Free Newsletters for the Channel
Register for Your Free Newsletter Now
The AI Gold Rush: Where Partners Should Invest NowThe AI Gold Rush: Where Partners Should Invest Now
Partners who understand the evolving AI landscape and available AI solutions can position themselves as strategic advisors, helping customers to navigate AI’s complexities.
4 Min Read
BLACKDAY/Shutterstock
Generative AI is no longer just a trend — it’s a business imperative. With AI investment projected to hit $632 billion by 2028, organizations are rapidly integrating AI-driven solutions to enhance efficiency, security, and customer experiences. But with so much hype, one question remains: How can partners position themselves to not just keep up, but lead?
AI is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, requiring businesses to adapt quickly or risk falling behind. Partners who understand the evolving AI landscape and available AI solutions can position themselves as strategic advisors, helping customers to navigate AI’s complexities.
The Role of AI-Enabled vs. AI-Powered Solutions
A key distinction that has emerged in the AI space is between AI-enabled and AI-powered solutions, which is important for partners looking to enter the AI market to understand.
AI-Enabled Solutions — These integrate AI into existing technology – such as AI-driven security, AI-enabled networking and AI powered storage – without requiring entirely new infrastructure, allowing for easier adoption.
AI-Powered Solutions — These are built from the ground up to leverage AI as their core functionality. AI-powered applications include generative AI models, AI-driven automation and advanced analytics tools that require robust data management and high-performance computing.
With AI-enabled technologies expanding rapidly, partners must recognize that AI is not just a product sale — it’s a business transformation sale. Companies often hesitate to dive into AI due to complexity, cost or lack of expertise, highlighting the need for trusted advisors to guide them through adoption.
Where the Investment Is Going — and What that Means for Partners
AI adoption is accelerating across industries, but partners need to align their strategies with where the money is flowing. Businesses see AI as more than automation — it's about creating new capabilities, optimizing decision-making, and unlocking deeper insights.
Banking: AI-driven fraud detection, security AI and risk management solutions are top priorities.
Retail: AI-enabled customer service, guided selling and logistics optimization are reshaping the shopping experience.
Software: AI infrastructure spending is soaring, with major investments in compute, storage and networking solutions.
According to a recent report, 73.2% of IT spending in 2024 will be driven by partner-delivered solutions and services, reinforcing the importance of strategic partnerships in AI growth.
The AI Journey: Where to Begin
Many businesses are eager to implement AI but struggle with where to start. The first step isn’t necessarily deploying generative AI — it’s ensuring that the right infrastructure is in place to support AI workloads.
A structured approach can help partners guide customers through three key stages:
Infrastructure Readiness — Optimizing storage, networking, and security to support AI adoption.
AI-Enabled Technologies — Integrating AI-driven capabilities into familiar systems.
AI-Powered Solutions — Scaling up to AI-first applications like automation platforms and generative AI models.
Partners who take the time to educate customers and guide them through this structured approach will be seen as trusted AI advisors rather than just technology resellers.
AI Solutions that Matter: The Winning Formula for Partners
For partners, knowing which AI solutions are in high demand is critical. Businesses need solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing workflows and deliver measurable outcomes.
AI-Enabled Storage, Security & Networking — These solutions provide an entry point for AI adoption by leveraging AI for data management, cybersecurity and network automation.
Data Management and AI Infrastructure — AI thrives on data, making data processing and analysis critical. This market saw $50 billion in spending in 2023 and continues to grow at 12.7% annually, with key players like Commvault, OpenText, Databricks, and Confluent leading the way.
AI Platforms — With a 44% annual growth rate, AI platforms are a prime opportunity for partners.
For businesses, the AI journey is about more than just adopting new technology — it’s about transforming processes and redefining success. Partners who offer tailored AI solutions, rather than one-size-fits-all implementations, will have the advantage in this competitive landscape.
What’s Next for Partners: Making AI Work for Your Business
The question isn’t whether AI will dominate IT — it’s how partners can position themselves to lead this transformation. As AI becomes more embedded in business operations, partners need to move beyond selling AI tools and become strategic AI advisors for their customers.
To capitalize on the AI surge, partners should:
Base strategies on robust market data, aligning offerings with high-demand AI solutions that cater to specific industry needs.
Help customers transition from AI-enabled to AI-powered solutions by ensuring they have the right infrastructure, training, and strategy in place.
Invest in partnerships for long-term success in the AI space.
AI implementation marks a fundamental shift in business strategy. By aligning with proven frameworks, investing in AI expertise and developing strategic AI partnerships, partners can turn today’s AI boom into a long-term business advantage.
About the Author
You May Also Like
Mar 24 - Mar 27, 2025
Mar 24 - Mar 27, 2025
The Channel Partners Conference & Expo, co-located with MSP Summit, is the gathering place for the technology services community. Agents, VARs, MSPs, integrators and service providers will converge to share ideas and drive discussion on the topics shaping our industry.
REGISTER NOW