Sherweb has created an AI blueprint and checklist for MSPs to guide business customers of all sizes into the expanding world of AI technologies to drive their sales and revenue growth.
Using a four-step approach, technology and service provider Sherweb created its blueprint for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to guide them in introducing AI tools and AI-ready data infrastructures to their customers so they can help them reach their AI goals, according to the company. Using the detailed blueprints, some 8,000 MSPs that work with Sherweb will gain training, insights, and help on how they can provide AI expertise and direct assistance to the approximately 100,000 IT business customers they already serve.
“It is a four-step approach and blueprint for getting MSPs ready to both implement AI internally and for their clients as quickly as possible,”
Jermaine Clark, senior manager of AI readiness at Sherweb, told
ChannelE2E.
To do this, Sherweb will be “working directly with MSPs to first educate them on how to use and deploy highly sought-after AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and then supporting them to actually do so,” said Clark. “Our team’s approach to enabling MSPs to use AI and then deliver it to their customers is done through structured consultation and implementation.”
MSPs Will Work with Sherweb Teams for Training in AI
Under the strategy, each participating MSP will work with a Sherweb team that is dedicated to “helping them determine which pain points to address first both internally and in their clients’ organizations,” according to Clark. “They will then determine where in the organization AI will have the most return on investment and base implementation planning around that. Finally, before implementation starts, Sherweb will also help MSPs divvy up what data could be used to train AI and which data needs to be behind a wall until it can be properly cleaned.”
Sherweb will help the MSPs roll out these fledgling AI capabilities, starting with proof-of-concept discussions in weekly use case meetings held to discuss challenges and solve any issues that are arising, said Clark. “Once all the kinks are worked out, Sherweb will then do a company-wide rollout of the AI use cases. We also prepare them for future AI implementations other than the one we have helped them achieve by training employees on more AI scenarios so they can do AI implementations on their own.”
The program comes as MSPs across the country are seeing increased demand from customers that want to begin integrating AI capabilities and applications into their operations. The Sherweb blueprint aims to help MSPs get their customers up and running using AI in less than 90 days from program inception.
The four steps include helping customers connect disparate data sources to use AI quickly; establishing early guardrails to keep data secure; developing everyday and custom AI use cases; and centralizing all data to promote and fuel completely AI-driven businesses, according to Sherweb.
“We have a full rollout for MSPs that is professional services that they can white-label,” said Clark. “We do the full implementation and can do it for both internal MSP operations as well as for their customers. After a couple of implementations, we then leave it to the MSP to carry forward since they have seen the implementations we have done on their behalf and have been given ample training.”
The MSPs will sit down with teams from Sherweb in workshops and masterclasses to get up to speed on AI and how it can help their customers, according to Clark. “We continue to support them through providing Pro Services implementations, continued webinars, and MSFT direct Level Up skilling sessions to keep them informed and trained.”
The Sherweb training opportunities are being made available because “while countless businesses are eager to infuse AI into their businesses as soon as possible, many MSPs do not have the means to do so yet, both from an education and tool standpoint,” said Clark. “Sherweb is helping MSPs overcome any gap their organization has in order to keep up with market demand and better serve their customers.”
Sherweb’s Blueprint Is a ‘Playbook’ for Businesses to Get Started with AI, Says Analyst
Jack E. Gold, president and principal analyst at J.Gold Associates, LLC, told
ChannelE2E that most companies are exploring the idea of using AI within their operations but agreed that many businesses are not prepared to implement it today.
“Individual tools like AI PCs and Copilots are fine for users, up to a point,” he said. “But a more intense use of AI organization-wide is needed. MSPs are in a position to help, assuming they have the right resources in place and expertise to do so, which many do not.”
But Sherweb’s announcement may be “more of a ‘playbook’ than the actual tools that are necessary to make AI a part of most MSPs’ service offerings,” said Gold. “Most organizations have unique infrastructure, data sets, app requirements, etc., so while a playbook is a good start, MSPs need to do some heavy assessment and integration work that could well be unique to each customer.”
