We are already wrapping up a very interesting year and 2011 is looking to be no different. My take is 2011 will be what you make of it. It could be good or bad, depending on how your company is situated to take on the challenges of managed services and cloud. So, here is my list of new year predictions (in no particular order).
1) MSPs will continue to make up their minds regarding cloud. Some will adopt, others will avoid, but to survive 2011 (and beyond) everyone needs to know the issues at stake and have some opinion, both for employees and colleagues and for clients.
2) MSP shakeout will slow down. The bleeding has largely stopped and those companies who were ill equipped in 2008 and 2009 have mostly disappeared. Those who are left are relatively strong, capable of lasting for the foreseeable future, and will have options as to what they want to do moving forward.
3) MSP valuations will continue to see modest increases but more importantly the low end "bottom feeding" players will cease to be effective. The word is out about what MSPs are worth and fewer people are willing to sell out for 2001 prices.
4) MSP mergers will be a major factor in 2001. As capital funding continues to be sluggish more MSPs will seek out traditional mergers (as opposed to acquisitions) in order to achieve inorganic growth.
5) Australia, South Africa, Middle East, and Central/South America will see strong growth in managed services. Cloud advocates, you may need to wait before you see much cloud pickup in these geographic regions; the infrastructure just isn't there yet.
6) More vendors will realize the benefit of a pure channel focus and will vigorously challenge even the largest software/hardware vendors who have played both ends. 2011 will be the year the channel begins its rebirth.
7) Lots of end-users will need help with managing their IT.
8) Regulation or the threat of regulation will need to be addressed
