After two jam-packed days at the MSP Show 2025, combined with SITS (Service Desk & IT Support Show), I’m back at the desk, slightly exhausted but full of ideas. And yes, that is Chewbacca in the photo with me and Richard. Because apparently, even in the world of managed services and vendors, you never know when a Wookiee might show up.

Bigger, Busier, and Buzzing

This year’s show was noticeably bigger than 2024, with hundreds of vendors under one roof, 40+ sessions, and more attendees than ever. The MSP Show is becoming a real must-attend for anyone in the channel, whether you’re an MSP, a vendor, or just someone curious about the state of the industry.

It’s also a networker’s paradise. Between sessions and vendor booths, I must’ve had 40 conversations, some planned, most spontaneous, and all valuable. It’s not often you can gather that much market insight, gossip, and inspiration in one place.

Session Highlights

Panel: How to Get the Best Out of Your MSP Vendor Relationships

Hosted by Michelle Coombs with panellists Paul Croker, Jane Matthews, Ben Spector, and Kim Simmonds – this session had some solid takeaways. There was a lot of focus on mutual accountability, communication, and transparency between vendors and MSPs.

A great discussion.

It’s Not a Rehearsal – Mark Copeman & David Weeks

This was an unexpectedly emotional session. Mark and David shared some very personal stories that really hit home. Their message? Life isn’t a rehearsal. You only get one shot at it, so stop working yourself into the ground and start making it count. A powerful reminder we all need from time to time.

Slow Down to Speed Up – Dan Scott

With perhaps the longest session title of the event, “Slow Down in Order to Speed Up: Unlock the Superpowers of Context & Understanding When Leading a Team”, Dan Scott delivered a brilliantly engaging talk. It included analogies involving insects, spiders, birds, bird poo, industrial cleaner, planes and an airport… and somehow it all made sense. A fantastic reminder that understanding the “why” behind the work is essential to leading effectively.

Surprise of the Show: Cloud Contracts 365

Among all the tech, tools, and acronyms, Cloud Contracts 365 stood out for me. Founded by Kim Simmonds, this is a seriously smart solution tackling a pain point most MSPs share, contract management.

Cloud Contracts 365 offers a comprehensive suite of tools to help MSPs take control of their contracts, something many MSPs admit is far from their strong suit.

Here’s what stood out:

Contract Builder

A smart tool that helps MSPs create legal contracts quickly and easily. No need to start from scratch or trawl through old templates, the platform walks you through creating contracts that are robust, compliant, and tailored to MSP services. Whether it’s an MSA, SLA, or NDAs, it’s designed to save time and reduce legal risk.

Contract Reviewer

Upload an existing contract and let the AI-driven reviewer flag risks, inconsistencies, and red flags. This is a game-changer for MSPs negotiating with suppliers or reviewing client agreements, especially for those without in-house legal teams. It’s like having a virtual lawyer on hand.

Contract Manager

This is the lifecycle management piece. Track renewal dates, termination clauses, change controls, and key commercial terms, all from one dashboard. No more forgotten renewals or missed revenue opportunities. It’s ideal for managing both client contracts and vendor agreements across your entire book.

Big thanks to Matt Hillier for the walkthrough, it was clear, practical, and genuinely useful.

As someone who’s seen too many MSPs buried in spreadsheets or chasing old PDFs, this felt like a solution that’s long overdue. A clean, modern platform that actually understands how MSPs operate.

One Gripe: The Session Spaces

My only bit of constructive feedback? The open session spaces. While it keeps the flow of the event moving, it made it hard to hear the speakers, especially when mics didn’t cooperate. A few sessions deserved better acoustics and more focused environments.

The MSP Show continues to evolve and impress. It’s a great reminder that even in a world driven by remote delivery, there’s still no substitute for in-person connection, shared learning, and chance meetings (including the furry kind).

If we didn’t bump into each other this year, let’s make sure we do in 2026. I’ll be the one avoiding eye contact with mascots, just in case they try to hug me again.

Cheers, Matt