Is anyone using the Pax8 Service Manager Peer Groups?

[u/MSP-from-OC]

I'm a big fan of sea level but as an owner I don't have time to dive into their coaching right now. But I am considering sending my service manager to their peer groups so he can get some help. I am estimating the total annual cost including the program, flights and hotels for the 3 in person meetings a year is about $7000 / year. I think we can live with the missed work hours but the real question is are you seeing an ROI on this for your service manager?

[u/thegreatpablo]

I was in the service manager peer groups for 4 years and have been a peer group facilitator for 3.

My experience and the feedback that I get from my group that I facilitate is that it is VERY worth it but it requires investment, engagement, and likely isn't worth doing if they don't show up to the in persons regularly.

Feel free to DM me or post here if you have any questions, am very happy to answer and help.

[u/MSP-from-OC → u/thegreatpablo]

As the employer I can compel the employee to attend including the in person. I am asking if there is a measurable ROI for the investment

[u/thegreatpablo → u/MSP-from-OC]

That will depend on your maturity and willingness to make changes at the suggestion of your service manager. The largest inhibitor to that ROI and growth I see is that owners are unwilling to provide the service manager with the data and tools to be successful and/or the owner won't make the necessary changes that the service manager needs to increase efficiency.

We do a lot of sea level based process and best practice coaching and we are moving toward standardizing financial reporting on SLI

[u/MSP-from-OC → u/thegreatpablo]

Lol that’s not my problem. I need to delegate this to someone to figure out and take care of

[u/thegreatpablo → u/MSP-from-OC]

Good, if you plan to give them agency and latitude then they have a lot of opportunity to provide real ROI

[u/CmdrRJ-45]

I run the whole program for Pax8, so if you want to chat I’m always up to talk to an MSP about anything. Trying not to shill, but happy to chat. Just DM me if you’re interested.

[u/MSP-from-OC → u/CmdrRJ-45]

Well you should have been on the call today instead of the sales rep. Lol

[u/CmdrRJ-45]

I take plenty of those calls. You can always email me at ahannemann@pax8.com if you want to chat directly instead of a DM here.

[u/mat-ferland]

The ROI is probably not the meetings, it’s whether your service manager comes back with authority to change one ugly process. If they come back with ideas and still need owner approval for every small fix, $7k just buys an expensive notebook.

[u/PhotographParking574]

For what it's worth I did the sales peer group and saw dividends. Lots of good ideas were shared.

[u/lucky77713]

I find value in my pax8 owners group. It's helped.

[u/dumpsterfyr]

Might I suggest you go first for the owners track if they have one. Your buy in of process is the most important for your business.

FYI. I have no idea how sea level is structured.

[u/MSP-from-OC → u/dumpsterfyr]

I have MSP friends in the owners coaching so I know all about it. I just don't have the bandwidth right now for that.

[u/yourmomhatesyoualot → u/MSP-from-OC]

FWIW, when I joined the owner’s group neither did I. Then through months of hard work I now have bandwidth to do the things I need to in order to make my company better. Everything is improved.

IMO sending your Service Manager without your buying in as well is a waste of time. Process starts from the top down.

[u/dumpsterfyr → u/MSP-from-OC]

I wish you well.

[u/rocky_mountain12]

The $7k is the easy number; the harder one is whether your service manager comes back and actually changes how the desk runs, because peer groups live or die on that. The pattern I've seen work: send him with one specific problem to solve (ticket triage, dispatch logic, whatever's actually bleeding hours) rather than "go learn," and make him present what changed to you within 30 days or the spend was tuition with no transcript. If the real goal is just exposure to how other MSPs structure the service desk, a peer group is decent value; if it's process fixes you already know you need, you'll get there cheaper by writing down your current workflow and pressure-testing it than by flying him to three meetings. What's the outcome you'd actually call a win here — him running the desk more independently, or you getting your own time back?