ScalePad CEO On New Products, Features: ‘Moving Quickly To Empower MSPs To Do More With Data’

‘Whether it’s through the new vendor contracts feature, our AI advancements or the unified API, Scalepad is moving quickly to empower MSPs to do more with their data and better serve their clients. We’re excited to continue working closely with our partners to create new solutions that will shape the future of the MSP industry,’ says ScalePad CEO Chris Day.

Scalepad's recently launched Lifecycle Manager Essentials and upcoming Lifecycle Manager X represent a significant step toward simplifying asset lifecycle management for MSPs while providing scalable solutions at all stages of growth.

That’s the message ScalePad CEO Chris Day has when it comes to the two solutions that meet the evolving needs of MSPs, particularly those just starting out or focusing on foundational asset management.

Lifecycle Manager Essentials is tailored to MSPs looking for a cost-effective solution to streamline asset management. It delivers the core tools MSPs need to build accurate asset inventories, track asset purchase dates and generate insightful reports to guide client conversations, all at a more budget-friendly price point.

“We want to provide a simple solution for those who don’t need the advanced features in Pro or X, but still want reliable asset lifecycle management,” Day told CRN in an interview. “We’ve made it accessible and affordable so MSPs can scale with our products. Essentials gives them a stepping stone to eventually grow into higher-tier solutions.”

Lifecycle Manager X, which Day said has been in development for 18 months, is designed to help MSPs manage customer success at a higher level.

“Think of it as a way to organize and operationalize customer success programs, something we feel is missing in the MSP space,” he said. “It allows MSPs to manage customer cohorts, schedule QBRs [quarterly business reviews] and track customer goals more efficiently. It’s not just about the software, we’re also committed to educating MSPs on how to run successful customer programs.”

This move comes as part of Vancouver, British Columbia-based ScalePad’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of MSPs, particularly those just starting out or focusing on foundational asset management. For partners already using Lifecycle Manager Pro , ScalePad has added new features, including SaaS management and vendor contracts, to help track software usage and manage client renewals more efficiently.

CRN spoke to Day further about Lifecyle Manager Essentials, the latest features, ScalePad’s roadmap and how partner feedback is crucial to enhancing its solutions.

What drove the decision to introduce Lifecycle Manager Essentials, and how do you see it enhancing the value for MSPs just starting to manage client assets?

The decision came from analyzing the data we have from over 12,000 partners. Some MSPs, especially those new to managing client assets, only wanted basic functionality. By introducing Essentials, we’re catering to that need. We want to provide a simple solution for those who don’t need the advanced features in Pro or X, but still want reliable asset lifecycle management. We’ve made it accessible and affordable so MSPs can scale with our products. Essentials gives them a stepping stone to eventually grow into higher-tier solutions.

How does customer feedback shape Scalepad's product development process, and what role do MSPs play in your roadmap?

Our product development is a mix of our own ideas and feedback from our partners. We have a partner advisory group and strategic partners who are highly invested in using the products. Before launching anything new, we have conversations with them about potential visionary features. For Lifecycle Manager X, we consulted with these partners long before the mockups were even created. They’re feedback also plays a huge role in refining existing products like Lifecycle Manager Essentials where we respond to partners' needs for a simpler, less expensive option.

How do you balance the needs of both established MSPs and those in the earlier stages of growth?

Size doesn’t always correlate with maturity. For example, a small MSP with a highly mature operation might benefit from basic features like those offered in Essentials, while larger MSPs might need more advanced tools. We didn’t want to restrict Essentials to small MSPs only. So whether an MSP is large or small, what matters most is their level of maturity and the functionality they need. Our products are designed to scale so they work for both smaller, less mature MSPs and larger, more complex ones.

How do you determine the right price points for your products to remain accessible to smaller MSPs while still offering high value to larger MSPs?

Pricing is a balancing act. The more complex the functionality, the higher the price. For products like Essentials, which offer simpler features, we keep the cost lower. But we also allow MSPs to add advanced features only when they need them, like with our Lifecycle Insights acquisition. The pricing model lets MSPs choose what they need without paying for features they don’t use which makes the solution accessible to both small and large businesses. We offer a range of options: a free version for basic insights, Essentials for asset lifecycle management and higher-tier products for more advanced features. Mid-tier MSPs can start with Essentials and scale up to Pro or even Lifecycle Manager X as their needs grow to ensure that they don’t miss out on essential features but can also still stay within their budget.

There is also a new vendor contracts feature. How will that impact MSPs where vendor contract management has been a challenge?

It's definitely a game changer. A lot of MSPs are looking for ways to get a better handle on vendor contracts and renewals which can often be overlooked. This feature helps MSPs gain a more strategic view of their clients’ total IT spend. MSPs can now see a more complete picture, not just the services their clients use from them, but also any other third-party expenditures. This means they can now have more informed conversations with clients about optimizing their total IT budget. Instead of the typical sales pitch, MSPs can now engage in higher-level conversations about cost savings and optimization opportunities. It's a feature that really helps them become a trusted advisor to their customers.

ScalePad has been transitioning from a collection of individual products to a fully integrated suite. How’s that transition going?

The transition is going really well. The goal was to take all these siloed applications and bring everything into one cohesive space which is really important for scalability. We’ve also built out the Scalepad API, which is now part of the operating system. This is huge because it allows developers working across our six products to create features based on shared data. For example, backup information or asset details can now be seamlessly integrated into compliance reports or client quotes. It’s a significant shift and it's already unlocked a lot of new use cases and efficiencies.

When we last spoke, you mentioned significant investments in AI. How do you envision AI to drive growth for your partners?

We're approaching AI very deliberately. We're not just rolling out AI features for the sake of having them. The key is making sure they’re highly valuable. In the near term, you'll see simple, generative AI features, like text refinement or formatting assistance, being added across our products. But the bigger vision is around level two AI: understanding the MSP business in depth, including their client’s needs, industry and maturity. MSPs can use AI to help tailor their conversations with clients or improve their services based on specific client data, like if they’re in the medical sector. The real challenge, and where AI will have the most impact, is in level three: analyzing vast amounts of data, like service tickets, invoices and client interactions, to predict future issues and provide actionable insights. We’re working on that, but it’s a long-term goal that will take years to perfect. When done right, it will be transformational for MSPs, enabling them to proactively manage their clients’ IT needs.

Can you tease any other upcoming advancements or features in the Scalepad platform this year?

Absolutely. We have a very aggressive roadmap for 2025. Last year was all about laying the foundation, particularly with the acquisitions we made in 2023. Now that those projects have wrapped up, our capacity for innovation has increased significantly. We’re already seeing a lot of new functionality rolling out in each sprint. I’m especially excited about the upcoming unified API, which will be launched in the first half of this year. This will give partners the ability to pull data from across ScalePad, opening up new use cases and possibilities that we might not have even imagined yet. It’s a huge step towards making ScalePad a more powerful platform for our partners. We're product-centric and focused on delivering new, valuable features that our community has been eagerly waiting for.

So what’s your message to partners about all of this going forward?

My message is simple: We’re committed to delivering meaningful, actionable features that help our partners succeed. We’ve spent a lot of time building a solid foundation, and now we’re in a position to roll out exciting, game-changing features. Whether it’s through the new vendor contracts feature, our AI advancements or the unified API, Scalepad is moving quickly to empower MSPs to do more with their data and better serve their clients. We’re excited to continue working closely with our partners to create new solutions that will shape the future of the MSP industry.