Artificial intelligence (AI) is infiltrating nearly every area of our lives, and it’s rapidly growing — some generative AI systems already have more than 100 million users. While AI has numerous benefits that can improve daily life, many businesses also realize the advantages of implementing these systems.
Managed service providers (MSPs) can leverage AI to support their internal operations and clients. For MSP customers, selecting a company that offers AI-driven solutions has many advantages.
What Is an MSP?
Businesses without internal information technology (IT) departments can benefit from access to a team of IT and networking professionals who are ready to help when needed. Managed service providers give access to the latest technology and offer excellent support.
An MSP may offer the following services:
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud solutions
- Wi-Fi assistance
- SD-WAN and Branch Connectivity
- IT Infrastructure Life-Cycle Management
Relying on an MSP to provide these services means your team can focus on the work that matters while feeling assured company information and systems are in expert hands. Managed service providers can also help businesses save money because they are often more affordable than hiring a team of full-time IT experts.
Who Should Use an MSP?
Any business can use an MSP. Small-to-medium sized businesses in need of IT assistance typically benefit the most, but larger companies may also use MSPs, especially during busy seasons when their IT team is overwhelmed with queries and requires external assistance.
Some common businesses that work with MSPs are:
- Financial services providers
- Legal firms
- Retirement communities
- Healthcare providers
- Nonprofit organizations
- Manufacturing and distribution companies
Why Do MSPs Leverage AI in Managed Services?
Here are some of the reasons an MSP uses AI technology for IT:
- Increased efficiency: AI allows MSPs to automate systems, freeing up employees’ time so that they can spend their workday on more productive tasks rather than administrative duties. Delegating automated tasks to artificial intelligence systems allows MSPs to spend more time on projects that benefit their clients.
- Better customer service: AI helps MSPs provide better experiences and services to their clients. AI can directly impact customer satisfaction, such as when customers find answers to their questions using an MSP’s AI chat feature. However, the customer service effects of AI can also be subtle. With AI taking over repetitive tasks, client representatives have more time for one-on-one customer interactions.
- Cost savings: MSPs that automate various tasks can spend less money on their operations. They may have lower fees than MSPs that don’t utilize AI and thus need to cover more costs.
- Informed decision-making: AI can help MSPs gather data and information about different areas of their businesses. Determining which departments might be lacking and how they can improve them ultimately provides customers with a better experience.
The most reliable MSPs implement clear AI rules for staff to ensure the ethical use of this technology.
5 Benefits of Working With AI-Driven MSPs
There are many advantages of working with an AI-driven managed service provider. Explore five key benefits below.
1. Faster Decisions
Nearly half of small businesses use AI technologies, and one of the main reasons is the valuable insights they can glean from predictive analytics, risk assessments and more. AI-driven MSPs can share these insights with their customers to empower them to make more informed decisions, faster. With an AI-powered partner, your business can get a quick summary of all the IT information you need to make the best decision.
2. Better Cybersecurity
Any business can be susceptible to cyberattacks, especially those that store a high amount of personally identifiable information, such as healthcare facilities and schools. An AI-driven MSP can help protect your business. AI tools can predict security threats before they occur. They assess patterns from past threat data to determine when and where a business might be vulnerable to attacks.
Artificial intelligence also identifies anomalies that may indicate potential problems, alerting MSPs to issues so that they can catch attacks. AI can also assist with predictive maintenance. MSPs can determine when a system may require maintenance and can preemptively patch potential security holes in software. An AI-driven MSP can help protect sensitive data and strengthen your security posture.
3. Customer Assistance
Businesses can also benefit from an MSP with AI-powered customer assistance solutions. This technology ensures MSP clients can get accurate answers to their questions quickly. For example, MSPs can use automated responses to provide basic information or direct the client to helpful resources. This ensures MSP clients are never left waiting. Your business can find IT answers without having to wait to talk to a customer representative.
Another AI solution that MSPs can leverage is chatbots. Chatbots allow MSP clients to get immediate answers to simple queries without waiting for an available representative. The chatbot industry is valued at more than $15 billion for a reason, and when you work with an AI-powered MSP, your employees will appreciate getting fast and accurate responses to their simple questions.
4. Improved Compliance
Complying with security regulations can be complicated, and an MSP can help. Healthcare organizations, for example, must comply with relevant privacy laws, while the financial services industry must adhere to some of the strictest cybersecurity regulations. Reliable MSPs have vast experience in compliance related to different industries, and those with AI capabilities can improve your business’s compliance efforts even more.
AI systems can gather information extremely quickly and more accurately than humans, meaning they can effectively identify areas where businesses are not compliant and help them solve these issues. If you’re a client of an AI-driven MSP, it’s a significant advantage to know your compliance efforts are a priority. You can reduce your risk of noncompliance, stay updated on the newest regulations and navigate compliance complexities.
5. Enhanced Reporting
Reporting can take time, especially for MSPs with multiple clients and a significant amount of data. Managed service provider employees could spend their time in better ways than creating detailed reports, and humans are also more prone to errors than machines.
Fortunately, MSPs can use AI to collect data and create reports in a fraction of the time, with fewer mistakes. AI reports save teams time and effort and allow your business to receive accurate, timely reports from your MSP.
Need an MSP? Contact Morefield
Morefield is a trusted MSP that can assist your business with IT services. With 80 years of experience in the industry, our technology solutions will help you enhance your operations. We understand the importance of getting the service you deserve at a price that suits your needs, which is why we offer various price points.
Call us today, or contact us online to get more information.