What Gives Execs Confidence and What Concerns Them
-
What Gives Execs Confidence and What Concerns Them
C-level tech execs express optimism about the business outlook. Their confidence is generating interest in increasing R&D spending, staffing and acquisitions. -
Robust Outlook
80% of C-level tech industry execs said the global economy is improving, up from 52% a year ago. -
Lean In
52% said their tech company is primarily focused on cost reductions/operational efficiencies, while 32% said it is focused on growth. -
Growth Plan
35% said their companies will increase R&D/product introductions to drive organic growth over the next 12 months, and 24% said their organizations will exploit tech to develop new markets/products to do so. -
Employment Outlook
56% said their companies will expand staffing within the next year, up from 46% who predicted this a year ago. -
Disruptive Forces
34% said the global marketplace will greatly impact core business for the next 12 months, while 22% cite digital trends. -
Caution Signs
32% said that increased global and regional political instability represents the single, greatest economic risk to their businesses over the next six to 12 months, while 24% cited increased volatility in commodities/currencies. -
Broad Buy
59% expect their companies to actively pursue acquisitions within the next 12 months, and 48% predict that their organizations will seek acquisitions outside of their own sector. -
Consumer Influence
46% pointed to changes in customer behavior as the top driver in pursuing an acquisition outside their companies' sector. -
Acquisition Deals in the Works
55% said their company currently has three or more deals in the pipeline. -
Failure Points
27% said poor execution of strategy was the leading cause of recent acquisitions not meeting expectations, while 21% cited poor operating cost assumptions.
What Partners Need to Know About HP, Inc. 
MSPs Face Big Cybersecurity Talent Gap 
Why Tech Companies Are Eager to Invest in 5G 
The Problem With Partner Referral Programs 
Microsoft Taps Channel for Digital Business 
New Technologies Will Fuel Channel Opportunities 
Channel's Transition to the Cloud Requires More Time 
Microsoft's Cloud Channel Begins to Mature 
Defining MSPs' Goals, Challenges and Tools 
Why Metrics Matter to the Channel C-level tech industry execs are expressing increasing optimism about the global economy in 2016, according to a recent survey from EY. Although they acknowledge that worldwide political uncertainty could create major business risks, they're putting such concerns aside (for now) and boosting investment in R&D, products and new tech to drive organic growth, while expanding staffing, according to the survey of more than 160 C-level tech execs.Their confidence is also generating interest in more acquisitions, with many companies currently pursuing multiple deals. With to the ability of consumers to cause major shifts in tech trends, many businesses will seek acquisitions outside the tech industry. "For tech companies, buying outside of the sector is a means to move from 'stack to solution,' offering customers end-to-end answers to business challenges, rather than any discrete technology or even technology stack," according to an introduction in the report written by Jeff Liu, global technology industry leader for EY's transactions advisory services. "For non-tech companies, tech M&As can provide a shortcut to delivering the now-requisite anytime/anywhere offerings to their markets." Here are key findings from the study.