“I see it as a way of completely flipping the way business has been done”: Mason-Brown IT CEO on why he is excited about AI for his business

Ben Brown spoke to CRN Australia at the recent Crayon Connect event in Melbourne.

Mason-Brown IT CEO Ben Brown sees AI as an opportunity saying he is excited to use it to “re-engineer” the way business is done.

Speaking with CRN Australia at Crayon Connect 2026 in Melbourne, Brown said, “I see it as a way of completely flipping the way business has been done on its head, there's a lot of challenge with that.

“Technology has often been referred to as the disruptive industry, and is there an industry that changes at the pace that IT changes? I can't think of one.”

The Ballarat-based solution provider uses AI in several ways, through service delivery, automation and productivity.

Mason-Brown IT is also using AI for budgetary purposes.

Brown said the businesses that adopt this shift and succeed will be the ones that humanise AI.

“[Businesses] are really deliberate around putting people at the forefront of what they're doing,” he explained.

“There's well-being out of that, there's productivity in that, there's personal growth in that, and there's customer relationships in that.”

Being outcomes-focused

Brown explained that the business has always looked for business outcomes, rather than just implementing technology.

“From early experience in enterprise we're wanting to really drive that into SME market and take them on a on a technology led business perspective,” he said.

While technical know-how is important in the IT channel, Brown noted that having business acumen is also just as important.

"Yes, you need technical people to deliver technical sound solutions, but it's a conversation with our customers that drive their business,” he said.

"How ever you're solving those problems and being innovative around the solution to those problems drives growth in what we do.

“We've helped infrastructure businesses become SaaS businesses, and we've helped wholesale distributors with their leadership.”

Mason-Brown IT and Crayon

Mason-Brown IT has a close relationship with Crayon, and have been working together for the past 17 years. Brown explained that he sees them as a strategic partner rather than a transactional partner.

"We look to try and understand what drives their business, so that we can be supportive of that as much as they are of us,” he said.

“They've certainly aided in our growth, and opening up opportunities and resources, and where we've needed at different times.”

Brown noted that Crayon has backed their aspiration for growth.

“They've engaged with lots of different levels of people and resources to help achieve that,” he said.

“I believe it's been a symbiotic relationship, we've leveraged their services when we've needed capacity, or we've been building out a skill, or we need second eyes on different thinking around a solution.”

CRN Australia was the exclusive partner media partner for Crayon Connect 2026 in Melbourne.