64 episodes

The podcast that helps MSPs get ahead. Join Brendan Ritchie each week to hear the latest news, insights, and opinions that matter to people working in Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and telcos in Australia and New Zealand. Insights as a Service is the podcast that pulls together the key industry talking points and combines them with real world experiences shared by industry leaders to deliver value to professionals working in tech. Each episode is made possible by the microphones, studio space and people made available by Lightwire, check them out at lightwirebusiness.com

Insights as a Service Lightwire

    • Business

The podcast that helps MSPs get ahead. Join Brendan Ritchie each week to hear the latest news, insights, and opinions that matter to people working in Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and telcos in Australia and New Zealand. Insights as a Service is the podcast that pulls together the key industry talking points and combines them with real world experiences shared by industry leaders to deliver value to professionals working in tech. Each episode is made possible by the microphones, studio space and people made available by Lightwire, check them out at lightwirebusiness.com

    63 - MSP Marketing Masterclass

    63 - MSP Marketing Masterclass

    Join Brendan Ritchie and Paul Green from MSP Marketing as they delve into the nuances of modern marketing.

    They discuss the undeniable power of niche content, the transformative impact of understanding client trends and frustrations, and the significance of podcasts in today's digital landscape.

    They also highlight the importance of commitment and consistency and explore the art of generating standout content.

    This episode is packed with insights and strategies.
    Tune in for a masterclass in marketing strategy, personal branding, and much more!

    Chapters:
    00:00:00 - Importance of Marketing in the MSP Sector
    00:07:03 - Overwhelming for Techs
    00:14:09 - Building Trust and Engagement with MSPs
    00:21:20 - Tracking and Eliminating Red Tasks in MSPs
    00:28:31 - Product Managers and Marketing Responsibility
    00:35:45 - Putting Yourself Out There
    00:42:40 - The Commitment and Consistency of Podcasting
    00:49:35 - Three-step marketing strategy
    00:56:25 - The Challenges of Business Ownership

    • 1 hr 4 min
    62 - Mastering Tech Recruitment: Key Strategies for MSP Leaders

    62 - Mastering Tech Recruitment: Key Strategies for MSP Leaders

    In this episode of Insights as a Service, Brendan is joined by Dean Ellis, recruitment manager at Beaumont People.

    From global Insights to local benefits, they delve into the latest developments in technology recruitment. Explore market trends, talk about security and career progression in smaller MSPs, tackle salary inflation, and gain insights on employee retention, skills assessment, and customer support.

    They also discuss the concept of functional roles in tech and how to make the four-day work week work in your business.

    Chapters:

    00:00:00 - The Pitfalls of Chasing a Higher Paycheck

    00:04:55 - Salary Increases for Software Engineers

    00:09:39 - The Security Perception in Smaller MSPs

    00:14:24 - Promoting Unskilled Employees in MSPs

    00:19:09 - The Importance of Company Culture

    00:23:53 - The Impact of Offshoring on the Technology Sector in Australia

    00:28:31 - Specialization and Offshoring in the Tech Industry

    00:33:11 - Implementing a Four-Day WorkWeek

    00:37:48 - Ensuring Customer Satisfaction and Productivity

    00:42:30 - Measuring and Increasing Direction

    00:46:57 - Effective Communication with Customers

    00:51:37 - Value-Added Service and Building Sticky Relationships

    • 56 min
    61 - The ideal sales team structure

    61 - The ideal sales team structure

    In this episode, Brendan delves deep into the sales universe with James Bergl, the VP Communities & Ecosystem APAC at Pax8.

    Learn about striking the right balance in sales leadership, fair compensation, and the art of relationship-based selling.

    They touch on the nuances in the tech industry and the essence of financial literacy in sales and unveil the blueprint for success in these challenging economic times.

    Chapters:
    00:00:00 - Paying Someone What They Are Worth and Building a High-Performance Sales Team
    00:05:41 - Incentivising Sales Teams
    00:10:51 - Motivation beyond money in sales
    00:16:07 - The Importance of Commission Plans in Hiring
    00:21:27 - The Importance of Qualified Salespeople
    00:26:38 - Building a Sales Pipeline and Social Media Strategy
    00:31:54 - The Why, How, and What of Sales in Troubled Economic Times
    00:37:27 - The Future of MSP Business Models
    00:42:45 - Building Value Compositions for Business Success


    Where to find them:
    👉Brendan Ritchie https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanri...
    👉James Bergl https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbergl/

    Free resources:
    👉The NBN Explained: https://www.lightwirebusiness.com/nbn-playbook/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=nbn-playbook

    👉 B2B Internet Services in NZ: https://www.lightwirebusiness.com/b2b-internet-services-in-nz-guide/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=b2b-internet-services-in-NZ

    • 48 min
    60 - Profit in Pursuit of Purpose

    60 - Profit in Pursuit of Purpose

    In recent years, growing expectations from consumers and investors for better ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) practices have led businesses to shift towards models prioritising profit generation in pursuit of positive social impact.

    So, how can you do good while doing well?

    In this week's conversation, AJ McKean, the Managing Director of Synergy Technologies, discusses running a for-profit business with a focus on creating a positive social impact.

    The idea of running a business that aims to do good by being good at what it does.




    00:00:00 - The Competitive Advantage of Purpose-Driven Organizations

    00:04:59 - Making a Difference through Social Impact

    00:09:45 - The Challenge of Choosing Good Causes

    00:14:33 - Balancing Genuineness and Accountability

    00:19:02 - The Importance of Purpose and Impact to Motivate the Team

    00:23:35 - Balancing Stakeholder Impact in Business

    00:28:08 - Balancing Outside Influences and Personal Passion

    00:32:40 - Balancing Purpose and Profit in Organizations

    00:37:20 - Engaging the Team and Supporting Charities

    00:41:46 - Taking a Step Forward


    Where to find them:
    👉AJ McKean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amckeannz/
    👉Brendan Ritchie https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanri...

    • 42 min
    59 - Building a trans-Tasman business

    59 - Building a trans-Tasman business

    This time, we have something special in store for you.

    Recently, Brendan had the privilege of being a guest on the Pax8 Academy podcast, hosted by the amazing James Davis.



    During their conversation, they delved into Brendan's experience of bringing a New Zealand business to Australia.

    Exploring the valuable lessons learned, the required investment, and the resulting return on that investment, they guys cover topics relevant to all businesses looking to offer services across both countries.

    Additionally, they discussed the timeframe for achieving success and what Brendan might do differently if he had a do-over.



    If you're an MSP or a telco currently operating in either Australia or New Zealand and wondering whether it's the right time to venture into the other market, you're in for a treat. Their discussion is packed with valuable insights that can help inform your decision-making process.



    0:00 Background

    5:00 Biggest challenges getting into the AU market

    11:20 The secret to building your network, fast

    20:00 What to do when can’t directly compete

    23:20 The first hires you need when entering a new market

    27:50 Creating alignment in a remote-first culture

    32:00 Benefits of trans-Tasman operations

    35:00 How much $ do you need to enter a new market

    40:00 Final thoughts




    👉James Davies https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejamesdavisaus/

    👉Brendan Ritchie https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanritchie/

    • 43 min
    58 - AI's Impact on Telcos, MSPs, and Customer Service

    58 - AI's Impact on Telcos, MSPs, and Customer Service

    AI is here, and it’s bigger than the internet, according to Tim Warren, CEO and founder of Ambit. How you use it in your business will determine the quality of experience your customers have and how effectively you differentiate your brand.

    This week’s conversation is taking Brendan into the history and development of AI, from Natural language processing (NLP) to Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT) and its applications in various industries.

    You will learn how businesses are focusing on new customer service tactics, using AI in B2C and B2B interactions to drive bottom-line growth.

    Blog/Resources: https://bit.ly/3rvqsb3
    NBN Playbook: https://bit.ly/3PUbRQX

    Brendan Ritchie https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanritchie/
    Tim Warren https://www.linkedin.com/in/tswarren/
    Ambit https://www.linkedin.com/company/ambit-ai/
    Organisational Readiness: AI and GPT: https://www.ambit.ai/resources/organisational-readiness-ai-and-gpt



    00:00:00 - The Marketing Power of AI
    00:02:13 - Introducing Ambit: Customer Service with AI
    00:03:01 - Finding the Right Business Idea
    00:03:20 - The Rise of AI and Blockchain in Business
    00:06:35 - The Definition of Artificial Intelligence and its Development
    00:10:00 - The Evolution of Natural Language Processing
    00:13:21 - The Rise of Generative AI
    00:16:52 - The Viral Adoption of Chat GPT: Bigger than the Internet
    00:20:16 - The Stunning Visuals and Advances in AI
    00:23:40 - The Role of Engineers in Real-World Applications
    00:26:56 - Creating Art in the Style of Nirvana
    00:30:06 - The Cognitive Challenges in AI and Humans
    00:33:13 - The Evolution of Cybersecurity Threats
    00:36:29 - The Democratization of Skill Sets in the Job Market
    00:39:42 - Coder Disruption and Industry Regulation
    00:42:49 - The Importance of Regulation and Consumer Safety
    00:45:50 - Automating documentation with chat GPT
    00:49:02 - Sophisticated Support Mechanisms
    00:52:17 - Chatbot Adoption in B2C and B2B Markets
    00:55:26 - Where to Find Tim

    • 56 min

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