Erick and Rich share thoughts on the latest ChannelPro State of the Channel survey, suggestions on leveraging ChatGPT to boost productivity and strengthen client relationships, and some very special news about the future of this podcast.

2023 State of the Channel: Full Speed Ahead on Opportunities

To keep up with Rich and Erick in the future, visit:

RichFreeman.net

ErickSimpson.com

Erick and Rich discuss why news from Nerdio and Microsoft made this a big week in cloud management, why it’s never too soon to get rid of a toxic employee, and why getting a victory tattoo of your favorite team BEFORE the big game can be a bad idea.

Articles referenced in this episode:

Nerdio Adding Endpoint and Application Management Through Intune to Manager for MSP Solution

The Microsoft Intune Suite fuels cyber safety and IT efficiency

Newcastle fan left red-faced after premature tattoo 

Erick and Rich discuss two profitable opportunities many channel pros are missing out on, why upgrading the swag you give employees can deliver big ROI, and an IT company in India that’s pushing its staff—hard—to work less versus more.

Articles referenced in this episode:

IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023(link is external)

Addigy Releases 2023 State of Apple Device Management Industry Report for MSPs

Please go home! Indian firm deploys software for work-life balance

Erick and Rich discuss how to spot and avoid burnout, why managing expectations is the key to eliminating costly surprises during customer onboarding, and a pesky woodpecker who deposited 700 lbs. of acorns inside a California homeowner’s walls.

Articles referenced in this episode:

Avoiding Burnout

Woodpeckers stash 700 pounds of acorns in wall of California home

Erick and Rich discuss why ConnectWise’s new ChatGPT-based automation technology is important, the right and wrong ways to think about MSP valuations, and a 6-year-old who ordered $1,000 of food on Grubhub from his dad’s phone.

Articles referenced in this episode:

ConnectWise Adds ChatGPT-Based Scripting to RMM Solutions

Michigan man says son, 6, ordered $1K in food from Grubhub)

Erick and Rich explain why Kaseya’s new partner program offers encouraging news for Datto partners, why pumping up your LinkedIn profile will help you win business, and why six doctors in Australia ate Lego heads for science.

Articles referenced in this episode:

Kaseya Expands Unified Partner Program for Datto and Kaseya MSPs

How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile For Sales [Visual Template](link is external)

How to Craft the Perfect LinkedIn Profile: A Comprehensive Guide [Infographic](link is external)

6 doctors swallowed Lego heads for science. Here's what came out

Erick and Rich discuss the good news for MSPs and their clients in Datto’s new security research, list three questions every channel pro should ask their employees soon, and marvel at the pet fish who made a Pokemon purchase with their owner’s credit card.

Articles referenced in this episode:

Datto SMB Cybersecurity for MSPs Report

Pet fish spend cash and expose Nintendo Switch owner's credit card during Pokemon live stream

Erick and Rich discuss why Pia’s AI-powered help desk automation solution is a sign of the times, why letting techs work remotely has advantages worth considering, and why the only defense against AI-based facial recognition tech might be AI-designed clothing.

Articles referenced in this episode:

Pia Officially Launches Service Desk Automation Solution

Fed up with facial recognition cameras monitoring your every move? Italian fashion may have the answer

Erick and Rich discuss analyst data underscoring why channel pros must be customer experience masters, discourage MSPs from giving assessments away for free, and describe a rare instance in which a river of melted butter wasn’t a good thing.

Articles referenced in this episode:

Top SMB technology trends in 2023

River of melted butter blocks Wisconsin waterway after fire at dairy plant

Back in action for 2023, Erick and Rich discuss what hardware trends from CES mean for the SMB channel, the importance of diversifying your lead generation activities, and a coder who turned to Office Space for criminal inspiration instead of laughs.

Articles referenced in this episode:

Lenovo Stresses Flexible Use Modes in Latest Laptops

HP’s 2023 CES Product Wave Targets Hybrid Workers

‘Office Space’ movie inspired employee to steal $302,278, police say