Pax8 has launched 8os and 8bot to assist its small business channel partners in managing artificial intelligence adoption across their clients.
AI Adoption Gap Among SMBs
The company’s research indicates that 90% of small and medium-sized businesses are using or testing AI, yet only 23% have a documented AI policy. Additionally, 47% of SMBs identified unauthorized shadow AI within their operations over the past six months.
Further findings reveal that 71% of AI-using SMBs have developed at least one AI solution, but only 31% of those have a formal review or approval process.
This disparity between experimentation and oversight creates a fragmented environment for smaller companies, where multiple AI tools operate without centralized visibility. Technology partners now face new responsibilities in policy development, cost control, and monitoring as clients seek external expertise to manage AI deployment effectively.
Introducing 8os and 8bot
8os functions as a central platform enabling partners to oversee AI agents, models, tools, and providers used by customers. The system allows managed service providers to track usage, costs, and security while applying standardized operating rules across clients. It features a shared governance layer, client-specific memory and context for AI workers, and billing controls that monitor use by user and customer.
Partners can set spending limits and price services through Pax8’s existing commercial framework.
Expanding Managed AI Services
The launch extends Pax8’s push into managed AI services for the small business market. Both products integrate with its existing commerce, identity, and billing infrastructure, which supports over 47,000 IT partners and 800,000 SMBs globally.
Scott Chasin, CEO of Pax8, stated that AI is becoming a worker, necessitating changes in what small businesses expect from technology partners. He emphasized that the agentic workforce will be diverse, spanning various agents, models, tools, and providers, all requiring governance and management to achieve business outcomes.
Libby McIlhany, CPO of Pax8, noted that partners seek to deliver AI value without custom solutions for every client. She explained that 8os and 8bot were built with the partner experience in mind, enabling effective AI management and governance within customer businesses and offering a pre-packaged AI coworker for easy deployment.
Early Access and Market Strategy
Pax8 initiated limited early access to both products this week, with broader availability planned for early next year. The offerings target channel partners directly rather than end customers, aiming to structure and scale managed intelligence services.
With 65% of small business leaders feeling the need to move quickly on AI and 84% trusting external technology advisers for implementation, the products address the demand for external support in realizing AI’s full value, as 70% of leaders believe they require partner assistance.
