Emerging technologies for MSPs
An overview of key trends in emerging technologies and how service providers can incorporate them into their business models.
Top Stories
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Feature
01 Dec 2023
5 IT services industry trends on tap for 2024
The top IT services industry trends for 2024 should sound familiar, with cost optimization and guarded innovation among the trends expected for the coming year. Continue Reading
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News
01 Dec 2023
AWS partners look to GenAI, competencies, marketplace sales
This week's AWS re:Invent conference was notable for AI, industry-specific offerings and accelerators, but partners also pointed to specializations and online deal-making. Continue Reading
Mobility Consulting: A Missed Channel Opportunity?
Mobile devices are disrupting your customers’ IT strategies, leading to lots of problems that need solving. Find out where the best opportunities lie and get advice from experts on how to approach the market, including what not to do.
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News
01 Nov 2023
IT services M&A picks up in Q3 with deals in Europe
As transaction volume picks up, the EMEA region is getting more attention from IT services investors amid demand for digital transformation consulting. Continue Reading
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News
02 Oct 2023
Partner ecosystem changeup prompts alliance rethink
The shifting partner ecosystem landscape could inspire IT service providers to consider new alliances or bolster existing ones amid fast-paced economy and technology trends. Continue Reading
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News
14 Sep 2023
Cloud pricing hits new mark amid multiple drivers
Cloud costs continue to rise, according to the U.S. government's latest pricing data. Wages, energy demands, emerging tech and consumption patterns contribute to the trend. Continue Reading
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News
31 Aug 2023
Google Cloud Next enlists partner ecosystem for AI push
Google Cloud Next rallied consultancies, systems integrators and other service provider partners to help customers effectively deploy generative AI in the enterprise. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Aug 2023
Generative AI in business: Fast uptake, earmarked funding
More than half of IT and business decision-makers said they have generative AI on the near-term adoption track, according to a report from TechTarget's Enterprise Strategy Group. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Aug 2023
8 machine learning benefits for businesses
For business leaders, machine learning's predictive capabilities can forecast product demand, reduce equipment downtime and retain customers. Continue Reading
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News
22 Aug 2023
Generative AI adoption to grow with economic confidence
A PwC survey is the latest data point signaling a return to innovation spending, with generative AI adoption in the C-suite's plans. But business leaders remain sensitive to risk. Continue Reading
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News
14 Aug 2023
Snowflake partner network takes on optimization
Snowflake optimization spans cost reduction, infrastructure rightsizing and query reengineering. But will partner demand endure or decline as customers mature? Continue Reading
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News
07 Aug 2023
Google Cloud partner ecosystem ramps up for generative AI
Companies such as 66degrees and Capgemini aim to build generative AI tools using Google's platforms, offering enterprise customers industry and process expertise. Continue Reading
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News
24 Jul 2023
Microsoft partners focus on IT cost optimization, migration
While AI was the main attraction at Microsoft Inspire, the company's partners are also busy taming infrastructure costs, helping clients modernize and managing cloud migrations. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jul 2023
Microsoft partner ecosystem takes on AI boom, program shifts
Microsoft Inspire 2023 saw the company relaunch its partner program to address the expected boom in AI. Partners discuss technology developments and partner program changes. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jul 2023
AI, cloud trends shape next-gen managed services offerings
Service providers are launching new services, capabilities and delivery models to meet the needs of customers grappling with AI and complex cloud environments. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Jul 2023
Broadband infrastructure program explained: The details
With the $42.45 billion BEAD Program, each state will use allocated funds to connect all households to high-speed internet. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jun 2023
Partners make zero-trust assessment a core security service
Service providers have made zero-trust assessments a key part of their emerging zero-trust offerings. Those evaluations create a roadmap that guides the clients' security journey. Continue Reading
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News
26 Jun 2023
Partners: IT investment balances innovation, optimization
IT service executives expect to see customers pursue the transformative potential of AI and cloud in the second half of 2023 -- while keeping a close watch on costs and results. Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2023
IT services firms seek growth in generative AI services
Partners launch specialized offerings and practices to address enterprise customer demand, citing generative AI's innovation and optimization potential. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Jun 2023
IT service execs point to 5 core zero-trust questions
A partner-customer dialog around zero trust should focus on the basics of organizational awareness, upskilling, funding, technical tooling and user experience. Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2023
Partners could see enterprise AI rekindle tech innovation spend
New surveys suggest that generative AI is sparking interest among customers and optimism among partners. Is a resumption of forward-looking tech investment on the way? Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2023
Startup partnerships play bigger role in challenging market
Channel allies become more valuable as startups look for cost-efficient routes to market and vie to stand out in crowded sectors such as cybersecurity. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 May 2023
4 key ways partners sharpen digital transformation strategy
IT service providers employ methodologies, tools and platforms to keep initiatives on track. Their efforts aim to prevent projects from stalling before they deliver the goods. Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2023
Partner ecosystem upbeat on market prospects, generative AI
Service providers express optimism despite the continuing economic uncertainty, looking to emerging technologies and services stalwarts such as cyber and cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Apr 2023
7 generative AI challenges that businesses should consider
The promise of revolutionary, content-generating AI models has a flip side: the perils of misuse, algorithmic bias, technical complexity and workforce restructuring. Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2023
AWS partner ecosystem changes involve ISVs, generative AI
The cloud platform provider makes matches among ISVs and systems integrators as it cultivates AI relationships and simplifies its global partner programs. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Apr 2023
7 top generative AI benefits for business
This rapidly evolving artificial intelligence field has the potential to help organizations quickly generate content, improve customer service and develop new products. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Apr 2023
Zero-trust consulting opportunities abound amid tech confusion
Ten years on, tech buyers still find zero trust bewildering. Consultants aim to help them get a handle on -- and deploy -- this multifaceted security model. Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2023
IT services M&A slows, but could revive in 2H
M&A rebounded after the initial shock of COVID-19, but the pace has slackened amid economic uncertainty. The deals getting done reflect interest in specific skill sets. Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2023
VMware Partner Connect reboots with accent on SaaS
VMware's partner program gets a new look as the company invests in the subscription model; Endor Labs, Graphiant and TrueFort also launch or update channel efforts. Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2023
Cloud cost management takes center stage
IT shops appear ready to focus on cloud costs amid inflation and economic uncertainty. Service providers expect clients to invest more in FinOps and optimization tools this year. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Mar 2023
Health of digital transformation: Consulting firms list issues
Digital transformation can take too long and fail to deliver. Root causes include lack of focus, cultural barriers and technical challenges, according to IT services executives. Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2023
FinOps, co-innovation could unlock cloud business benefits
Industry studies underscore businesses' continuing struggle to obtain cloud computing benefits. A greater focus on strategy, financial management and co-innovation could help. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
27 Jan 2023
How to kickstart 2023 with effective automation systems
Technologies such as robotic process automation, generative AI and collaborative robots can help organizations reduce risk and improve results in a range of industries. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Jan 2023
Service providers explore 2023 technology trends
The uncertain economy influences the technology developments service providers expect to see in 2023, with customers likely to optimize and integrate existing assets. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2023
New year, new partner go-to-market strategy
The partner ecosystem continues to evolve as companies deal with emerging technologies and business models. Here's what SoftwareOne, Johnson Controls and IBM are pursuing. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Dec 2022
Cybersecurity outlook 2023: Consultants cite 6 trends
IT services executives predicted greater focus on user training and protection, supply chain security and machine learning. And digital transformation could spark zero-trust projects. Continue Reading
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News
05 Dec 2022
Ukrainian software developers deal with power outages
IT services providers use a mix of diesel generators, portable power stations, Starlink and creative work scheduling to press on when the power is off. Continue Reading
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News
02 Dec 2022
Top AWS cloud consultants earn 6-to-1 revenue multiplier
AWS ecosystem research suggests partners generate more services dollars when they invest in a broader portfolio of offerings; other partner developments at re:Invent. Continue Reading
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News
31 Oct 2022
Capital One machine learning report points to partnering
A study of data management decision-makers suggests collaboration will play an important role in evolving enterprise machine learning, but a partner's proven experience will be key. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
11 Oct 2022
Pliancy shuns MSP label, grows $30M business
The managed services business model may be an investor favorite at the moment, but Marcus Olson has avoided that term, emphasizing a consultative approach instead. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Sep 2022
New go-to-market strategy key to selling HPE GreenLake
Read about a trailblazing Canadian service provider's journey with the as-a-service hardware and software platform -- and the insights it gleaned along the way. Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2022
Slack, Workday build partner ecosystems for industry clouds
Cloud providers are tapping consultants and integrators -- and their vertical market knowledge -- to spark digital transformation through industry-specific cloud offerings. Continue Reading
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News
19 Sep 2022
MSP software landscape shifts amid consolidation, new tools
An evolving MSP software market offers service providers wider choices for running their businesses. Will they embrace platform consolidation or consider other options? Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Sep 2022
Channel partners explore RPA for MSP, client use cases
MSPs can tap robotic process automation for a multitude of applications, but they must consider the challenges of change management and multi-vendor environments. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Sep 2022
3 essential aspects of MSP automation
Tools such as robotic process automation and cloud-based services help service providers relieve employees of mundane work, but adopters must navigate deployment challenges. Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2022
Cloud consultants attract investors, grow revenue
Money keeps pouring into the cloud consulting and professional services market as industry executives cite steady demand for their services in an uncertain economy. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Aug 2022
Atlassian partners cite cloud migration, ITSM growth
The software company offers a range of partner opportunities as it pursues digital transformation and transitions from server products to cloud-based offerings. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Aug 2022
Low-code/no-code platforms for MSPs' in-house, external use
Service providers gain agility and efficiency benefits when using these emerging development platforms, and also land consulting opportunities with clients. Continue Reading
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News
26 Jul 2022
Microsoft partner ecosystem revved up, riled by 2022 event
A contact center product launch, a space industry community and an upcoming partner program revamp topped the list of Microsoft Inspire developments; more IT channel news. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jul 2022
Microsoft industry clouds hover over partner event
At Microsoft Inspire, industry-specific cloud offerings emerged as a key FY 2023 direction for the technology company and one in which it enlists partner ecosystem support. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Jul 2022
Partners see growth in maturing on-premises cloud technology
Colocation, data-center-as-a-service offerings and cloud-like consumption models offer customers alternatives -- or adjuncts -- to public cloud platforms. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Jul 2022
Partners weigh OEMs' private cloud options for clients
Dell Apex, HPE GreenLake and NetApp Keystone are among the pay-per-use hardware platforms partners can offer clients considering alternatives to the public cloud. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Jul 2022
The benefits and drawbacks of co-creating innovation
Collaborating ecosystem partners can access a broader range of talent and accelerate time to market, but they must closely manage their relationships. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jul 2022
Managed services industry remains investor magnet
The high-tempo transaction pace continues as investors cite recurring revenue, attractive cash flows and favorable IT trends as reasons to pursue MSP deals; more IT channel news. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Jun 2022
A guide to MSP patch management best practices
As software patch management challenges mount, industry experts offer advice to MSPs on prioritizing system risk levels, selecting proper tools and testing patches internally. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jun 2022
Keeping pace with different types of manufacturing processes
It's horses for courses in the industrial sector as partners look to help various kinds of manufacturers run on the emerging technologies that track with their needs. Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2022
In digital transformation, telecom needs a partner boost
Legacy business models and risk avoidance leave many telecom firms behind in the race to innovate, but the partner ecosystem could spark their progress; more IT channel news. Continue Reading
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News
23 May 2022
Early-stage companies at MIT Sloan event tap partners
Companies participating in the business school's Innovation Showcase work with service provider partners, continuing a trend among tech startups; more IT channel news. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 May 2022
Digital transformation in manufacturing melds emerging tech
Partners work with customers to absorb a mixture of AI, IIoT, hyperautomation, 5G and cloud computing, while dealing with the challenge of highly distributed organizations. Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2022
Partners become central to SAP industry cloud business
At SAP Sapphire 2022, the software company highlighted partnerships with consulting firms that emphasized their vertical market acumen; more IT channel news. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 May 2022
Partner ecosystem strategy: Co-innovation and other variants
Co-innovation, generative partnering and co-creation describe alliances among customers, service providers and tech vendors. But what do the terms mean and what are the benefits? Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Apr 2022
Partners cite reinforcement learning use cases, gradual uptake
Consultants view reinforcement learning as a tool for decision-making at scale and a way to solve optimization problems, but its capabilities remain a mystery for some customers. Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2022
Consultants ramp up vertical cloud development
Changing customer needs have prompted partners such as TCS, PwC and EY to pursue industry-specific strategies around cloud computing; other IT channel news. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Apr 2022
Financial industry cloud model gains momentum
Channel partners working with industry clouds, such as IBM's Cloud for Financial Services, can limit the work customers must do to meet application security and compliance requirements. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Apr 2022
Consultants see retail payment systems adapt to pandemic
A mix of consulting and integration opportunities could drive partner business, as retailers look to adopt omnichannel technologies and hybrid sales models. Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2022
Partners bring hybrid workplace technology to market
NWN Carousel and ROI Communications are among the service providers creating offerings for customers pursuing flexible work models; more IT channel news Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Apr 2022
VoltaGrid taps Rackspace for AI Ecosystem portal, cloud app
With a lofty goal to revolutionize the mobile energy industry, VoltaGrid needed support to improve customer operations quickly. Learn how MSP Rackspace Technology stepped up. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Apr 2022
SD-WAN project covers security, latency and cloud
PM Pediatrics, an urgent care provider, hired service provider Vandis to improve branch security, but the project transformed into something much broader. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Mar 2022
Mission's machine learning consulting gig boosts image
E-card platform JibJab sought a better way to crop images for a new physical book product. Mission improved the process's accuracy in an effort that won a 2021 Top Projects Award. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Mar 2022
AIOps challenges ease into MSP system management
AIOps is still early in development; however, the technology will help channel partners and customers contextualize large volumes of data and streamline management processes. Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2022
Partner ecosystems build IP with Cisco, SAP
Channel companies collaborate with technology providers, creating differentiated offerings that address customer demand for business outcomes; other IT channel news. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Mar 2022
Channel partners prepare data analytics managed services
Customers may not fully understand AI and machine learning technology yet, but channel partners have been building their expertise to make the use cases a reality for clients. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Mar 2022
Technology service providers enter a golden age
The good -- the digital transformation project is now a priority. The bad -- IT is short staffed, equipment is back-ordered and everyone is burnt out. Who will do the work? Continue Reading
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News
28 Jan 2022
Accenture, Celonis partner in process mining technology
The strategic relationship aims to speed up process improvement, embedding Celonis' technology in Accenture offerings such as MyConcerto and SynOps; other IT channel news. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Dec 2021
Service providers predict 2022 technology trends
Cloud developments, data analytics technology and nascent metaverses could keep consultants and integrators occupied for the coming year and well beyond. Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2021
Quantum computing ecosystem grows with Accenture, QCI moves
A quantum computing ecosystem is taking shape. Quantum methods may find initial applications in solving optimization challenges across various industries; other IT channel news. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
17 Sep 2021
The importance of building an agile and resilient infrastructure
No one knows what the future will demand. Here's how channel partners can help their clients prioritize agility and resilience in their infrastructures. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Aug 2021
AI, zero trust support remote work technologies
Artificial intelligence and zero-trust frameworks have played a critical role in helping enterprises support a surging remote workforce. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
IT consultants go for green cloud computing
Sustainability and green cloud computing have gained a higher profile in recent months, leading consultancies like Accenture and ThoughtWorks to pursue new services; other news. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
10 Jun 2021
What channel partners should know about modern CIOs
CIOs' traditional roles have evolved into a much more complex set of responsibilities. Learn about this key customer. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
26 May 2021
Top 5 IT services trends for technology, service providers
As businesses embrace digital services, technology and service providers must align with five market-changing trends, according to Gartner analyst Twiggy Lo. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 May 2021
IoT integration services evolve in maturing market
IT service providers are moving upstream to address client needs in an IoT market that has lost some, but not all, of its science project reputation. Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2021
Digital innovation shift shakes up IT budgets
New research shows a change in attitudes toward IT investments, with business looking to go beyond modernized infrastructure to digital innovation; other IT channel news. Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2021
Mission launches machine learning consulting practice
The AWS Premier Consulting Partner will target AI and machine learning projects in a broad range of industries; other IT channel news. Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2021
Digital acceleration opens opportunities, widens tech gap
The pandemic has set the stage for increased investments in digital transformation and business innovation, an Accenture report found; more IT channel news. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
21 Jan 2021
What low-code/no-code and pro-code mean for providers
Dave Sobel talks with SeedCode CEO John Sindelar about the low-code/no-code movement and how providers should be thinking about building on platforms such as Salesforce. Continue Reading
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News
22 Dec 2020
Deloitte, Google highlight 3 workforce trends for 2021
Executives from Deloitte Consulting and Google Workspace discuss how workforce trends that emerged during the pandemic will gain momentum in the year ahead. Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2020
Accenture: Retail supply chain ripe for reinvention
Retailers are responding to consumer behavior changes by reimagining the supply chain as a growth driver, according to an Accenture Interactive report; other news. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Dec 2020
Top 10 channel partner news stories from 2020
Our top 10 channel partner news stories of 2020 explore growing markets such as cloud services and automation, as well as moves by Microsoft, Accenture and Dell Technologies. Continue Reading
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News
25 Sep 2020
Gartner forecasts RPA software growth, $1.58B market
RPA software adoption is on the rise, driven by companies seeking rapid transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic; other IT channel news from the week. Continue Reading
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News
11 Sep 2020
Adaptive strategy looms as test for partners, clients
Organizations must grapple with the fact that the 2020s could see a range of disruptive events. Digital technologies can help businesses to roll with the punches. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Aug 2020
Partners integrate thermal scanning into customer offerings
Efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 have generated interest in thermal scanning systems. Find out how channel firms are incorporating the technology into their offerings. Continue Reading
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News
07 Aug 2020
Accelerated digital transformation opens partner opportunities
The pandemic has catapulted channel partners and their customers into a new mindset about digital transformation and how technology is adopted and used; other news from the week. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
06 Aug 2020
Innovation and the economy: Going digital key to enduring downturn
A financial crisis tends to jar organizations out of established ways of thinking and usher in innovation. Channel partners are well positioned to help clients through this transition and introduce ... Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2020
Digital transformation approaches favor speed in down market
Digital transformation strategies are undergoing transformation in response to U.S. economic turmoil, several researchers found; other news from the week. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Jun 2020
Pandemic shapes RPA market trends
This pandemic is influencing organizational structures and changing priorities for enterprises pursuing robotic process automation deployments. Here's what partners can expect. Continue Reading
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News
26 Jun 2020
Partners use low-code, frameworks for faster development
The pandemic has put pressure on channel partners to speed up application development, leading some to adopt streamlined approaches; more IT channel news from the week. Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2020
Moogsoft AIOps platform taps WWT in partner initiative
World Wide Technology will build out its AIOps practice by using the Moogsoft AIOps platform alongside Cisco's AppDynamics, according to Moogsoft; more IT channel news. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 May 2020
Healthcare IoT's next steps come into focus
Industry watchers believe healthcare IoT is approaching an inflection point. Channel partners can assist in the next step in developing a strategy for existing data. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 May 2020
Digital transformation projects pick up pace under pressure
IT service providers see accelerating demand for cloud, data analytics, AI and automation as organizations face the challenge of retooling their operations as the economy reopens. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 May 2020
Customers expand IT capabilities for business in the new normal
The pandemic has sparked new directions for Insight Enterprises' project work. Clients are looking to build IT capabilities for unique types of business problems. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 May 2020
RPA adoption to expand amid business resiliency needs
Leslie Joseph, principal analyst at Forrester, expects a surge in RPA demand, with financial services, manufacturing, energy and utilities, and logistics outpacing other verticals. Continue Reading