AI has moved from experiment to expectation - and every MSP is being asked the same thing: “

Before we talk about strategy, let’s talk about visibility. Because right now, most teams don’t actually know how AI is being used inside their organizations.

Some employees are testing Copilot. Others are using ChatGPT for reports or automation prompts. Some are transcribing meetings using tools like Otter or Zoom’s meeting AI. If you can think of it, with the exponential speed of innovation today, there’s probably an AI tool out there already. Leadership loves the idea of efficiency, but no one can prove whether AI is helping or just creating new layers of digital noise. 

That’s the visibility gap - and it’s where AIRO comes in.  BTW if you’d like a handy guide to the leading AI tools out there today, then download our 

There are a few other “AIROs” out there (AI Results Optimization, AI Risk Ontology, even an airport reporting system in Oregon). But in our world, AIRO stands for AI Readiness & Optimization - a framework for understanding how AI is really working inside your clients’ environments before you try to optimize it. 

AIRO gives MSPs a lens into three dimensions that shape every AI outcome:

: how work actually happens - focus, collaboration, overload

: how work moves - meetings, workflows, bottlenecks

: how tools are used - sanctioned apps, shadow AI, redundancyYou can’t optimize what you can’t see. And in the age of AI, visibility isn’t optional - it’s the new baseline for value.

Stay tuned for Part 2: how AIRO helps MSPs move from visibility to measurable action & sign up to learn more at our Nov 20th webinar 

Introducing AIRO: The AI Readiness Playbook - How Next-Gen MSPs Are Using Produce8 to Prove What’s Working - and What’s Not

AI has moved from experiment to expectation - and every MSP is being asked the same thing: “What’s our AI strategy?”

Before we talk about strategy, let’s talk about visibility. Because right now, most teams don’t actually know how AI is being used inside their organizations.

Some employees are testing Copilot. Others are using ChatGPT for reports or automation prompts. Some are transcribing meetings using tools like Otter or Zoom’s meeting AI. If you can think of it, with the exponential speed of innovation today, there’s probably an AI tool out there already. Leadership loves the idea of efficiency, but no one can prove whether AI is helping or just creating new layers of digital noise. 

That’s the visibility gap - and it’s where AIRO comes in.  BTW if you’d like a handy guide to the leading AI tools out there today, then download our AI Cheat Sheet HERE



There are a few other “AIROs” out there (AI Results Optimization, AI Risk Ontology, even an airport reporting system in Oregon). But in our world, AIRO stands for AI Readiness & Optimization - a framework for understanding how AI is really working inside your clients’ environments before you try to optimize it. 



AIRO gives MSPs a lens into three dimensions that shape every AI outcome:

People: how work actually happens - focus, collaboration, overload

Process: how work moves - meetings, workflows, bottlenecks

Technology: how tools are used - sanctioned apps, shadow AI, redundancyYou can’t optimize what you can’t see. And in the age of AI, visibility isn’t optional - it’s the new baseline for value.

Stay tuned for Part 2: how AIRO helps MSPs move from visibility to measurable action & sign up to learn more at our Nov 20th webinar Introducing AIRO: The AI Readiness Playbook - How Next-Gen MSPs Are Using Produce8 to Prove What’s Working - and What’s Not




AIRO Part 1 - The AI Readiness Gap - You Can’t Optimize What You Can’t See

Every great movie ends with one final scene - the moment where the big idea becomes reality. After the vCIO’s journey through transformation, insight, and orchestration, the next act begins right here - inside the 

This is where the story of data clarity becomes tangible - seven specific use cases that equip MSPs to 

. Each one turns visibility into value, helping MSPs become true 

 Reveal how your clients’ teams actually work - which tools drive value and which collect dust. By surfacing real usage trends across SaaS platforms, MSPs move from speculation to insight, opening strategic SaaS optimization conversations with measurable outcomes.

 Unused licenses are silent budget leaks. Produce8 gives you the user-level data to identify and reclaim underused software - proving instant ROI and giving MSPs a new, value-driven talk track at every QBR.

AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot are everywhere - and often unsanctioned. Produce8 helps MSPs detect who’s using AI, how often, and for what purpose - protecting clients from compliance risks and helping guide responsible AI enablement strategies.

Employees often add tools outside approved channels, creating fragmentation, risk, and confusion. Produce8 uncovers these rogue additions, empowering MSPs to manage access, rationalize costs, and reduce cybersecurity exposure.

Slack, Teams, Zoom - the tools meant to connect us can just as easily overwhelm us. With Produce8, MSPs quantify the impact of overcommunication and help clients rebalance collaboration time vs. focus time. Less noise. More output.

Spot burnout before it burns the business. 

When digital intensity spikes and workdays stretch too long, people suffer. Produce8 visualizes overwork patterns so MSPs can help clients promote healthier habits - turning well-being into a strategic advantage.

Too many meetings kill productivity and morale. Produce8 tracks meeting density and time cost, giving MSPs the data to drive cultural change. Now, the vCIO can bring not just uptime metrics - but time 

 isn’t theory - it’s the operating system of the modern MIP. Each use case unlocks a new way to serve clients, from license efficiency to digital wellness. And together, they form a complete narrative: one where MSPs stop reacting to tickets and start advising on transformation.

Where once the vCIO walked into the boardroom hoping for trust, they now walk in 

Discover how each of these data-driven use cases helps MSPs reclaim the boardroom, one insight at a time.  Grab it for yourself here: https://welcome.produce8.com/produce8-playbook-for-msps

Act I: From Story to System

Every great movie ends with one final scene - the moment where the big idea becomes reality. After the vCIO’s journey through transformation, insight, and orchestration, the next act begins right here - inside the Produce8 Playbook.

This is where the story of data clarity becomes tangible - seven specific use cases that equip MSPs to lead with evidence, not assumptions. Each one turns visibility into value, helping MSPs become true Managed Intelligence Providers (MIPs).

Act II: The Seven Chapters of Clarity

1. Application Usage Reporting

See the unseen. Reveal how your clients’ teams actually work - which tools drive value and which collect dust. By surfacing real usage trends across SaaS platforms, MSPs move from speculation to insight, opening strategic SaaS optimization conversations with measurable outcomes.

2. Software License Reclamation

Turn waste into wins. Unused licenses are silent budget leaks. Produce8 gives you the user-level data to identify and reclaim underused software - proving instant ROI and giving MSPs a new, value-driven talk track at every QBR.

3. AI Adoption & Security

Govern the invisible revolution. AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot are everywhere - and often unsanctioned. Produce8 helps MSPs detect who’s using AI, how often, and for what purpose - protecting clients from compliance risks and helping guide responsible AI enablement strategies.

4. Detecting Shadow IT

Expose the ghost apps. Employees often add tools outside approved channels, creating fragmentation, risk, and confusion. Produce8 uncovers these rogue additions, empowering MSPs to manage access, rationalize costs, and reduce cybersecurity exposure.

5. Measuring Excessive Comms

Fix collaboration overload. Slack, Teams, Zoom - the tools meant to connect us can just as easily overwhelm us. With Produce8, MSPs quantify the impact of overcommunication and help clients rebalance collaboration time vs. focus time. Less noise. More output.

6. Minimizing Overwork Risks

Spot burnout before it burns the business. When digital intensity spikes and workdays stretch too long, people suffer. Produce8 visualizes overwork patterns so MSPs can help clients promote healthier habits - turning well-being into a strategic advantage.

7. Preventing Meeting Overload

Reclaim the day. Too many meetings kill productivity and morale. Produce8 tracks meeting density and time cost, giving MSPs the data to drive cultural change. Now, the vCIO can bring not just uptime metrics - but time value metrics.



Act III: The Playbook in Motion

The Produce8 Playbook isn’t theory - it’s the operating system of the modern MIP. Each use case unlocks a new way to serve clients, from license efficiency to digital wellness. And together, they form a complete narrative: one where MSPs stop reacting to tickets and start advising on transformation.

Where once the vCIO walked into the boardroom hoping for trust, they now walk in armed with truth.

Download the Produce8 Playbook 

Discover how each of these data-driven use cases helps MSPs reclaim the boardroom, one insight at a time.  Grab it for yourself here: https://welcome.produce8.com/produce8-playbook-for-msps




The Data-Driven vCIO Part 5 - Behind the Screens - The Data Superpowers Fuelling the Next-Gen MSP

The Data-Driven vCIO Part 5 - The Data Superpowers Fuelling the Next-Gen MSP

Every story of transformation needs a return - that moment when the protagonist comes back, wiser and stronger, ready to reclaim their place. For the vCIO, this is that moment.

After years of firefighting, spreadsheets, and static QBR decks, they step back into the boardroom - not to present uptime, but to reveal 

They’re no longer the messenger of maintenance; they’re the messenger of meaning. And in an era where every executive asks for proof, the vCIO finally has it - in the form of living data, real patterns, and measurable impact.

The MSP-client relationship has changed forever. The new expectation is 

Executives don’t want to know if tickets were closed faster - they want to know 

how AI adoption is helping or hurting productivity.

The vCIO who can answer those questions doesn’t just survive - they 

, those insights aren’t buried in logs or locked in silos. They’re at your fingertips - real-time visibility into how teams actually work across apps, time zones, and tasks.

No more guesswork. No more “gut feel.” Just clarity that translates directly into governance, accountability, and confidence.

When your reports show the cause behind the metrics - the “why” behind the what - the boardroom listens. Because data-driven vCIOs don’t make claims; they deliver 

In this new world, the MSP isn’t a vendor - they’re a

 Instead of waiting to be invited into planning conversations, data-driven MSPs 

“We’ve seen collaboration time rise 30% this quarter, but project output hasn’t increased. Let’s dig into what’s blocking efficiency.”

That’s not IT support - that’s business strategy.

By showing what’s really happening across the digital workplace - app sprawl, AI adoption, meeting overload, shadow IT - Produce8 helps MSPs move from maintaining systems to 

This is how the vCIO earns permanent relevance: not through noise, but through narrative. Not by guessing, but by guiding.

This isn’t the end of the MSP story - it’s the start of the next chapter. The 

It’s about shifting the focus from uptime to 

The vCIO’s job isn’t to talk about the network anymore - it’s to talk about the 

 of work itself. Produce8 gives them the lens to see it, the language to explain it, and the evidence to prove it.

 they’re working - you don’t just earn trust.

“Behind the Screens: The Data Superpowers Fueling the Next-Gen MSP.”

A look inside how Produce8 helps MSPs detect shadow IT, measure AI adoption, reclaim licenses, and deliver the kind of insights that make data the star of every boardroom conversation.

If you'd like to learn more about the vCIO & MSP's evolution, please register to join our Oct 29th webinar: 

From Guesswork to Clarity: Delivering vCIO Reports Powered by Real Data

Act I: The Hero Returns

Every story of transformation needs a return - that moment when the protagonist comes back, wiser and stronger, ready to reclaim their place. For the vCIO, this is that moment.

After years of firefighting, spreadsheets, and static QBR decks, they step back into the boardroom - not to present uptime, but to reveal understanding. They’re no longer the messenger of maintenance; they’re the messenger of meaning. And in an era where every executive asks for proof, the vCIO finally has it - in the form of living data, real patterns, and measurable impact.

Act II: From Guesswork to Governance

The MSP-client relationship has changed forever. The new expectation is clarity.

Executives don’t want to know if tickets were closed faster - they want to know why employees are struggling, where time is being lost, and how AI adoption is helping or hurting productivity.

The vCIO who can answer those questions doesn’t just survive - they lead.

With tools like Produce8, those insights aren’t buried in logs or locked in silos. They’re at your fingertips - real-time visibility into how teams actually work across apps, time zones, and tasks.

No more guesswork. No more “gut feel.” Just clarity that translates directly into governance, accountability, and confidence.

When your reports show the cause behind the metrics - the “why” behind the what - the boardroom listens. Because data-driven vCIOs don’t make claims; they deliver context.

Act III: The New Partnership Model

In this new world, the MSP isn’t a vendor - they’re a strategic partner. Instead of waiting to be invited into planning conversations, data-driven MSPs lead them.

They can walk into a meeting and say:

“We’ve seen collaboration time rise 30% this quarter, but project output hasn’t increased. Let’s dig into what’s blocking efficiency.”

That’s not IT support - that’s business strategy.

By showing what’s really happening across the digital workplace - app sprawl, AI adoption, meeting overload, shadow IT - Produce8 helps MSPs move from maintaining systems to managing intelligence.

This is how the vCIO earns permanent relevance: not through noise, but through narrative. Not by guessing, but by guiding.

Act IV: The MIP Era Begins

This isn’t the end of the MSP story - it’s the start of the next chapter. The Managed Intelligence Provider (MIP) isn’t a rebrand; it’s a rebirth.

It’s about shifting the focus from uptime to insight, from systems to strategy, and from transactions to transformation.

The vCIO’s job isn’t to talk about the network anymore - it’s to talk about the nature of work itself. Produce8 gives them the lens to see it, the language to explain it, and the evidence to prove it.

When you can show your clients how they’re working - not just that they’re working - you don’t just earn trust.

You own it.



The story doesn’t end here. Up next: “Behind the Screens: The Data Superpowers Fueling the Next-Gen MSP.” A look inside how Produce8 helps MSPs detect shadow IT, measure AI adoption, reclaim licenses, and deliver the kind of insights that make data the star of every boardroom conversation.

If you'd like to learn more about the vCIO & MSP's evolution, please register to join our Oct 29th webinar: From Guesswork to Clarity: Delivering vCIO Reports Powered by Real Data


The Data-Driven vCIO Part 4 - The Return to the Boardroom - How Data-Driven MSPs Win Client Trust

Act I: The Future Arrives - and It’s Already in Motion

Picture this: a vCIO standing before a wall of shifting data, swiping through dashboards as effortlessly as Tom Cruise scanning predictive screens in 

 But instead of catching crimes before they happen, they’re predicting client pain points - productivity dips, app overload, or unmanaged AI usage - before they cost the business time or trust.

This isn’t science fiction. It’s the next stage of the MSP’s evolution: the 

The MIP doesn’t just monitor infrastructure; they 

 They use data not only to report on what’s happened but to anticipate what’s next - helping clients move from reactive IT to proactive strategy.

For too long, MSPs have been trapped in reactive loops. The metrics that once defined success - tickets closed, uptime maintained - now confine it. The vCIO of tomorrow breaks that loop.

By leveraging enriched data from platforms like 

 about how people, apps, and systems actually work together. Imagine being able to say:

“We’ve noticed your collaboration app usage dropped 18% this month - that’s likely why project velocity fell by 10%.”

That’s not reactive. That’s orchestration. It’s connecting the dots between digital behavior and business outcomes - and it’s the clearest path from guesswork to governance.

Think of tomorrow’s MSP as a conductor, not a mechanic. Each app, workflow, and employee represents an instrument in a vast digital orchestra. When everything’s in tune - collaboration strong, workloads balanced, AI adoption healthy - the business performs beautifully.

But when one section drifts off tempo - when AI tools are underutilized or meetings multiply without purpose - the conductor feels it first. And unlike the reactive MSP of yesterday, the 

 can intervene before the performance falters.

Tools like Produce8 turn the noise of the digital workplace into readable rhythm - surfacing patterns that inform decisions, policies, and even culture. The vCIO becomes not just a translator of technology, but a 

This is the moment MSPs have been waiting for - the era when visibility itself becomes a service. The MIP model redefines what it means to deliver value:

This evolution doesn’t replace the human side of the MSP - it amplifies it. Because now, the vCIO isn’t just advising clients with experience; they’re empowering them with truth.

Coming in the Part 4 of our vCIO series is 

The Return to the Boardroom: How Data-Driven MSPs Win Client Trust. 

There we will explore how data clarity turns conversation into confidence - and MSPs take their rightful place as strategic partners once again.

Act I: The Future Arrives - and It’s Already in Motion

Picture this: a vCIO standing before a wall of shifting data, swiping through dashboards as effortlessly as Tom Cruise scanning predictive screens in Minority Report. But instead of catching crimes before they happen, they’re predicting client pain points - productivity dips, app overload, or unmanaged AI usage - before they cost the business time or trust.

This isn’t science fiction. It’s the next stage of the MSP’s evolution: the Managed Intelligence Provider (MIP).

The MIP doesn’t just monitor infrastructure; they orchestrate insight. They use data not only to report on what’s happened but to anticipate what’s next - helping clients move from reactive IT to proactive strategy.

Act II: From Firefighting to Forecasting

For too long, MSPs have been trapped in reactive loops. The metrics that once defined success - tickets closed, uptime maintained - now confine it. The vCIO of tomorrow breaks that loop.

By leveraging enriched data from platforms like Produce8, MSPs can surface real signals about how people, apps, and systems actually work together. Imagine being able to say:

“We’ve noticed your collaboration app usage dropped 18% this month - that’s likely why project velocity fell by 10%.”

That’s not reactive. That’s orchestration. It’s connecting the dots between digital behavior and business outcomes - and it’s the clearest path from guesswork to governance.

Act III: The Data Conductor

Think of tomorrow’s MSP as a conductor, not a mechanic. Each app, workflow, and employee represents an instrument in a vast digital orchestra. When everything’s in tune - collaboration strong, workloads balanced, AI adoption healthy - the business performs beautifully.

But when one section drifts off tempo - when AI tools are underutilized or meetings multiply without purpose - the conductor feels it first. And unlike the reactive MSP of yesterday, the data-driven vCIO can intervene before the performance falters.

The magic lies in real-time visibility. Tools like Produce8 turn the noise of the digital workplace into readable rhythm - surfacing patterns that inform decisions, policies, and even culture. The vCIO becomes not just a translator of technology, but a composer of clarity.



Act IV: The Intelligence Era

This is the moment MSPs have been waiting for - the era when visibility itself becomes a service. The MIP model redefines what it means to deliver value:

From reports → to real-time insight.

From maintenance → to measurable impact.

From assumptions → to evidence.

This evolution doesn’t replace the human side of the MSP - it amplifies it. Because now, the vCIO isn’t just advising clients with experience; they’re empowering them with truth.

Coming in the Part 4 of our vCIO series is The Return to the Boardroom: How Data-Driven MSPs Win Client Trust. There we will explore how data clarity turns conversation into confidence - and MSPs take their rightful place as strategic partners once again.

If you'd like to learn more about the vCIO & MSP's evolution, please register to join our Oct 29th webinar: From Guesswork to Clarity: Delivering vCIO Reports Powered by Real Data

The Data-Driven vCIO Part 3 - 'Minority Report' for MSPs: Orchestrating the Future of Data-Driven Leadership

There was a time - not so long ago - when the vCIO sat at the head of the table. They were translators of technology, turning uptime into outcomes and servers into strategy. They didn’t just fix problems; they forecasted progress. The boardroom trusted them because they could explain 

 the blinking lights in the server room mattered.

This was the golden age of the vCIO. Quarterly Business Reviews were meaningful conversations. Clients leaned in, eager for updates about the health of their infrastructure. It was the era of 

 - where relationships were built on credibility and continuity.

Act II: The World Shifted - and So Did the Seat

Then came the pandemic. The boardroom dissolved into pixels. QBRs turned into Zoom calls squeezed between other Zoom calls. That human connection - the handshake, the shared whiteboard moment, the visual story - disappeared.

Without presence, the vCIO’s story lost power. Slides replaced storytelling. The once-strategic dialogue became a checklist of metrics and maintenance. The boardroom stopped feeling like a boardroom - it felt like a ticket update.

And when the conversation becomes about tickets, the seat at the table gets smaller.

At the same time, the technology landscape exploded - SaaS everywhere, shadow IT running wild, and AI tools multiplying faster than policy could catch up. Executives found themselves overwhelmed and started looking elsewhere for insight - to consultants, to business analysts, to data teams. The vCIO, once the bridge between IT and business, became a toll booth on the way to somewhere else.

 But it was trapped - buried in point tools, scattered across dashboards, and divorced from meaning. So when clients asked, “

” the vCIO could only shrug toward disconnected charts.

The story that once justified their value was now hidden behind systems that refused to speak the same language.

Act IV: The Way Back - Reclaiming Relevance

The return to the boardroom won’t happen through more slides or better uptime. It will happen through 

vCIOs don’t need to reinvent themselves; they need to re-arm themselves - with evidence. They need data that tells stories, reveals trends, and proves value in ways executives understand intuitively. They need tools that pull everything into focus, showing not just what’s happening but 

That’s how they get their seat back - by becoming storytellers again. Not narrators of tickets, but interpreters of intelligence.

, vCIOs are rediscovering their voice. They’re visualizing productivity, collaboration, and AI usage across clients. They’re connecting technical metrics to business outcomes - reclaiming their position as the strategic guides who help companies make smarter decisions, faster.

The vCIO isn’t gone. They were just waiting for the data to catch up.

“Minority Report for MSPs: Orchestrating the Future of Data-Driven Leadership”

 - a look into the future of the MSP as the 

, where the vCIO evolves from advisor to conductor of real-time insights.

If you'd like to learn more about the vCIO & MSP's evolution, please  register to join our Oct 29th webinar: 

Act I: Once Upon a Boardroom

There was a time - not so long ago - when the vCIO sat at the head of the table. They were translators of technology, turning uptime into outcomes and servers into strategy. They didn’t just fix problems; they forecasted progress. The boardroom trusted them because they could explain why the blinking lights in the server room mattered.

This was the golden age of the vCIO. Quarterly Business Reviews were meaningful conversations. Clients leaned in, eager for updates about the health of their infrastructure. It was the era of trust through expertise - where relationships were built on credibility and continuity.

Act II: The World Shifted - and So Did the Seat

Then came the pandemic. The boardroom dissolved into pixels. QBRs turned into Zoom calls squeezed between other Zoom calls. That human connection - the handshake, the shared whiteboard moment, the visual story - disappeared.

Without presence, the vCIO’s story lost power. Slides replaced storytelling. The once-strategic dialogue became a checklist of metrics and maintenance. The boardroom stopped feeling like a boardroom - it felt like a ticket update.

And when the conversation becomes about tickets, the seat at the table gets smaller.

At the same time, the technology landscape exploded - SaaS everywhere, shadow IT running wild, and AI tools multiplying faster than policy could catch up. Executives found themselves overwhelmed and started looking elsewhere for insight - to consultants, to business analysts, to data teams. The vCIO, once the bridge between IT and business, became a toll booth on the way to somewhere else.

Act III: The Fragmentation Problem

The irony? MSPs were sitting on more data than ever. But it was trapped - buried in point tools, scattered across dashboards, and divorced from meaning. So when clients asked, “Where are we really investing our time?” or “What’s our digital ROI?” the vCIO could only shrug toward disconnected charts.

The story that once justified their value was now hidden behind systems that refused to speak the same language.

Act IV: The Way Back - Reclaiming Relevance

The return to the boardroom won’t happen through more slides or better uptime. It will happen through clarity.

vCIOs don’t need to reinvent themselves; they need to re-arm themselves - with evidence. They need data that tells stories, reveals trends, and proves value in ways executives understand intuitively. They need tools that pull everything into focus, showing not just what’s happening but why it matters.

That’s how they get their seat back - by becoming storytellers again. Not narrators of tickets, but interpreters of intelligence.

With platforms like Produce8, vCIOs are rediscovering their voice. They’re visualizing productivity, collaboration, and AI usage across clients. They’re connecting technical metrics to business outcomes - reclaiming their position as the strategic guides who help companies make smarter decisions, faster.

The vCIO isn’t gone. They were just waiting for the data to catch up.

Coming next in Part 3: “Minority Report for MSPs: Orchestrating the Future of Data-Driven Leadership” - a look into the future of the MSP as the Managed Intelligence Provider, where the vCIO evolves from advisor to conductor of real-time insights.

If you'd like to learn more about the vCIO & MSP's evolution, please  register to join our Oct 29th webinar: "From Guesswork to Clarity: Delivering vCIO Reports Powered by Real Data" 

The Data-Driven vCIO Part 2 - Exit the Boardroom: How the vCIO Lost Their Seat (and How They Get It Back)

The Social Network Effect: From Gut Feel to Pixel Proof

Once upon a time, intuition was enough. A confident pitch, a handshake, and a hunch could move mountains. But somewhere between 

 and the rise of TikTok, the world changed. Every idea, every product, every claim now needs to be shown - not told.


We’ve entered what sociologists call the 

. The value of any statement is measured by how convincingly it can be 

In this new world, screenshots, dashboards, and charts have replaced instinct. “Trust me” doesn’t cut it anymore - not for consumers scrolling feeds, and definitely not for executives evaluating IT investments.


The Cultural Shift: When Business Became a Visual Medium

The modern workplace mirrors our culture at large - fast, fragmented, and visual-first. Think about it: people now skim dashboards the same way they scroll Instagram. We process images 60,000 times faster than text. And after years of remote meetings, we’ve trained ourselves to read screens, not rooms.

This shift has permanently changed how decisions are made. A colorful chart is no longer decoration - it’s currency.

It’s why clients now expect their MSPs and vCIOs to arrive not with opinions, but with evidence: data visualizations, trend reports, and context-rich metrics that 

The Collapse of Intuition in the Boardroom

Gut instincts still matter - but they’ve been demoted. In an age of AI-generated content and instant analytics, every executive is subconsciously asking: 

That’s not cynicism. It’s survival. Businesses are being flooded with information, automation, and abstraction. The only way to cut through it all is to anchor conversations in something visible, measurable, and verifiable.

This is why traditional vCIO reports - filled with uptime percentages and ticket counts - no longer resonate. They’re static relics of a world where words still had weight. Today, 

For MSPs and vCIOs, this cultural shift isn’t just aesthetic - it’s existential. The boardroom is no longer a place for technical translation; it’s a stage for 

 the value you’re providing. They want to 

And those who can show it - clearly, confidently, and consistently - are reclaiming their strategic influence.

This is where the data-enriched lens of Produce8 comes into play: enabling MSPs to turn workday data into 

Stay tuned for Part 2 in the Data-Driven vCIO series:


“Exit the Boardroom: How the vCIO Lost Their Seat (and How They Get It Back)”

 - tracing how the vCIO role evolved, why traditional reporting fell flat, and how data visualization is restoring its relevance.  

If you'd like to learn more about the vCIO & MSP's evolution, please  register to join our Oct 29th webinar: 

The Social Network Effect: From Gut Feel to Pixel Proof

Once upon a time, intuition was enough. A confident pitch, a handshake, and a hunch could move mountains. But somewhere between The Social Network and the rise of TikTok, the world changed. Every idea, every product, every claim now needs to be shown - not told.


We’ve entered what sociologists call the Attention Economy. But more accurately, it’s a Proof Economy. The value of any statement is measured by how convincingly it can be visualized. In this new world, screenshots, dashboards, and charts have replaced instinct. “Trust me” doesn’t cut it anymore - not for consumers scrolling feeds, and definitely not for executives evaluating IT investments.


The Cultural Shift: When Business Became a Visual Medium

The modern workplace mirrors our culture at large - fast, fragmented, and visual-first. Think about it: people now skim dashboards the same way they scroll Instagram. We process images 60,000 times faster than text. And after years of remote meetings, we’ve trained ourselves to read screens, not rooms.

This shift has permanently changed how decisions are made. A colorful chart is no longer decoration - it’s currency.

It’s why clients now expect their MSPs and vCIOs to arrive not with opinions, but with evidence: data visualizations, trend reports, and context-rich metrics that look and feel like clarity.


The Collapse of Intuition in the Boardroom

Gut instincts still matter - but they’ve been demoted. In an age of AI-generated content and instant analytics, every executive is subconsciously asking: “Can you prove it?”

That’s not cynicism. It’s survival. Businesses are being flooded with information, automation, and abstraction. The only way to cut through it all is to anchor conversations in something visible, measurable, and verifiable.

This is why traditional vCIO reports - filled with uptime percentages and ticket counts - no longer resonate. They’re static relics of a world where words still had weight. Today, data is the story, and visualization is the language.


What This Means for vCIOs and MSPs

For MSPs and vCIOs, this cultural shift isn’t just aesthetic - it’s existential. The boardroom is no longer a place for technical translation; it’s a stage for visual persuasion. Clients want to see the value you’re providing. They want to see the ROI of their technology stack.

And those who can show it - clearly, confidently, and consistently - are reclaiming their strategic influence.

This is where the data-enriched lens of Produce8 comes into play: enabling MSPs to turn workday data into stories that stick, and vCIO reports into strategic performances that captivate instead of confuse.

Stay tuned for Part 2 in the Data-Driven vCIO series:
“Exit the Boardroom: How the vCIO Lost Their Seat (and How They Get It Back)” - tracing how the vCIO role evolved, why traditional reporting fell flat, and how data visualization is restoring its relevance.  

If you'd like to learn more about the vCIO & MSP's evolution, please  register to join our Oct 29th webinar: "From Guesswork to Clarity: Delivering vCIO Reports Powered by Real Data" 

The Data-Driven vCIO Part 1 – The Age of Seeing Is Believing: Modern Leaders Now Trust What They Can Measure

Over the past decade, MSPs have stepped in to play a bigger role in IT security. As cybersecurity threats grew more complex, MSPs evolved. Building security practices, running audits, and, in many cases, operating as MSSPs. It’s been the main way they’ve retained strategic influence as technology evolved.

But here’s the irony: while MSPs are in the business of managing technology, most have fallen behind when it comes to innovation. In a world charging ahead with AI, automation, and ongoing SaaS expansion, many MSPs are still focused on backing up systems, reporting on phishing attempts and resetting passwords.

The tech world is not static. That statement should be self-evident, and we should have already learned this lesson that if MSPs don’t adapt, they risk looking more like custodians than strategic partners.

The rise of SaaS and cloud apps have already shifted control of software decisions away from IT. Most people remember very well what happened in the enterprise when cloud business applications showed up. IT leaders screamed about ‘corporate standards’, ‘security’, and ‘data loss in the cloud’, and the world just passed them by. A similar story played out for MSPs that clung to physical infrastructure for five to ten years after their customers (and the opportunity) moved on.

Whether it was internal IT or the MSP that replaced them, both ended up sidelined.

Business units brought in their own tools, often without involvement from internal IT or MSPs. And while MSPs continued to manage infrastructure and endpoints, they were largely cut out of conversations about software spend, tool adoption, or employee digital experience.

Now, another transformation is underway with AI. And without a shift in how they position themselves, MSPs could once again find themselves watching from the sidelines.

Out of the shadows - rethinking the ‘shadow’ part of IT

The term "shadow IT" has always implied something risky or out of bounds. But the truth is, it’s often just a reflection of where innovation is happening fastest.

For MSPs, how you think about (and communicate) that concept says a lot about the kind of partner you want to be. If your first instinct is to shut it down, you’re reinforcing the very dynamics that pushed internal IT departments to the margins 15 years ago. But if you view it as a signal, an indicator of unmet needs or emerging preferences, you have an opportunity to help clients navigate it intelligently.

Teams adopt tools for a reason. Usually to help them work better. When you bring visibility to what’s actually being used and help evaluate it on merit, you stop being the roadblock and start being the guide.

From ChatGPT to Microsoft CoPilot, AI tools are becoming part of the daily workflow often without a formal rollout plan or clear measurement of effectiveness. They’re being licensed, trialed, and adopted on a department-by-department basis. Most clients don’t know what’s being used, where it’s helping, or what it’s costing.

This is a major strategic blind spot. And if MSPs don’t help their clients close it, someone else will.

Executives are already asking questions. Questions MSPs should be prepared to answer:

Are we spending on tools that no one’s using?

Are the AI platforms we’ve deployed actually improving productivity?

Do we know what tools employees are adopting without approval?

The answers require data, and that’s where MSPs can step in with a new kind of solution.

Application visibility as a strategic lever

This is where Produce8 makes a difference. It gives MSPs the ability to bring real data into these conversations. With detailed insights into application usage across SaaS and desktop tools, you can help clients see:

Which tools are gaining traction—and which aren’t

Where licenses are underused or could be reclaimed

How teams are adopting tools outside IT’s visibility

Trends across departments that reveal broader opportunities

This is more than just reporting. You should be thinking about it as the path to re-engagement of the MSP. 

 When you can quantify usage, surface inefficiencies, and highlight emerging trends, you shift the conversation from reactive support to proactive planning. You become the partner your clients need.

A practical path to higher-value services

So here is the self-serving, shameless vendor plug - and our simple playbook for MSPs:

Deploy Produce8 to give your clients visibility into the entirety of the digital workplace (not just the stuff you manage).

Use those insights to guide QBRs and executive conversations. One topic at a time.

Recommend changes, license adjustments, tool rationalization, and training support

Support change initiatives using Produce8 to measure the impact

Build on early wins to expand your role over time

The MSP space is no stranger to reinvention. As security demands grew, MSPs stepped up. The next reinvention is already underway, and it centers on how work is getting done, what tools are enabling it, and whether those investments are delivering value.

With AI adoption accelerating and app ecosystems growing more fragmented, your clients need clarity. They need partners who can help them understand what’s working and what’s not.

Not every MSP will make this shift (just like the last time)

There will be a clear divide between those who continue to focus solely on tickets and endpoints and those who evolve to help their clients lead through change. One path leads to greater relevance, new revenue streams, and more strategic relationships. The other leads to being quietly replaced.

The opportunity is real for increased wallet share, stronger client retention, and net-new business from companies looking for forward-thinking partners.

We’re both excited and a little terrified about what’s coming next with AI. Your clients probably are too. But we’re here to help you do more than just hang on. We want to help you lead. We can partner on this one. We’ll bring you the data and insights. You deliver the strategy.

You can be an innovator again. You can get excited about “new” again. And isn’t that why you got into tech in the first place?

Over the past decade, MSPs have stepped in to play a bigger role in IT security. As cybersecurity threats grew more complex, MSPs evolved. Building security practices, running audits, and, in many cases, operating as MSSPs. It’s been the main way they’ve retained strategic influence as technology evolved.

But here’s the irony: while MSPs are in the business of managing technology, most have fallen behind when it comes to innovation. In a world charging ahead with AI, automation, and ongoing SaaS expansion, many MSPs are still focused on backing up systems, reporting on phishing attempts and resetting passwords.

The tech world is not static. That statement should be self-evident, and we should have already learned this lesson that if MSPs don’t adapt, they risk looking more like custodians than strategic partners.

The rise of SaaS and cloud apps have already shifted control of software decisions away from IT. Most people remember very well what happened in the enterprise when cloud business applications showed up. IT leaders screamed about ‘corporate standards’, ‘security’, and ‘data loss in the cloud’, and the world just passed them by. A similar story played out for MSPs that clung to physical infrastructure for five to ten years after their customers (and the opportunity) moved on.

Whether it was internal IT or the MSP that replaced them, both ended up sidelined.

Business units brought in their own tools, often without involvement from internal IT or MSPs. And while MSPs continued to manage infrastructure and endpoints, they were largely cut out of conversations about software spend, tool adoption, or employee digital experience.

Now, another transformation is underway with AI. And without a shift in how they position themselves, MSPs could once again find themselves watching from the sidelines.

Out of the shadows - rethinking the ‘shadow’ part of IT

The term "shadow IT" has always implied something risky or out of bounds. But the truth is, it’s often just a reflection of where innovation is happening fastest.

For MSPs, how you think about (and communicate) that concept says a lot about the kind of partner you want to be. If your first instinct is to shut it down, you’re reinforcing the very dynamics that pushed internal IT departments to the margins 15 years ago. But if you view it as a signal, an indicator of unmet needs or emerging preferences, you have an opportunity to help clients navigate it intelligently.

Teams adopt tools for a reason. Usually to help them work better. When you bring visibility to what’s actually being used and help evaluate it on merit, you stop being the roadblock and start being the guide.

AI Is already inside the building

From ChatGPT to Microsoft CoPilot, AI tools are becoming part of the daily workflow often without a formal rollout plan or clear measurement of effectiveness. They’re being licensed, trialed, and adopted on a department-by-department basis. Most clients don’t know what’s being used, where it’s helping, or what it’s costing.

This is a major strategic blind spot. And if MSPs don’t help their clients close it, someone else will.

Executives are already asking questions. Questions MSPs should be prepared to answer:

Are we spending on tools that no one’s using?

Are the AI platforms we’ve deployed actually improving productivity?

Do we know what tools employees are adopting without approval?

The answers require data, and that’s where MSPs can step in with a new kind of solution.

Application visibility as a strategic lever

This is where Produce8 makes a difference. It gives MSPs the ability to bring real data into these conversations. With detailed insights into application usage across SaaS and desktop tools, you can help clients see:

Which tools are gaining traction—and which aren’t

Where licenses are underused or could be reclaimed

How teams are adopting tools outside IT’s visibility

Trends across departments that reveal broader opportunities

This is more than just reporting. You should be thinking about it as the path to re-engagement of the MSP. Strategic relevance. When you can quantify usage, surface inefficiencies, and highlight emerging trends, you shift the conversation from reactive support to proactive planning. You become the partner your clients need.

A practical path to higher-value services

So here is the self-serving, shameless vendor plug - and our simple playbook for MSPs:

Deploy Produce8 to give your clients visibility into the entirety of the digital workplace (not just the stuff you manage).

Use those insights to guide QBRs and executive conversations. One topic at a time.

Recommend changes, license adjustments, tool rationalization, and training support

Support change initiatives using Produce8 to measure the impact

Build on early wins to expand your role over time

The MSP space is no stranger to reinvention. As security demands grew, MSPs stepped up. The next reinvention is already underway, and it centers on how work is getting done, what tools are enabling it, and whether those investments are delivering value.

With AI adoption accelerating and app ecosystems growing more fragmented, your clients need clarity. They need partners who can help them understand what’s working and what’s not.

Not every MSP will make this shift (just like the last time)

There will be a clear divide between those who continue to focus solely on tickets and endpoints and those who evolve to help their clients lead through change. One path leads to greater relevance, new revenue streams, and more strategic relationships. The other leads to being quietly replaced.

The opportunity is real for increased wallet share, stronger client retention, and net-new business from companies looking for forward-thinking partners.

We’re both excited and a little terrified about what’s coming next with AI. Your clients probably are too. But we’re here to help you do more than just hang on. We want to help you lead. We can partner on this one. We’ll bring you the data and insights. You deliver the strategy.

You can be an innovator again. You can get excited about “new” again. And isn’t that why you got into tech in the first place?



Stepping off the Sidelines: How MSPs Can Regain Relevance in the Age of AI and App Sprawl

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 

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.

Managed Intelligence Provider

AIRO Part 1 - The AI Readiness Gap - You Can’t Optimize What You Can’t See

The Data-Driven vCIO Part 5 - Behind the Screens - The Data Superpowers Fuelling the Next-Gen MSP

The Data-Driven vCIO Part 4 - The Return to the Boardroom - How Data-Driven MSPs Win Client Trust

The Data-Driven vCIO Part 3 - 'Minority Report' for MSPs: Orchestrating the Future of Data-Driven Leadership

The Data-Driven vCIO Part 2 - Exit the Boardroom: How the vCIO Lost Their Seat (and How They Get It Back)

The Data-Driven vCIO Part 1 – The Age of Seeing Is Believing: Modern Leaders Now Trust What They Can Measure

Stepping off the Sidelines: How MSPs Can Regain Relevance in the Age of AI and App Sprawl

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

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