Nerdio is urging managed service providers to act decisively on AI and automation readiness – or risk being left behind by more agile competitors.
The cloud management platform provider, which has just over 1,800 MSP customers in North America, built its business around Azure Virtual Desktop. Over the last year, however, the company expanded its coverage to the full Microsoft cloud stack, including the Microsoft 365 office productivity suite, according to Ming Man, MSP sales manager at Nerdio EMEA.
“We really have focused and invested in our development around M365,” Man told Channel Dive. “This spans from natural evolution — we’re very good community partners for MSPs — but also because they love the experience working in partnership with us. What they were asking for is, ‘what else can you do for us?’”
The company, he added, is “very much an outside-in organization, so we take the feedback from our partners — what their challenges are, how can we help solve them? And we have invested in our capabilities around M365, especially on a multi-tenant basis.”
Nerdio is also watching closely how MSPs adopt Microsoft Copilot. Man said that forward-thinking partners are already moving to shape the AI assistant’s use within their customer base.
“It really starts off with an assessment to see whether they’re ready to actually adopt Copilot — from a governance, compliance or security standpoint,” he said.“That’s where the MSP can provide that guidance. There’s going to be a lot of those guardrails available natively within Copilot today, but like with anything, you just have to fine tune wherever you have today to make it relevant for the organization.”
The automation opportunity
AI adoption begins with automation. Nerdio sees automation as the immediate opportunity for MSPs.
“Automation is more important than ever,” said Man, pointing to the proliferation of tools and processes that can be consolidated and automated to create efficiencies, save money and improve customer services.
Nerdio’s public product roadmap will continue to evolve, with more monitoring, data and reporting planned, particularly within M365 management.
“The Copilot part is part of that conversation,” Man said. “Come speak to me towards the end of the year and we’ll be able to demonstrate to you where we are with that.”
Despite a growing focus on AI use cases, Nerdio remains bullish on virtual desktops.
“Virtual desktops are still going to be here for a good number of years,” said Man.
The imperative for MSPs is to lay the groundwork for AI adoption.
“You’ve got to start acting now,” Man said. “Whether it’s replacing a legacy deployment or preparing for AI readiness, it’s time to act now. Otherwise, if your competitors are doing it, they’re going to provide a better service and start eating your lunch.”
