In this Channel Insider: Partner POV episode, Katie Bavoso sits down with MK Tong, CEO of SotaTek US, to break down why infrastructure—not AI models—is the real bottleneck for enterprise success. As AI workloads grow more complex, many organizations are rushing deployments without rethinking their infrastructure strategy. Tong shares where companies go wrong, how infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is evolving, and where MSPs can still create value in an increasingly automated ecosystem. From SAP workloads to early AI wins, this conversation offers practical guidance for IT leaders, partners, and MSPs navigating the AI era.
Topics & Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro + Channel Insider newsletter plug 00:37 – Meet MK Tong, CEO of SotaTek USA 02:15 – What SotaTek does: global IT services, AI, cloud, engineering 03:15 – Ideal customers: size, verticals, and use cases 05:09 – Leadership journey: why Tung joined SotaTek 08:32 – Why infrastructure matters more in the AI era 13:54 – Common AI deployment mistakes organizations make 17:10 – Automation vs. control: governance and visibility concerns 19:03 – How SotaTek modernizes infrastructure securely 21:10 – SotaTek ACE platform overview 23:36 – SAP workloads in IaaS: challenges and best practices 26:26 – What separates successful vs. struggling organizations 26:37 – MSP opportunity in AI-driven infrastructure 30:45 – Starting small: aligning AI wins with infrastructure 37:46 – Customer success story: real-world impact 44:08 – Where to learn more about SotaTek 44:21 – Closing remarks + where to watch/listen