The Network Group Podcast @ Pax8 Beyond - E5: John Fry (Pax8)

In Episode 5 of The Network Group Podcast @ Pax8 Beyond, recorded in Salt Lake City, USA, hosts Austen Clark (Jera) and Peter Strahan (Lantech) sit down with John Fry of Pax8 for an insightful conversation about artificial intelligence, the changing role of the MSP, customer relationships, skills development and the huge opportunity ahead for Managed Intelligence Providers. John shares his unconventional journey into technology, from originally pursuing a career in professional sports to discovering the IT channel and ultimately spending more than a decade working closely with MSPs. His career has taken him through organisations including ConnectWise and Cisco before joining Pax8, where he now spends much of his time on the road, working directly with MSPs and understanding the challenges they face. Unsurprisingly, AI dominates much of the conversation. But rather than discussing the technology in abstract terms, John focuses on what MSPs are actually doing with it. How are they transforming internal workflows? How are they taking AI to market? And, most importantly, how can they monetise it? John describes visiting what he considers an “AI-led MSP”, where AI has become fundamental to how the business operates. He explains how this MSP has effectively created its own operating system connecting different AI platforms, data sources and existing tools – offering a glimpse into how MSP technology stacks could evolve over the coming years. For MSPs wondering where to invest, John’s answer is simple: invest in yourself. Training, experimentation and a willingness to make mistakes are becoming essential. Unlike previous technology shifts, he argues that MSPs cannot afford to sit back and wait for others to figure AI out. The pace of change is simply too fast, and providers that lean in now could gain a significant advantage. One of the episode’s most relatable examples comes from an unexpected place: John’s own laundromat in Tampa. By taking existing utilisation data from connected washers and dryers and using ChatGPT to analyse it, his wife was able to develop around 90% of a business plan for a midweek “happy hour”. For John, it demonstrated just how much untapped value exists within the data held by ordinary businesses – and why those businesses will need trusted technology partners to help unlock it. That leads into one of the biggest challenges facing MSPs: moving beyond technology conversations and becoming genuinely strategic business partners. John challenges MSPs to ask whether they truly understand their customers – not simply their infrastructure, but their goals, financial performance, growth ambitions and wider business priorities. The discussion also explores the importance of data readiness, Microsoft licensing, education and the rise of shadow AI. John shares experiences from customer events where businesses began openly discussing the AI tools employees were already using, often without management realising. For MSPs, this creates both risk and opportunity – opening the door to conversations around governance, security, data, professional services and deeper customer relationships. Looking towards the next five years, John believes people remain the most important investment. MSPs will need new skills, greater confidence and teams prepared to experiment, learn and evolve. Those that do could move beyond the traditional MSP model and become true Managed Intelligence Providers. Whether you're an MSP owner, technology leader or simply exploring how AI could reshape your business, this episode offers practical ideas, real-world examples and an optimistic perspective on the opportunities ahead. 📍 Recorded at Pax8 Beyond, Salt Lake City, USA 🎙 Hosts: Austen Clark (Jera) & Peter Strahan (Lantech) 🎧 Guest: John Fry (Pax8) Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe for more episodes of The Network Group Podcast @ Pax8 Beyond.