Four steps, six steps, what does it take to help channel partners make AI pay? Two major channel distribution players are making their different moves.
Almost 8,000 MSPs use Sherweb’s distribution marketplace, and reportedly 70% are looking to bring AI into their operations “as soon as possible”, said the company.
But despite the availability of out-of-the-box AI solutions, said Sherweb, effectively leveraging AI doesn’t happen overnight due to one key consideration: end user companies' data isn’t ready for it.
Sherweb has now launched a 4-step approach that will enable a fleet of its MSPs to help more than 100,000 end customers overcome the “disjointed state of their data”, and other “roadblocks” to their AI ambitions.
Sherweb promises its approach, which makes use of Microsoft Copilot, accommodates companies’ “urgency” to begin using AI now, while simultaneously laying the foundation for “completely AI-driven operations in 90 days or less”.
Sherweb’s four steps to full AI:
Put AI to work quickly by connecting disparate data sources
Establish early guardrails to keep data secure
Develop everyday and custom AI use cases, and test on small groups
Centralise all data to fuel a completely AI-driven organisation
“Almost every business, in every industry, is trying to figure out how to introduce AI into its operations. And they want to do it quick,” said Jermaine Clark, senior manager of AI readiness at Sherweb. “Our approach equips MSPs to guide them in a way that lets them achieve the upfront speed they’re after, while putting the right infrastructure and strategy in place to reap the longer term benefits of AI.”
Sherweb says it is also hosting monthly training sessions, Copilot masterclasses, webinars and events for their MSP partners, in order to ensure they have everything they need to prepare businesses for an AI future.
Climb on
Another channel AI strategy comes from distributor Climb Channel Solutions UK. It has launched The Skyward Project, its AI Partner Program. Designed to take partners from “AI curiosity” to “full-scale success”, The Skyward Project offers a “simple” six-step journey.
It offers expert-led training through the Climb AI Academy, access to a “powerful” platform for scaling real-world AI use cases, a portfolio of partner-ready solutions, and the Climb AI Business User Group, where ideas, strategies, and “proven advice” are shared to support and inspire partners.
The six-step journey includes:
Trailhead: Build your AI foundations - partners will gain access to the Climb AI Academy, where practical training, certifications, and expert insight prepare them to lead real AI conversations with customers
Kit Check: Select the right solutions - Climb’s AI portfolio is “built for performance”: a curated mix of AI Ops tools and outcome-driven solutions. Climb will help partners choose the right stack for their customers
Waypoint: Identify high-impact use cases - With Unframe’s unified platform, partners will be able to identify and manage AI use cases, scaling them into “real, measurable results” across their customers’ businesses
The Lookout: Connect with like-minded AI enthusiasts - At the lookout, partners can connect with fellow climbers through the Climb AI Business User Group, a network of partners, technologists, and innovators solving real AI challenges, together
The Safety Line: Navigate risk and compliance - The safety line keeps partners secure on the route ahead, with expert guidance on emerging AI regulations like the EU AI Act, evolving security frameworks, and the ethical considerations that are shaping enterprise AI
Summit: Go to market - Climb’s marketing team helps partners “shape their story”, “sharpen their message”, and go to market with the “clarity and confidence” to drive success
Gerard Brophy, chief revenue officer at Climb, said: “The demand for AI is real, immediate, and growing fast. Our message to channel partners is clear: your customers won’t wait for the opportunities to come to them, and neither should you. The Skyward Project enables partners to unlock AI’s ability to deliver business growth, and it does this through clarity, collaboration, and expertise.”
He added: “No single vendor or partner holds all the answers to AI’s complexities. Instead of pretending otherwise, we’ve built a practical ecosystem that combines the expertise of multiple specialists, leaders, and innovators.”
