The Integris Blog

Key Takeaways AI success requires more than just technology; organizations need a solid foundation with secure data, strong governance, and user adoption. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are evolving from technical support roles to strategic partners that help businesses leverage AI for better outcomes. Data governance is crucial for effective AI; it ensures data is accurate, organized, and accessible for AI systems to deliver insights.

What to look for in a managed IT provider? Look for a provider that understands your business, gives you clear relationship ownership, responds when you need help, provides access to the right expertise, communicates clearly, thinks proactively, and helps you get more value from technology over time. A managed IT relationship sits underneath day-to-day work, cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, cloud services, employee support, business continuity and, increasingly, AI and automation.

Most growing businesses encounter the exact same friction point: task volume expands rapidly, but scaling payroll is slow, capital-intensive, and doesn’t always address the root operational bottleneck. While artificial intelligence appears to be an ideal solution, the real challenge lies in sustaining meaningful impact once the initial novelty fades. Success rarely boils down to the specific software selected.

AI conversations are moving beyond experimentation. And that’s why we wanted to hear from our customers. That’s why we launched the Integris AI Investment Fund. Organizations are no longer asking only what generative AI can do. They are asking where it can remove real operational friction, make information more useful, improve decision-making, and help their teams work more effectively. Through the Integris AI Investment Fund, clients submitted 23 ideas for practical AI solutions.

Most managed IT contracts are built to answer one question: are the systems running? That matters. It’s also not the same question as “is this actually making my business more productive,” and a lot of businesses only notice the gap once they’ve been paying for Microsoft 365 and AI licenses for a year with nothing to show for it. CORE is Integris’s answer to that gap.

U.S. manufacturers are rapidly embracing digital transformation to become more agile, responsive, and efficient. Often referred to as “adaptive manufacturing,” this approach uses technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) systems to respond dynamically to changing demand, supply chain disruptions, and operational issues with minimal human intervention.

For financial institutions including credit unions, AI is no longer just a nice-to-have in staying competitive with other financial institutions. Credit unions have begun adopting AI for myriad objectives. But five top outcomes stand out: satisfying member needs, making operations more efficient, and staying ahead of fraud and cyberthreats, and bolstering internal teams.

Technology should be an accelerator for growth and innovation. But for many organizations, IT has become a source of management headaches, risk, and operational drag. Whether it’s aging infrastructure, cybersecurity concerns, inconsistent support, or limited internal resources, IT challenges are creating increasing pressure for today’s business leaders to keep systems running and secure while navigating rapid change.

It’s hard to refute that company investment in AI has grown substantially over the past couple of years. Indeed, total AI market size is projected to reach approximately $347 billion in 2026 (up from $208 billion in 2023); this represents a 67% increase. Companies see AI business opportunities in myriad organizational functions—from sales and customer service to predictive maintenance and financial fraud detection. According to data, 80% of organizations haven’t gotten return on AI investment yet.

In 2026, law firm technology is no longer just an operational concern—it’s a defining factor in client trust and retention as well as revenue growth. New Integris research in the “Integris 2026 law firm trust in technology report” highlights a growing client confidence gap in the legal industry. While law firms are increasing technology spending, adopting artificial intelligence (AI), and investing in cybersecurity, many struggle to execute effectively and use investment wisely.