AI is rapidly reshaping how businesses operate—from internal workflows to customer-facing experiences. For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), this transformation brings both opportunity and uncertainty. They’re looking to their MSPs not just for technical support, but for strategic guidance on how to navigate this shift. That’s where a new model is emerging - one that reframes what it means to deliver value in the age of intelligent automation.

Channel Leader Pax8's Vision for Agentic AI and MSP Transformation

, CEO Scott Chasin emphasized the rapid evolution of AI, noting that "AI capabilities are doubling every four to six months." He highlighted the transformative potential of AI, stating, "We’re on the cusp of AI reaching human-level intelligence and beyond." This acceleration is not just about technological advancement but also about redefining the role of MSPs in the AI era.

, introduces the concept of the Managed Intelligence Provider (MIP), positioning MSPs as strategic partners who curate, orchestrate, and govern intelligent agents to drive business outcomes for SMBs. This shift underscores the need for MSPs to evolve from traditional service providers to proactive enablers of AI-driven transformation.

The hypothetical ‘Managed Intelligence Provider’ is about more than just managing tools—it’s about providing visibility, strategy, and structure as AI becomes embedded in daily work. According to Pax8, MIPs will:

Help clients orchestrate AI solutions across workflows

Monitor and optimize AI usage and adoption

Deliver business results, not just uptime or ticket resolution

Their upcoming Managed Intelligence Toolkit will support this shift, offering a framework for managing AI at scale across SMB clients.

How MSPs Can Start the Shift to Intelligence Providers

You don’t need to wait for new tools to start becoming more strategic. Here are four ways to help clients adopt and manage AI—right now.

1. Measure Adoption of GenAI Tools using Work Analytics from Produce8

Whether it’s ChatGPT, Jasper, or other emerging tools, most organizations are experimenting with GenAI. But without visibility, it’s hard to know what’s sticking.

A dataset that illuminates the adoption curve of new tech that helps companies support (without stamping out) employee innovation efforts.

This helps shift the conversation from anecdotal to structured and measurable insights.

2. Measure the Impact of Embedded AI on People

Tools like Microsoft Copilot or embedded AI features in apps are harder to track. But their impact shows up in employee work patterns:

Is the related app’s (i.e. Microsoft Word) usage changing?

Are employees spending more time in different applications indicating that time has freed up?

Is the digital workday becoming more efficient?

Pre- and post-rollout comparisons with Digital Work Analytics can reveal whether embedded AI is helping or just adding more tools and inefficiencies in the way work gets completed.

Many clients lack AI policies altogether. MSPs can support policy efforts by:

Identifying which AI tools are in use (even unapproved ones)

Helping draft clear guidelines for usage and access

Flagging Shadow AI that could pose a risk

 help MSPs give clients measurable, privacy-respecting insights into digital work patterns:

Understand usage of collaboration and productivity tools

Detect inefficiencies like meeting or messaging overload

Measure whether AI is improving productivity or creating distractions

These insights can kickstart better QBRs, spark license audits, and help teams improve how they work.

Clients aren’t just asking “What AI tools should we try?” They’re asking:

These are questions the proposed MIP concept could answer with data, structure, and strategy. This isn’t about reinventing your business. It’s about extending your current value into a new era of work.

, we are here to help MSPs lead these conversations. For some concrete examples of our tools at work on AI-related use cases, check out our recent 

 or info on our MSP (or maybe I should say ‘MIP’ :P) partner program.

AI is rapidly reshaping how businesses operate—from internal workflows to customer-facing experiences. For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), this transformation brings both opportunity and uncertainty. They’re looking to their MSPs not just for technical support, but for strategic guidance on how to navigate this shift. That’s where a new model is emerging - one that reframes what it means to deliver value in the age of intelligent automation.

Channel Leader Pax8's Vision for Agentic AI and MSP Transformation

At the recent 2025 Pax8 Beyond conference, CEO Scott Chasin emphasized the rapid evolution of AI, noting that "AI capabilities are doubling every four to six months." He highlighted the transformative potential of AI, stating, "We’re on the cusp of AI reaching human-level intelligence and beyond." This acceleration is not just about technological advancement but also about redefining the role of MSPs in the AI era.

Pax8's research report, The Agentic Inflection Point, introduces the concept of the Managed Intelligence Provider (MIP), positioning MSPs as strategic partners who curate, orchestrate, and govern intelligent agents to drive business outcomes for SMBs. This shift underscores the need for MSPs to evolve from traditional service providers to proactive enablers of AI-driven transformation.

What’s an ‘MIP’ in Practice?

The hypothetical ‘Managed Intelligence Provider’ is about more than just managing tools—it’s about providing visibility, strategy, and structure as AI becomes embedded in daily work. According to Pax8, MIPs will:

Help clients orchestrate AI solutions across workflows

Monitor and optimize AI usage and adoption

Deliver business results, not just uptime or ticket resolution

Their upcoming Managed Intelligence Toolkit will support this shift, offering a framework for managing AI at scale across SMB clients.

How MSPs Can Start the Shift to Intelligence Providers

You don’t need to wait for new tools to start becoming more strategic. Here are four ways to help clients adopt and manage AI—right now.

1. Measure Adoption of GenAI Tools using Work Analytics from Produce8

Whether it’s ChatGPT, Jasper, or other emerging tools, most organizations are experimenting with GenAI. But without visibility, it’s hard to know what’s sticking.

Use analytics tools to track:

Frequency of use across departments

Drop-offs or signs of abandonment

Team-level engagement patterns

A dataset that illuminates the adoption curve of new tech that helps companies support (without stamping out) employee innovation efforts.

This helps shift the conversation from anecdotal to structured and measurable insights.

2. Measure the Impact of Embedded AI on People

Tools like Microsoft Copilot or embedded AI features in apps are harder to track. But their impact shows up in employee work patterns:

Are focus hours increasing?

Is the related app’s (i.e. Microsoft Word) usage changing?

Are employees spending more time in different applications indicating that time has freed up?

Is the digital workday becoming more efficient?

Pre- and post-rollout comparisons with Digital Work Analytics can reveal whether embedded AI is helping or just adding more tools and inefficiencies in the way work gets completed.

3. Guide AI Policy Creation

Many clients lack AI policies altogether. MSPs can support policy efforts by:

Identifying which AI tools are in use (even unapproved ones)

Helping draft clear guidelines for usage and access

Flagging Shadow AI that could pose a risk

This Writer.com article offers a great starting point.

4. Use Work Analytics to Demonstrate ROI

Tools like Produce8 help MSPs give clients measurable, privacy-respecting insights into digital work patterns:

Understand usage of collaboration and productivity tools

Detect inefficiencies like meeting or messaging overload

Measure whether AI is improving productivity or creating distractions

These insights can kickstart better QBRs, spark license audits, and help teams improve how they work.

Why This Matters

Clients aren’t just asking “What AI tools should we try?” They’re asking:

Are we wasting money on apps?

Are we using AI safely?

Is it helping us get more done?

What should we stop or start doing?

These are questions the proposed MIP concept could answer with data, structure, and strategy. This isn’t about reinventing your business. It’s about extending your current value into a new era of work.

At Produce8, we are here to help MSPs lead these conversations. For some concrete examples of our tools at work on AI-related use cases, check out our recent partner webinar or reach out for a demo or info on our MSP (or maybe I should say ‘MIP’ :P) partner program.

The Dawn of the ‘Managed Intelligence Provider’: Helping Your Clients Manage Transformation in the Digital Workplace

Vancouver, BC – Produce8, a leader in digital work analytics, today announced the launch of 

, an innovative reporting system designed to empower businesses with real-time data on employee digital workflows while enabling Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to deliver unprecedented value to their clients.


In today’s fast-paced digital workplace, organizations struggle to understand how employees interact with technology, manage their time, and collaborate efficiently. Essential Insights simplifies this challenge by providing real-time, anonymized analytics that drive data-driven decisions, improve productivity, and support overall workforce well-being.


“Essential Insights was designed to seamlessly provide organizations with real-time business data,” said Marco LaVecchia - CRO of Produce8 “With its ability to reveal patterns in productivity, collaboration, and technology usage, businesses can create better workdays for employees, while MSPs can elevate their role as trusted strategic partners in driving digital efficiency.”


Unlocking Workforce Productivity with Essential Insights

Essential Insights delivers four key reporting dimensions that provide organizations with an in-depth understanding of their digital work environments:

 – Tracks digital working hours, focus scores, and employee sentiment, helping businesses balance productivity with well-being.

 – Analyzes time spent in meetings and calls, identifying opportunities to improve communication efficiency.

 – Provides insights into app usage, interaction patterns, and shadow IT risks, ensuring businesses maintain secure and efficient digital environments.

– Enables comparative analysis of departments and teams, identifying trends and disparities to optimize resource allocation and collaboration.


A Game-Changer for Managed Service Providers (MSPs)

Essential Insights is not only a powerful tool for businesses—it also presents a transformative opportunity for MSPs looking to expand their value proposition and service offerings.

 – MSPs can move beyond traditional IT support by delivering actionable insights that make them indispensable business advisors.

 – By offering DWA-powered insights, MSPs can expand into HR and operational analytics, opening new revenue streams.

 – Essential Insights helps MSPs stand out in a crowded market, delivering next-generation analytics that drive business success.


MSPs have traditionally provided IT expertise, evolving from network management to cloud adoption and cybersecurity. The next logical step in their evolution is Digital Work Analytics (DWA)—a fast-growing sector that helps businesses optimize workflows and retain top talent.


“Organizations invest 8-10% of their OPEX budget on IT, but up to 75% on human resources,” Janice Siddons - President of Produce 8 added “Essential Insights enables MSPs to bridge the gap by showing clients exactly how their technology investment impacts their most valuable asset: their people.”

Produce8 has made integrating Essential Insights into MSP service offerings effortless. The tool can be deployed in just three simple steps:

– Demonstrate how DWA analytics uncover productivity patterns and inefficiencies.

Easily Deploy Essential Insights to Client Base

 – No complex integration is required—Essential Insights works seamlessly with existing IT infrastructure.

 – Use insights to fuel quarterly business reviews (QBRs) and strengthen strategic conversations with clients.


To support MSPs, Produce8 offers an MSP Partner Program with dedicated resources and training, helping them scale Essential Insights as a core business offering.

Unlock the Power of Digital Work Analytics


Essential Insights is available now for businesses and MSPs looking to enhance workplace efficiency, illuminate new growth opportunities, and drive data-backed decision-making.


Join the Essential Insights Launch Webinar

Produce8 Essential Insights Launch Webinar

Vancouver, BC – Produce8, a leader in digital work analytics, today announced the launch of Essential Insights, an innovative reporting system designed to empower businesses with real-time data on employee digital workflows while enabling Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to deliver unprecedented value to their clients.


In today’s fast-paced digital workplace, organizations struggle to understand how employees interact with technology, manage their time, and collaborate efficiently. Essential Insights simplifies this challenge by providing real-time, anonymized analytics that drive data-driven decisions, improve productivity, and support overall workforce well-being.


“Essential Insights was designed to seamlessly provide organizations with real-time business data,” said Marco LaVecchia - CRO of Produce8 “With its ability to reveal patterns in productivity, collaboration, and technology usage, businesses can create better workdays for employees, while MSPs can elevate their role as trusted strategic partners in driving digital efficiency.”


Unlocking Workforce Productivity with Essential Insights

Essential Insights delivers four key reporting dimensions that provide organizations with an in-depth understanding of their digital work environments:

Quality of Work Life – Tracks digital working hours, focus scores, and employee sentiment, helping businesses balance productivity with well-being.

Collaboration Time – Analyzes time spent in meetings and calls, identifying opportunities to improve communication efficiency.

Application Discovery & Usage – Provides insights into app usage, interaction patterns, and shadow IT risks, ensuring businesses maintain secure and efficient digital environments.

Team Benchmarking – Enables comparative analysis of departments and teams, identifying trends and disparities to optimize resource allocation and collaboration.


A Game-Changer for Managed Service Providers (MSPs)

Essential Insights is not only a powerful tool for businesses—it also presents a transformative opportunity for MSPs looking to expand their value proposition and service offerings.

Deepen Client Relationships – MSPs can move beyond traditional IT support by delivering actionable insights that make them indispensable business advisors.

Drive Growth & Revenue – By offering DWA-powered insights, MSPs can expand into HR and operational analytics, opening new revenue streams.

Differentiate Services – Essential Insights helps MSPs stand out in a crowded market, delivering next-generation analytics that drive business success.


MSPs have traditionally provided IT expertise, evolving from network management to cloud adoption and cybersecurity. The next logical step in their evolution is Digital Work Analytics (DWA)—a fast-growing sector that helps businesses optimize workflows and retain top talent.


“Organizations invest 8-10% of their OPEX budget on IT, but up to 75% on human resources,” Janice Siddons - President of Produce 8 added “Essential Insights enables MSPs to bridge the gap by showing clients exactly how their technology investment impacts their most valuable asset: their people.”

Seamless Integration and Adoption

Produce8 has made integrating Essential Insights into MSP service offerings effortless. The tool can be deployed in just three simple steps:

Show Clients the Report – Demonstrate how DWA analytics uncover productivity patterns and inefficiencies.

Easily Deploy Essential Insights to Client Base – No complex integration is required—Essential Insights works seamlessly with existing IT infrastructure.

Incorporate Reports into QBR Meetings – Use insights to fuel quarterly business reviews (QBRs) and strengthen strategic conversations with clients.


To support MSPs, Produce8 offers an MSP Partner Program with dedicated resources and training, helping them scale Essential Insights as a core business offering.

Unlock the Power of Digital Work Analytics


Essential Insights is available now for businesses and MSPs looking to enhance workplace efficiency, illuminate new growth opportunities, and drive data-backed decision-making.


Join the Essential Insights Launch Webinar


Date: January 30, 2025 | Time: 2 PM ET
Register Here: Produce8 Essential Insights Launch Webinar
For more information, book a live demo or learn about our MSP Partner Program


Produce8 Launches Essential Insights, a Breakthrough Digital Work Analytics Reporting Tool for Businesses and MSPs

Produce8 is proud to announce the launch of Essential Insights, our new Digital Work Analytics (DWA) Report System designed to empower knowledge workers, enhance business efficiency, and support Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in driving growth.

The modern workplace is increasingly digital, making it essential for businesses to understand how employees interact with technology, manage their time, and collaborate. Essential Insights brings clarity to these areas, offering detailed, anonymized reports that enable data-driven decisions to optimize productivity, foster well-being, and scale operations.

Transforming the Workplace with Essential Insights

Essential Insights Reporting leverages real-time analytics to deliver a comprehensive view of the employee digital experience across four critical dimensions:

 Tracks digital working hours, focus scores, and employee sentiment to balance productivity and well-being.

Analyzes time spent in meetings and calls, highlighting areas for communication efficiency.

Provides insights into app usage, interaction patterns, and shadow IT risks.

Enables comparative analysis of teams, identifying trends and disparities to align resources effectively.

“Essential Insights was designed to easily offer organizations real-time business data” said Janice Siddons, President, Produce8. “With its ability to reveal patterns in productivity and collaboration, businesses can create better workdays for their teams, while MSPs can elevate their role as trusted strategic partners.”

A Game-Changer for Managed Service Providers

For MSPs, Essential Insights represents a transformative opportunity to expand their value proposition:

 By offering actionable insights, MSPs can transition from being IT providers to indispensable business advisors.

The tool opens doors to new services, enabling MSPs to tap into HR and operational challenges.

 Essential Insights helps MSPs stand out in a competitive market with next-generation analytics capabilities.

Key industries such as technology, professional services, healthcare, and financial services are poised to benefit significantly from these insights, making Essential Insights a versatile solution across sectors.

Produce8 has made adopting Essential Insights Reporting easy for MSPs, requiring just three simple steps: introduce the tool to clients, deploy it easily, and incorporate insights into regular business reviews. The platform also offers a Partner Program to provide MSPs with the resources and training needed to maximize their impact.

Produce8’s Essential Insights is now available to help businesses and MSPs illuminate opportunities, improve efficiency, and foster sustainable growth. To learn more, book a live demo at Produce8’s website.

For additional information, contact Produce8 at 

 and join our launch webinar on January 30th (2pm ET): 

Essential Insights - Introducing Digital Work Analytics Reporting for MSPs

Produce8 is proud to announce the launch of Essential Insights, our new Digital Work Analytics (DWA) Report System designed to empower knowledge workers, enhance business efficiency, and support Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in driving growth.

The modern workplace is increasingly digital, making it essential for businesses to understand how employees interact with technology, manage their time, and collaborate. Essential Insights brings clarity to these areas, offering detailed, anonymized reports that enable data-driven decisions to optimize productivity, foster well-being, and scale operations.

Transforming the Workplace with Essential Insights

Essential Insights Reporting leverages real-time analytics to deliver a comprehensive view of the employee digital experience across four critical dimensions:

Quality of Work Life: Tracks digital working hours, focus scores, and employee sentiment to balance productivity and well-being.

Collaboration Time: Analyzes time spent in meetings and calls, highlighting areas for communication efficiency.

Application Discovery & Usage: Provides insights into app usage, interaction patterns, and shadow IT risks.

Team Benchmarking: Enables comparative analysis of teams, identifying trends and disparities to align resources effectively.

“Essential Insights was designed to easily offer organizations real-time business data” said Janice Siddons, President, Produce8. “With its ability to reveal patterns in productivity and collaboration, businesses can create better workdays for their teams, while MSPs can elevate their role as trusted strategic partners.”

A Game-Changer for Managed Service Providers

For MSPs, Essential Insights represents a transformative opportunity to expand their value proposition:

Deepen Client Relationships: By offering actionable insights, MSPs can transition from being IT providers to indispensable business advisors.

Drive Growth: The tool opens doors to new services, enabling MSPs to tap into HR and operational challenges.

Differentiate Services: Essential Insights helps MSPs stand out in a competitive market with next-generation analytics capabilities.

Key industries such as technology, professional services, healthcare, and financial services are poised to benefit significantly from these insights, making Essential Insights a versatile solution across sectors.

Seamless Integration and Adoption

Produce8 has made adopting Essential Insights Reporting easy for MSPs, requiring just three simple steps: introduce the tool to clients, deploy it easily, and incorporate insights into regular business reviews. The platform also offers a Partner Program to provide MSPs with the resources and training needed to maximize their impact.

Unlock the Power of Digital Work Analytics

Produce8’s Essential Insights is now available to help businesses and MSPs illuminate opportunities, improve efficiency, and foster sustainable growth. To learn more, book a live demo at Produce8’s website.

For additional information, contact Produce8 at info@produce8.com and join our launch webinar on January 30th (2pm ET): Essential Insights - Introducing Digital Work Analytics Reporting for MSPs.

Find out more about Essential Insights reporting

Produce8 Launches Essential Insights: Revolutionizing Digital Work Analytics for Businesses and MSPs

Never miss an update from us. Join our community of business leaders and professionals navigating work and life in the digital-first era.

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Register for the our next webinar 'The Future of MSP Work Episode 3: The Next Generation of MSP Software'

Time blocking is a time management method that involves dividing your day into blocks of time, with each block dedicated to accomplishing a specific task or group of tasks. This technique helps in organizing your day more efficiently, ensuring that you allocate time to important activities without the day slipping away into less productive tasks.

Effective time blocking will manifest as a well-structured timeline, fewer distractions from low-priority apps, and a higher focus score, demonstrating better productivity and focused work. These KPIs are crucial for assessing the effectiveness of your time management approach.

Time Blocking Challenge Outcome 

Want to have better workdays? We can help!

Time Blocking Challenge

Want to have better workdays? We can help! 

Great Workdays Kickoff for Organizations

Monotasking, also known as single-tasking, is the practice of focusing all your attention and effort on one task at a time, rather than trying to accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously. This approach stands in contrast to multitasking, where individuals attempt to manage several tasks at once, often leading to decreased productivity and increased chances of errors. Monotasking is about deepening focus, enhancing the quality of work, and improving mental engagement with the task at hand.

You should observe longer durations in productive apps, fewer interruptions from non-essential apps in your timeline, and an enhanced focus score, reflecting improved monotasking efficiency.

Monotasking Challenge Outcome

Monotasking Challenge

The "Eat the Frog" technique is a time management strategy that encourages tackling the most challenging or crucial task of your day first thing in the morning. The concept is derived from a quote often attributed to Mark Twain, suggesting that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that's probably the worst thing that's going to happen to you all day.

Successfully adopting the Eat the Frog habit will be evident through early and focused engagement in productive apps, reflected in your heatmap, timeline, and top apps report within Produce8.

Eat the Frog Challenge Outcome 

Eat the Frog Challenge

Monk Mode is a productivity approach where you deeply focus on your work by minimizing distractions, akin to the focused and minimalistic lifestyle of a monk. This mode involves dedicating extended periods to work intensely on a single task or project, often in isolation, to maximize productivity and quality of output.

With successful Monk Mode application, anticipate extended periods of focused app usage, minimal distractions from irrelevant apps, and better digital intensity and focus scores, all signaling increased productivity.


Monk Mode Challenge Outcome

Monk Mode Challenge

MSPs give your clients more.  Want to instantly show your clients how many unused software licenses they can recoup?  Join the webinar.

MSPs - Show Your Clients How Many Unused Software Licenses They Can Recoup

MSPs - Your Clients Have a Meeting Problem - Now You Have the Fix.

Episode 4: Is a 4-Day Work Week for MSPs a Fever Dream?  The Future of MSP Work is a monthly thought-leadership series discussing strategies for growth and what's coming next in the Managed Services industry. This month we are talking with Joe O'Connor, CEO and Co-founder of Work Time Reduction, a consulting and research organization that specializes in reduced-hour, outcomes-focused work models. We will be discussing the possible fever-dream of a 4-day work-week for MSPs and touching on:  How would a 4-day-work-week even work for MSPs?  Are your clients adopting it?  What would need to happen to enable it?

The Future of MSP Work: Is a 4-Day Work Week for MSPs a Fever Dream?

Introducing Essential Insights: Unlocking the Power of Digital Work Analytics (for MSPs & their Clients)

Why Produce8 for MSPs?

Engage Your Entire Business in Productivity Initiatives 

Types of Meetings Affecting Focus Time

Are you ready to supercharge your productivity and unlock your full potential?

It doesn’t have to be all synchronous or all asynchronous. Find the balance for your team. Measure what is or isn’t working.

It’s also worth repeating that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You can blend asynchronous work with synchronous work.

Digital Work Analytics reporting

The Dawn of the ‘Managed Intelligence Provider’: Helping Your Clients Manage Transformation in the Digital Workplace

Produce8 Launches Essential Insights, a Breakthrough Digital Work Analytics Reporting Tool for Businesses and MSPs

Produce8 Launches Essential Insights: Revolutionizing Digital Work Analytics for Businesses and MSPs

Never miss an update from us. Join our community of business leaders and professionals navigating work and life in the digital-first era.

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