to begin taking advantage of.
One way that you can leverage AI is to streamline your IT operations. AI-powered automation tools enable you to efficiently handle routine and repetitive tasks, such as system monitoring, patch management, and backups. By automating these processes, MSPs can significantly reduce human error, enhance efficiency, and optimize resource allocation, leading to cost savings and improved service delivery. This is more important than ever in a world where talent is hard to come by, and you must make the most of the teams you have as you grow.
Further reading The Impact of Generative AI on MSP Customer Experience and Satisfaction
Another way that MSPs can leverage AI is to respond to potential issues at machine speed — before a human has even recognized them. AI-driven analytics and monitoring tools empower you to approach issue resolution proactively. By analyzing vast amounts of data from systems and networks, AI algorithms can identify patterns, detect anomalies, and predict potential issues before they escalate. What’s more, AI and machine learning can also potentially flag when hardware components or systems are likely to fail, allowing you to perform predictive maintenance before an issue arises. This proactive approach allows you to address problems swiftly, minimizing downtime and preventing costly client disruptions.
Some MSPs also use AI for customer service, implementing AI-based tools such as chatbots and virtual assistants to respond to initial customer requests. In doing this, they can offer round-the-clock support to their clients, addressing common queries, and providing real-time assistance. These intelligent conversational interfaces can streamline ticket management, improve response times, and enhance overall customer satisfaction. Then, if an issue is serious, it can be escalated to a human for further investigation.
There are some concerns about the use of AI as a tool. First, that it will displace human workers who need and deserve a job. Second, that it can become a threat if its data sources are poisoned or if attackers use it to generate new types of malware. However, in many cases, the benefits outweigh the risks when it is used as a tool for MSPs to help enhance the ability of humans to perform at their best.
MSPs have an essential job in today’s technology-driven world. It’s more important than ever for MSPs to stay relevant and offer the latest technologies to support their clients. AI can be a powerful tool for MSP teams to consider, especially when integrated with existing workflows. MSPs that embrace AI are well positioned to deliver innovative solutions, drive business growth, and ensure long-term success in the dynamic and competitive managed services industry.
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About the author
Kurt Abrahams is the Vice President of Marketing at MSP360 with expertise in technology marketing, cybersecurity and AI based technology.