Hybrid cloud
Looking Up
The overall IT industry business confidence index is at 60.2 (out of 100), up 2.1 points from last quarter.
Tops in Profitability in 2014
51% of respondents said IT services will be profitable next year, and 41% said software will be profitable. Other promising IT categories for profitability will be telecom (34%) and hardware (21%).
Human Resources
41% of IT companies plan to increase investment in tech staffing for the year ahead, and only 15% anticipate tech staffing decreases.
Expansion Plans
40% intend to invest in new products/business lines, compared with just 10% who expect to this investment to decline.
IT Investment
40% anticipate spending more on tech, as opposed to 10% that intend to decrease tech spending.
Trouble Signs: Sticker Shock
45% say that the price sensitivities of customers may make them hesitant to spend, hurting growth projections.
Trouble Signs: Compliance Concerns
35% indicate that government regulations could negatively affect IT channel sales in 2014.
Trouble Signs: Margin Call
31% say the IT industry overall is getting too squeezed by decreasing margins.
Companies Seek Tech as Core Competency
Channel partners can help with the deployment, integration, customization and support of the expanding presence of business devices, platforms, apps, etc., on the network.
Mass Customization Gets More Sophisticated
Businesses realize that highly personal shopping experiences engage customers and increase sales. Channel partners can help create customized, contextual experiences for customers.
A Hybrid Model Still Thrives
The cloud isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition; many companies keep on-premise IT as they migrate. Smart channel players will support both requirements.