A lack of skilled infrastructure and operations staff is going to cause problems for the majority of businesses over the next couple of years.
Analyst outfit Gartner has hinted that there is a major opportunity for technical channel partners to can help struggling customers trying to roll out digital transformation projects.
Big G is warning that 75 percent of firms will experience visible business disruption by 2020 because of skill gaps.
The analyst house is forecasting a five percent drop in the number of IT specialist hires in the next 18 months and increasing pressure on those in-house people that remain to hold multiple roles.
One of the problems is that although it’s relatively clear that the infrastructure and operational (I&O) skills of the past will not be required in the same way in the future, most staff are not ready to deliver anything different.
Gartner research director Hank Marquis said that what made I&O leaders successful in the past is not what will make them thrive in the future.
“Instead of focusing on the ‘what’ of I&O jobs — such as technical knowledge, education and training — I&O leaders need to shift their focus to the ‘how’ — the behavioural competencies required.”
In some ways IT departments can learn from the channel and move from being technology providers to business partners that can help shape the future destiny of the organisation.
Until businesses plug the emerging I&O skills gaps, there is plenty of opportunities for channel partners to step in and remedy problems.
“Corporate digital business universities will eventually emerge to close the skills gap. Experience-based career paths with formal mentoring for and within I&O will become standard for individual development,” said Marquis.
“In the meantime, I&O leaders should work hand-in-hand with HR to shift away from position-based development, develop a tactical skills gap analysis, and use tools and methods for improving I&O skills in-house,” he added.
Gartner suggests outfits look AI and virtual assistants to help deal with incoming enquiries from staff looking for help with their IT problems.
