CompTIA IT Industry Outlook Includes Growth, Transformation
CompTIA's IT Industry Outlook 2015 report predicts a better year for IT sales as well as IT solutions providers taking a more strategic approach to services and solutions.
The report cites CompTIA’s quarterly IT Industry Business Confidence Index, which increased by 2.4 points in Q4 2014 — the largest gain in two years — and CompTIA’s consensus forecast, which projects worldwide growth in the industry of 5 percent, up from 3.4 percent last year. The forecast anticipates most growth in IT services and software.
The report states, “For the IT channel, 2015 stands to be the year to really up its game. Business transformation will remain the buzz word of the moment as channel firms of all stripes continue to assess the direction of their companies in the age of cloud computing, mobility, managed services, big data, social media and other market and technology forces.” CompTIA says the channel will be challenged to focus on their own branding and marketing as well as on tech skills as consumer and enterprise use of technology continues to evolve.
As trends to watch in 2015, CompTIA lists:
- globalization
- battling complexity
- new opportunities for small business through the democratization of IT
- rising stakes for tech policy
Tech trends include:
- new business systems built fueled by technology
- data handling will become a core competency
- the Internet of Things will drive innovation
- security will be more of focal point than ever
Trends related to the channel itself include:
- The once “linear” channel will undergo a remodel in response to diverse technology routes to market.
- End users are more tech-savvy and have more leverage in the buying process; the channel will have to adapt how it sells and works with their customers.
- Business transformation will continue from adding a single service to becoming a solutions provider that, as the report states, “sells deep into the digital services space.”
- Training and hiring the right people will be the focus of investment and time as channel businesses add more complex technologies.
The full report is available to CompTIA premier members and to registered users (free of charge); click here.