Managed Intelligence is not an obligation according to Pax8, but it is highly recommended.
According to Pax8, the transition from Managed Service Provider (MSP) to Managed Intelligence Provider (MIP) is no longer a pipe dream. During the Beyond conference, one message became crystal clear: standing still is not an option. According to Harald Nuij, Pax8 EMEA CEO, the market is at a tipping point. “We are not sharing hype; we are sharing what we see working in practice.”
Beyond is growing steadily
The recent edition of Beyond in Amsterdam confirmed the growing relevance of the event and the message that Pax8 conveys. While the first edition in 2024 in Berlin brought together around 900 partners from 39 different countries, registration this year was closed at over eleven hundred participants. “We could have grown further, but we also wanted to guarantee quality and safety,” said Nuij.
That growth continues. For the next edition in Copenhagen, the counter is already at five hundred registrations months in advance. According to Nuij, that is a clear signal: “That gives me a very good feeling that the community we are building is structural and sustainable.”
read also
Pax8 Seeks Balance between AI Vision and Reality
Early adoption phase
Are all MSPs prepared to change everything to become an MIP? That varies. Not every MSP is at the same stage in that transition. According to Nuij, adoption follows the classic pattern of a bell curve. “You have early adopters, followed by the early majority. That first group has been on that train with us since June.” That group has already hired business consultants because they are asking questions about their work processes and want to get a better structure in place. “Everyone has to go through their own curve to know: is this relevant to my customers, and do they trust me to have this conversation?”
But stay up-to-date, keep learning, and be aware of what is happening. Because the world and the market are definitely moving in this direction.
Harald Nuij, Pax8 EMEA CEO
AI as a foot in the door
A striking insight in conversations with customers is that AI and agentic solutions are appreciated. “With classic managed services, you are often too early or too late with a prospect,” Nuij explains. “They are often still stuck in a multi-year contract with their current service provider. With an AI story in which you show direct ROI, you are always welcome.” According to him, that makes the MIP approach particularly powerful. The conversation shifts from contracts and technology to impact and value creation. “I think it’s a real revelation that end customers dare to do this with their MSP.”
No evangelists
“We are not on a mission to convert,” Nuij emphasizes. “We simply share what we see and experience and make our knowledge and some instruments available.” That approach appears to be working. He states that companies that actively implement AI really see an effect for the end customer. “They can work more efficiently, because employees can perform higher quality work.”
Internal switch
However, the switch to MIP requires more than just implementation. One of the biggest underestimations lies in the new roles that people have to take on. “That requires a new set of skills, and not everyone can handle that.”
Pax8 itself is also undergoing the transition internally to MIP. “A few months ago, we asked engineers to temporarily change roles to AI Workflow Engineer.” That caught on because they have not yet returned to their previous job. Although that does not always go smoothly. “Engineers sometimes have to present their story on a stage, while they are not used to that. Public speaking was not a requirement for them in the past. Now it sometimes is, and that requires development.”
Experiment yourself first
For MSPs that are still waiting, Nuij has a nuanced message: “Fine choice. Just make sure you don’t fall behind.” His advice is to continue experimenting internally, for example via Microsoft Copilot. “Customer zero is crucial. Start internally, ask questions and learn.” He also points to Pax8’s upcoming Agent Marketplace, where SaaS, IaaS and agents come together in one management console. “That will be an accessible way to roll out AI solutions in a controlled manner.”
The transition to Managed Intelligence is not an obligation, but it is a reality that MSPs must relate to. “Are you not ready yet? Fine,” Nuij concludes. “But stay up-to-date, keep learning, and be aware of what is happening. Because the world and the market are definitely moving in this direction.”
read also