
64 episodes

Insights as a Service Lightwire
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- 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
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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 -
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 -
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 -
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... -
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/ -
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