Uncle Marv kicks off the episode with Jay McBain, a leading industry analyst from Canalys. Jay shares fascinating statistics about the managed services industry, revealing it's a $608 billion global business, twice the size of the SaaS industry. He explains how private equity is reshaping the landscape, driven by tech's rapid growth and attractive returns. The conversation then shifts to AI and its impact on the industry. Jay discusses the recent CompTIA acquisition and how it might transform the certification business. He also touches on the challenges MSPs face as vendors grow and potentially shift focus away from smaller businesses. In the second half of the episode, Uncle Marv chats with Bobby Jacobs from Thread, winners of last year's Pitch It competition. Bobby talks about Thread's evolution, including their new AI Service Desk and expanded integrations. He shares how their AI-powered solutions are revolutionizing ticket management and improving efficiency for MSPs. The episode wraps up with some fun insights into Thread's unique marketing approach at IT Nation, including their "death to the ticket" theme and innovative booth activities. Guest Bios:

• Jay McBain: Leading industry analyst at Canalys, known as "the voice of the channel."
• Bobby Jacobs: Representative from Thread, an AI-powered customer experience platform for MSPs. 

Websites and Links:

• Canalys: https://canalys.com/
• Thread: https://www.getthread.com/

People Mentioned for Shout Outs: 

• Peter Kajawa
• Mark (Thread CEO)
• Michelle (Jay's wife)
• Flo Rida

=== Show Information

• Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
• Host: Marvin Bee
• Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
• Become a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

=== Music: 

• Show Intro:  Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo, By AlexanderRufire
• License Code: 7X9F52DNML - Date: January 1st, 2024