News, Trends, and Insights for IT & Managed Services Providers
News, Trends, and Insights for IT & Managed Services Providers
Business of Tech | ConnectWise’s IT Nation Announcements: Sidekick

I’m attending IT Nation today and tomorrow, and ConnectWise made some announcements for today.

ConnectWise has announced the move from Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) to Unified Monitoring and Management (UMM).   The name change reflects focus areas, including network, cloud, and backup monitoring, intending to show ConnectWise’s commitment to surpass traditional RMM capabilities. ConnectWise UMM offers a comprehensive solution for backup monitoring and service level management, providing a holistic view of backups and enabling efficient monitoring of critical aspects.

ConnectWise has announced enhancements to its Business Management Solutions (BMS), prioritized based on partner feedback. The updates aim to modernize and streamline project management, procurement, and sales processes. A reimagined user experience includes features such as a modernized Gantt and Kanban view, real-time Microsoft 365 user data syncing, and improved quoting and payment capabilities.

ConnectWise updated its Asio Platform, showcasing Robotic Process Automation (RPA), which aims to simplify software robots’ creation, deployment, and management. The platform provides a unified user interface, process automation, and easy access management.

Finally, ConnectWise has announced ConnectWise Sidekick, an AI companion designed to enhance problem resolution, automate complex tasks, and increase efficiency. Leveraging natural-language prompts, ConnectWise Sidekick can generate PowerShell scripts, categorize tickets, provide resolutions, and automate responses. It is designed to streamline ticket management, improve service ticket resolution time, and enhance customer experiences. ConnectWise Sidekick is available now across Business Management Solutions and Unified Monitoring and Management product lines.

Why do we care?

So, I’m on-site specifically to answer more of this question.     Look for a bit more coverage next week.    I’m skeptical of a name change from RMM to UMM.  ConnectWise has for years tried to get the industry to accept Technology Solution Providers (or TSP)… and here’s another one.    Sysophus pushing their rock up a hill.      

There are two things to care about here.    First, Robotic Process Automation.   This is a natural fit for their product line and aligns with the broader industry trend of incorporating automation to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.  Second, you also knew I’d be intrigued by AI.    Sidekick, both in name and feature list, aligns with Microsoft and their CoPilot approach.     More to come.  

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