Four trends focusing on sustainability are expected to take hold next year within the IT services industry that are predicted to spell success for those that adapt quickly, new research claims.
The trends, according to analyst firm Technology Business Research (TBR), will see a refinement of talent management approaches, decarbonisation and the widespread adoption of blockchain technology and 5G solutions next year.
The firm’s senior analyst, Elitsa Bakalova, claimed that the trends focus on the theme of sustainability — in hiring practices, climate change and emerging technologies.
“Even with a rush of emerging technologies and responses to the pandemic at the forefront of IT services [providers’] strategies and client success stories, the fundamentals of IT services remain rooted in people — in recruiting, training and deploying the right talent to solve IT-related business problems and staff enterprise IT needs,” she said.
“The changes TBR expects in 2022, including new competitors in the war for talent, new opportunities around decarbonisation and accelerated adoption of emerging technologies, will not substantially alter IT services [providers’] business models.
“Differentiation among the [providers], in offerings, capabilities and financial performances, will come more through execution than strategy, at least in the near term. [Providers] more adept at pivoting to new revenue streams and more patient with pressured margins will see greater success beyond 2022, provided they are able to adequately navigate talent challenges in the near term,” she added.
The first trend, essentially boiling down to human resources (HR) initiatives, will see IT services providers refining their approach to talent, including attraction, retention and promotion programs in the year ahead.
