You may not follow politics, but the global political landscape is most certainly going to impact the managed services profession in the next few years. Without taking sides, many people in the US would claim that the political system is broken, or at least in desperate need of repair. A sluggish economy does not appear to be making any come back in the near future, and if it does, it will be slow and a long road recovery. But, what does this all mean for the the MSP professional?
Demand will be high
Think the global recession will hurt demand for managed services? Think again. The business drivers behind managed services and cloud are becoming more, not less, pronounced. Businesses need accountability from their IT assets and need the predictability of knowing how much their IT will cost. Managed services is the best and only path to accomplish this.
Business will be brisk
The dynamics of technology innovation will ensure that the pace at which managed services and cloud adoption unfold will be brisk. This means that MSPs need to be well positioned to adapt to new technologies and possibly even new business models in order to remain relevant.
First movers will be greatly advantaged
If you're not amongst the first in your field, get ready to be last. It may not always be that dramatic, but being a first mover in this new economy will be important. Really important! This means having the resources and ability to make changes to your business in order to remain competitive and agile.
Private Cloud or No Cloud at All
If you don't have a private cloud strategy, get one. Fast! Cloud is important, and this includes public cloud. But, to completely ignore private cloud offerings is to virtually guarantee that your business is less valuable and relevant compared to your competition. There are many paths to private cloud; figure one out that works for you!
Understand the BUsiness Drivers Behind Managed Services
If you haven't paid any attention to why our economy is not doing so well, I suggest you read up on it quickly. Having a good understanding of why businesses or struggling will be very important when it comes to helping them solve their problems. Technology cannot address every problem businesses face, but IT is a very important aspect for every business out there today. Managed services is not just a technical solution, it also offers a business and financial solution also. Being able to articulate this message is quite important.
Frankly, I don't care about politics. I just want politicians to do their jobs and solve problems. While we wait and see if they can accomplish this task, MSPs have a big job ahead of them and a lot of opportunity. Play it smart and your MSP practice could see a big surge in growth in the next few years!
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