CompTIA recently released a global research report analysing the 2017 IT industry trends. The full report is available here. In the words of CompTIA, the future is now, we are living in the midst of mind-blowing technological advancements. No longer are futuristic gadgets and astounding capabilities a thing of the future, they are all around us. Here is our summary of the report.
Technology Trends
The tools of the Cloud era emerge
New elements built from a cloud mindset will play bigger roles. Software-defined components will lead to hyperconverged infrastructure; Blockchain will redefine database architecture and artificial intelligence will provide a new layer for technology interaction. Initial adoption of new tools will be at the enterprise level before filtering down to SMB.
Security gets worse before it gets better
Despite huge, publicised data breaches in recent years, companies have not yet been driven to revolutionise their security approach. Studies continue to show that most companies are not prepared for a cyberattack. CompTIA predicts that there will need to be a tipping point event of such proportions that will finally cause businesses to act.
Data teams bridge the gap between IT and business
Data specialists will emerge, their functions will break-away from other teams to harness the power of organisational data. Data teams will focus on aggregation, analysis, and visualisation, and they will be the most likely to interact directly with business units.
IoT transforms physical environments and social conventions
IoT will bring new opportunities across all industries. A long term adoption cycle will ensue as more objects gain intelligence and connectivity and with the regulations and protocols required by IoT.
Channel Trends
New faces in the channel test traditional go-to-market approaches
- Players in the channel will continue to shift towards services focuses and specialists in specific industries
- Channel firms will develop their own intellectual property like custom code
- Players will keep changing; think marketing firms and other non-traditional partner selling and recommending IT solutions
Mandate coming to retool partner programs
CompTIA predicts that it’s time for vendors to revamp their partner programs as sales spiffs, upfront discounts and backend rebates are not endearing them as they once did.
An aging channel community hastens need to find new blood
Despite the rise of Millennials, the channel is not yet teeming with them. 40% of the channel universe is expected to retire in the next 10 years and young blood needs to fill the void.
Opportunity spikes in cloud management arena
Vendor-cased cloud companies are prolific. For the channel, the growing cloud market is expanding opportunity for vendor management; the vendor manager will act as liaison between end customer and cloud-based vendors/service providers. This is one way channel firms can cement relevancy in the era of cloud.
Workforce Trends
Workers push the boundaries of ‘bring your own collaboration’
Workforce dynamics continue to evolve with technology being a driver and facilitator of the workplace changes. The array of new communication and collaboration tools continues to change the equation. There is a gap between users desire to utilise these tools and management to implement them.
The blended workforce takes on new meaning
An equation of contract and full time workers, freelance and part timers are the norm these days. On the horizon is a blended workforce that looks a bit different, artificial intelligence, bots, virtual assistants and other types of knowledge based systems will join the mix.
Debate intensifies over technology’s impact on employment
The debate has raged for years over technological unemployment, although whilst technology does destroys jobs, it also creates them. McKinsey & Company calculates that 60% of all current occupations have duties that could potentially be automated. This doesn’t have to be negative, it could create a more efficient and productive workforce.
Skills gap grows in scope and nuance, forcing organisations to rethink workforce strategies
The widening skills gap has been a concern for while. CompTIA workforce research consistently reports concerns among employers in finding candidates with the right combination of technical and soft skills. On the flipside, only 1 in 4 workers believe their employer utilises their talent to the fullest extent. CompTIA suggests 2017 should bring a renewed effort to explore ideas like immersive learning and apprenticeships.
To view more indepth results and analysis from the report, visit the CompTIA website.
