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Pax8 to MSPs: Embrace AI Agents and 'Managed Intelligence'
Microsoft marketplace partner Pax8's inaugural report about AI's impact on SMBs, introduces the concept of managed intelligence providers (MIPs), an evolution of managed service providers (MSPs), tasked with orchestrating and governing intelligent agents to drive business outcomes.
The report, titled "The Agentic Inflection Point: And the Rise of the Managed Intelligence Provider," highlights a significant shift in SMB operations through the adoption of AI-powered agents. The study identifies four levels of AI agent functionality -- chatbots, assistants, digital labor and digital workforce -- each representing increasing autonomy and business impact. According to the report, 54 percent of midsize organizations have already deployed AI, and 83 percent of "high-growth SMBs" are pilot testing it, indicating a trend toward AI-native businesses.
Pax8 emphasizes the urgency for MSPs to transition into MIPs within the next 24 to 36 months to remain competitive. The report also discusses new monetization models aligned with AI services, such as per-agent, per-action, per-workflow and per-outcome pricing structures.
"The proliferation of these AI agents will allow SMBs to compete against large enterprises and scale faster than ever, and Managed Intelligence Providers will be key to enabling the technology," said Pax8 CEO Scott Chasin, adding, "MSPs that evolve quickly into the MIP model will be poised to experience long-term success in the new paradigm."
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Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on July 09, 2025