Another Day of Podcast Recording: Automation and Offshore Strategy in Focus

Another day of podcast recording for Nick Clift and me, and another reminder of why we continue to invest time into these conversations.

Recording days are always full, but when the topics are relevant and the guests bring real world experience to the table, the energy shifts. It becomes less about recording episodes and more about creating something genuinely useful for the people listening.

Today we had the pleasure of speaking with Tas Gray and Allan Michelmore, and both conversations focused on areas that are front of mind for many MSP leaders right now.

Tas Gray joined us to talk all things automation within his MSP, Axiom IT. Automation is one of those topics that comes up frequently, but what made this conversation valuable was the practical lens Tas brought to it. Not theory, not trends, but how automation is actually being used in a working MSP environment.

The reality is that automation is no longer a nice to have. It is becoming essential for MSPs that want to scale effectively, maintain service quality, and reduce pressure on their teams. But knowing where to start, what to prioritise, and how to implement it without overcomplicating things is often where businesses get stuck.

That is where conversations like this make a difference.

Hearing how someone is approaching automation in a real business setting helps bridge the gap between intention and action. It gives context. It provides clarity. It turns a broad concept into something more tangible and achievable.

We then shifted gears with Allan Michelmore, who shared his perspective on setting up an MSP to effectively use offshore resources.

This is another area that many business owners are exploring, particularly as they look for ways to scale their teams, manage costs, and access a broader talent pool. But like most things in business, it is not as simple as making the decision and expecting it to work.

There are structural considerations, communication challenges, leadership requirements, and cultural factors that all need to be thought through carefully.

What stood out in this conversation was the importance of setting things up properly from the beginning. Offshore resourcing is not just a hiring decision. It is an operational decision. It requires clarity in processes, expectations, accountability, and how work flows through the business.

Without that clarity, it can quickly create more complexity rather than less.

With the right approach, however, it can become a powerful part of how an MSP operates and grows.

Both conversations reinforced something we see often in our work with leadership teams.

There are no shortcuts when it comes to building a business that runs well. Whether it is automation or offshore resourcing, the tools and strategies themselves are only part of the equation. The real impact comes from how well they are implemented, how clearly they are understood, and how consistently they are applied.

That is why these discussions matter.

They help move the conversation beyond surface level ideas and into the practical realities of execution. They give business owners and leaders something they can reflect on and, more importantly, something they can act on.

We are looking forward to seeing both of these episodes go live on the MSP Mastery Ctrl Alt Deliver Podcast in March.

There is a lot of value in both conversations, and I am confident they will resonate with many MSP leaders who are navigating similar challenges and opportunities in their own businesses.

For now, it is another productive recording day done.

And another step towards sharing conversations that are grounded, relevant, and designed to make a real difference.