Slide co-founder and newly appointed interim CEO Austin McChord is outlining an accelerated product roadmap for the MSP-focused backup and disaster recovery provider, including expanded offerings, greater internal use of artificial intelligence, and a free access program for its Microsoft 365 SaaS backup between December and July 1, 2027.
Speaking with Channel Insider just weeks after assuming leadership, McChord emphasized the importance of delivering new technology while maintaining the direct partner relationships that have shaped Slide’s approach to the channel.
Slide targets faster BCDR innovation for MSPs
McChord’s appointment follows a period of expansion for Slide, which secured $70 million in Series B funding earlier this year to support product development, infrastructure investments, and international growth.
The company has also announced plans for a UK office and a German data center to support its growing EMEA partner ecosystem.
Now, McChord wants MSPs to expect a faster pace of development as Slide expands its offerings.
“Check back frequently because the Slide of today will be very different than the Slide of a quarter from now, and then will be the Slide of six months from now,” McChord said.
He also challenged partners to reconsider what they should expect from their technology providers, arguing that industry consolidation has slowed product development.
“What has happened a little bit in this industry is that a lot of consolidation has allowed a lot of products to stall and not change,” McChord said. “I get worried that MSPs lose their imaginations around what’s possible.”
Specifically, McChord told us Slide is focused on building a BCDR solution that works alongside the various tools already in an MSP’s stack while delivering speed, agility, and time savings for partners.
McChord prioritizes human relationships as AI use expands
McChord also sees AI as an opportunity to improve Slide’s internal operations, although he draws a distinction between automating internal workflows and replacing human interactions with partners.
Slide is experimenting with AI-assisted internal communications and workflows, including AI agents that interact with one another to complete tasks. However, McChord said the company maintains strict boundaries around customer data and external communications.
“The exterior of our company should all be human, and if on the inside, those internal-facing pieces end up being more AI, I’m totally fine with that,” he said.
That philosophy extends to Slide’s support and sales operations, where McChord believes direct access to knowledgeable employees remains essential.
“If you wanted to talk to an AI, you would have asked an AI. You wouldn’t have called us,” McChord said.
For MSPs evaluating AI across their own businesses, the distinction highlights a broader challenge: improving operational efficiency without undermining the customer relationships on which recurring services depend.
Microsoft 365 backup offering creates new opportunity for MSPs
Slide is also rolling out a SaaS-based backup for Microsoft 365. All seats moved to Slide SaaS Backup for M365 by December 31, 2026, won’t be charged until July 1, 2027.
He suggested MSPs could run the offering alongside existing solutions, provide feedback to influence ongoing development, avoid immediately throwing customers into often complex migration work, and assess the validity of Slide’s product claims before committing to the technology.
“Backup and disaster recovery technology is one of the biggest expenditures MSPs make,” McChord said. “We need to be more valuable and useful for MSPs, and everything we do should get better over time.”
For McChord, that feedback-driven development process is central to Slide’s next phase.
“I guess I want them to keep thinking about how we can be better and to communicate that,” he said. “And that this is a journey for us all.”
READ MORE: We covered McChord’s appointment to the interim CEO role when it was announced in October.