The ASCII Group, the membership-based community of independent North American Managed Service Providers (MSPs), has established an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee. As the tech landscape continues to evolve, The ASCII Group says it recognizes the critical importance of preparing its members for the next phase of industry evolution — the integration of AI technologies into their service offerings.
In an industry marked by rapid transformations, MSPs have consistently demonstrated resilience and adaptability, transitioning from resellers to Value-Added Resellers (VARs) and then to MSPs. As AI rapidly progresses, the managed services sector anticipates significant transformative shifts. While AI integration offers unprecedented efficiency and innovation, challenges persist, such as optimizing operations and tailoring customer solutions, says the ASCII Group.
ASCII AI Pit Crew
The newly established AI Committee, dubbed the ‘ASCII AI Pit Crew,’ serves as a central hub for knowledge sharing. The objectives of the group include four pillars:
- Identify – Define key areas for future service delivery within the market
- Research – Conduct thorough research to assess and validate potential solutions that meet identified market needs
- Partner – Forge strategic partnerships with new services to enhance offerings for the community
- Engage – Empower the community by providing market-ready campaigns for the promotion of these AI services
“Just as our members successfully navigated previous industry shifts, we are committed to equipping them with the tools necessary to embrace the potential of AI,” says Jerry Koutavas, President, The ASCII Group. “One of the challenges MSPs face is identifying emerging trends before they become mainstream and through the ASCII AI Pit Crew, our members will have analysis and insight enabling them to stay ahead of the curve and seize new opportunities in the AI space.”
The committee is comprised of ASCII members including Mike Bloomfield, Carl de Prado, Kathy Durfee, Lynette Furr, Michael Goldstein, Denase Harris, Lisa Hendrickson, Jason Knowles, Joshua Liberman, Rob Lloyd, Stephen Monk, Jay Parisi, Srikanth Pinnaka and Craig Vickers
