Air IT, a leading Managed Services Provider (MSP) has been named as the first-ever Partner of the Year 2025 by automation platform Rewst. The recognition underscores Air's commitment to driving automation forward for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) - but more importantly, it highlights a growing industry shift toward smarter IT operations powered by automation.
For SMEs automation is no longer optional, it’s becoming essential. As the pace of business accelerates and technology becomes more complex, many smaller organisations face the challenge of doing more with less. Manual processes not only consume valuable time and resources but also increase the risk of human error, especially in overstretched IT teams.
While the award win marks a significant milestone for Air IT, the larger conversation is about the "why" behind automation - a conversation that’s gaining urgency across the SME landscape, where efficiency, scalability and cost control are paramount.
“Automation isn’t just for enterprise IT teams with deep pockets anymore,” said Peter Pendlebury, Chief Automation and AI officer at Air IT. “In fact, SMEs stand to gain the most from it. By automating repetitive, time-consuming tasks, IT teams can fulfil requests faster, deliver consistent outcomes, and provide always-on service through self-service. Our work with Rewst has helped us enhance response times and service reliability for clients. Whether you fully outsource your IT or operate with an in-house team, automation should be a core part of your strategy.”
The benefits of automation for SMEs are practical and immediate - from enabling faster onboarding to ensuring consistent, policy-aligned compliance without manual oversight. Air IT has implemented custom-built automations that utilise Rewst’s Robotic Process Automation (RPA) capabilities across its client base, enabling streamlined ticket triage, automated user onboarding/offboarding processes, proactive remediation and compliance workflows, all without requiring SMEs to invest in large internal development teams.
“Air IT is setting the standard for what’s possible with self-service automation and leading by example.” said Charlie Tomeo, Chief Revenue Officer at Rewst. “By blending automation, AI, and a strong data-driven approach, they’ve empowered more than 800 clients to embrace self-service. They’re not only raising the bar for how success is measured, they’re consistently delivering against it.”
Air IT continues to invest heavily in transformational technologies like automation and AI to future-proof its services and deliver maximum value to clients. This strategic focus ensures clients benefit from ongoing innovation, enhanced agility and a simplified IT experience.
For SMEs navigating the complexities of hybrid work, cyber threats, and constrained budgets, automation offers a path to resilience and growth. Whether it's automating password resets, managing device patch rollouts, or ensuring compliance with industry standards, the right automation tools can level the playing field.
“SMEs need to scale without scaling their costs. Smart automation allows them to do just that. We see automation not as a luxury but as a strategic advantage,” Pendlebury added. “The businesses that thrive over the next five years will be the ones that let their people do what only humans can do and let automation handle the rest.”
As adoption continues to grow, the role of automation in SME IT strategies is becoming clearer: it's not about replacing people - it's about empowering them. With platforms like Rewst and forward-thinking partners like Air IT, automation is no longer a future goal for SMEs. It’s a present-day imperative.