Monday Morning Impact – February 26
ConnectWise Makes Advancements in AI and Hyperautomation Through Robotic Process Automation Enhancements
ConnectWise, a Tampa-based software company, announced that it has made significant advancements in its Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solution and ConnectWise Sidekick. The two products are integral components of the company’s Asio platform, designed to enable greater automation, enhance efficiency, and accelerate business growth for MSPs.
Enhancements include a streamlined search experience, leveraging an RPA bot system; warning messages for empty device configurations and missing parts during Microsoft onboarding; increased site mapping capabilities; as well as device and company sorting features in RPA bot input forms. The company also introduced RPA Pro and RPA Essentials, solutions for IT professionals looking to maximize efficiencies tailored to their specific business needs. ConnectWise says the combination provides the ability to customize, design, and implement custom actions to support workflow integration. Partners can also integrate actions from external applications that support API access, enhancing interoperability.
“We are steadfast in our commitment to advancing our Robotic Process Automation technology and AI capabilities, empowering our partners to enhance productivity and provide exceptional service to their clients,” stated Jeff Bishop, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Unified Monitoring and Management at ConnectWise. “By enabling our partners to automate daily tasks and operate more efficiently, MSPs can swiftly address talent gaps while delivering innovative services that drive business growth for their clients.”
As part of this initiative, bots are now categorized into distinct and well-defined categories, such as User Management and PC Management. Additionally, ConnectWise has implemented visual differentiators, utilizing icons to clearly distinguish between cloud, on-premises, and endpoint bots. These efforts aim to provide users with a seamless and intuitive experience while interacting with bots.
In other news, the company announced the promotion of Gregg Lalle to Senior Vice President (SVP) and General Manager (GM) of IT Nation a newly created business unit that fosters collaboration, shared success, and continuous partner improvement. With over 15 years of experience at ConnectWise, Lalle has held various leadership positions, including Senior Vice President of International Sales, and Director of EMEA & Distribution.
Channel Impact®
By incorporating RPA options and AI functionality for technicians and integrating them within the Asio Platform, MSPs can theoretically optimize efficiency, reduce costs, and generate additional revenue by implementing a fee structure that is not solely reliant on labor expenses.
D&H Distributing Launches New AI Program
D&H Distributing, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based provider of technology solutions to the North American channel, has launched its “Go Big AI Program,” a series of trainings, consultative initiatives and resources designed to help MSP and VAR partners establish themselves in Artificial Intelligence.
Highlights include a new “Getting Started with AI 101″ course, community workshops, sales enablement tools, go-to-market strategies, lead generation and marketing support, in addition to ongoing AI-centered content at its technology conferences. These deliverables are developed in concert with a variety of partners, including Microsoft, AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm, Lenovo, Dell, HP, HPE, and Cisco.
“There’s an urgency to act on this opportunity,” noted Marty Bauerlein, D&H’s chief commercial and consumer officer. “We estimate that 90% of organizations are still in their earliest stages of maturity when it comes to utilizing AI. There’s a window for our partners to capture significant share, if they can identify what AI-based applications are best for their practices.”
Other program features include a technical webcast, partner portal, AI playbook, positioning statements, sales prospecting guides, customer targeting techniques, tactical strategies, lead generation programs, digital advertising, and social media strategies.
“The market is reorganizing around this new paradigm, eager to not just understand the technical specifications of how AI is manifesting in solutions like Copilot, but how this catalyst will renovate the future of the workplace,” Bauerlein continued. “Partners have told us they need help cutting through the market ‘noise’ created by vendors and other distributors. D&H is leaning in with a program to educate partners on tangible sales opportunities to help them monetize AI solutions and services.”
Channel Impact®
The goal is to demystify these complicated solutions, enabling partners to implement specific sales strategies to monetize these offerings while the market is on the cusp of practical adoption.
SonicWall Upgrades Managed Endpoint Services
SonicWall announced that it is adding endpoint vendors to its Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solution, creating a co-managed security service for new and existing MSPs who offer SonicWall Capture Client or Windows Defender.
Thw MDR service enables MSPs to choose from a variety of next-generation anti-virus (NGAVs), each of which can receive the same 24/7 monitoring, threat hunting, and anomaly detection from the company’s SOC team. Current supported NGAVs include Capture Client, Windows Defender, SentinelOne, and Cylance.
“Today’s MSPs increasingly need a platform of managed security solutions rather than point solutions,” said Senior Vice President of Managed Services Michael Crean. “SonicWall now delivers an integrated approach for end-to-end managed threat protection enabling MSPs to help customers navigate the turbulent cybersecurity landscape with confidence and resilience – giving them a distinct competitive edge.”
The company will also be rolling out an EMEA-based SOC in Q2 of 2024.
Channel Impact®
With this new offer, MSPs can offer customers 24/7 monitoring, full network visibility, proactive threat detection capabilities, and advanced protection.
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