News in the Channel - issue #40

PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE

“Predictive maintenance does not need to be perfect from day one,” he notes. “MSPs should start with their critical systems, then build confidence and expand. The other challenge is ensuring the data is accurate and actionable so you can create real value.” Rick warns that alert fatigue, where setting too many alerts leads to a flood of emails that staff will eventually ignore and firmware neglect, is another pitfall. “Predictive data insights are only as reliable as the hardware’s communication, so all devices should be kept on the latest firmware update,” he says. Continued growth All commentators agreed that predictive maintenance will continue to grow in popularity. “Predictive maintenance is not a trend, but a structural shift,” says Berend. “With experienced technicians retiring and asset complexity increasing, MSPs will rely more heavily on AI driven insights to maintain service quality. Those who embrace predictive maintenance now will strengthen margins, deepen customer relationships and stay competitive in a channel that’s evolving fast.” David adds that predictive maintenance is transitioning from a ‘nice-to-have’ to a core operational capability. “Advances in cloud computing and the industrial internet of things are accelerating this shift, enabling real-time data collection, remote monitoring and improved asset intelligence,” he says. “For MSPs, this represents a clear opportunity to move up the value chain, evolving from reactive maintenance providers into performance optimisation partners. As expectations around uptime, efficiency and resilience continue to rise, predictive maintenance is set to become a standard component of service delivery rather than an optional extra.” Rick agrees that predictive maintenance is becoming the industry standard. “As AI and machine learning become

more integrated into our everyday lives, networks will become even more ‘aware’ and provide deeper insights into all connected devices, improving response times for service teams and ultimately increasing uptimes and reliability for customers,” he says. “In the coming years, there will be a shift toward predictive maintenance, where the software doesn’t just give warning signs but tells you something is going to break, automatically suggests the exact part number, and provides a video walkthrough for the technician. “For an MSP, staying ahead of this curve is no longer a strategic choice; it is the only way to protect margins in a market where service is being redefined by data. This is not a passing trend but a fundamental shift, where the reactive ‘break-fix’ model cannot survive in an era of intelligent, self-aware hardware. AI is weaving itself into every fibre of our personal and professional lives, and in the world of print it will transform the humble service contract into a sophisticated, invisible engine of uptime and reliability. In this landscape, those who bury their heads in the sand will find the market moving forward without them.” n

Contributors

Rick Dove

epson.co.uk

David Strain

technidrive.co.uk