With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies, the future of IT has never looked more promising … and complex. Supporting these technologies and the individuals who use them requires specialized skills, robust policies and procedures, and a mindset of continuous improvement.
Recent reports delve into top tech trends affecting businesses today and the need for specialized skills to support them.
IBM’s global study
A recent IBM study showed that “less than half (47%) of those surveyed think their IT organization is effective in basic services compared to 69% surveyed in 2013. Today, only 36% of surveyed CEOs and 50% of surveyed CFOs believe IT is effective at basic services, down from 64% and 60%, respectively since 2013.” The study also indicated that many CxOs are increasingly concerned about their technology infrastructure in light of increased dependence and scaling of generative AI.
The increased demand for AI and other advanced technologies has stretched IT teams farther than ever before as they work to effectively support the business, its customers, and the security of the systems and applications. Unfortunately, this also puts increased pressure on IT teams to acquire and maintain specialized skills, which is often difficult to achieve. According to the IBM study, 69% of CxOs “say they are turning to business partners as a source for specialized skills.”
McKinsey Tech Trends
McKinsey released new insights surrounding current tech trends, including the rise of AI and the impact of new trends on the talent landscape. Their “analysis of 4.3 million job postings across our 15 tech trends underscored a wide skills gap. Compared with the global average, fewer than half the number of potential candidates have the high-demand tech skills specified in job postings.”
The report also goes into the rise of technical adoption, with the following top three in a self-reported scaling phase:
- Cloud and edge computing
- Generative AI
- Applied AI
As organizations scale these advanced technologies, they must align not only their tech stack, but also their IT support team to ensure a seamless and successful adoption.
Addressing the skills gap
Whether your business is actively investing in new technologies or you’re simply trying to create a solid technology foundation for your business, your employees, and your customers, having the right IT support and skills on your team is essential. The challenge many business leaders face is the meteoric rise in the necessary skills to establish, sustain, and protect a business.
A 2024 Robert Half survey found that 95% of technology managers face challenges finding skilled talent [and] 48% said they are hiring new talent because their current employees lack the requisite skills.” This is one of many data points that show a persistent and growing skills gap among the IT community.
What can you do to bridge the gap?
- Do nothing and hope that everything will be ok (hint: hope is never a solid strategy and may lead to even greater detriments to the organization)
- Add one or more FTE(s) to your existing IT team, which means added headcount and overhead, as well as potential unavailability due to sickness, vacations, or general bandwidth issues.
- Invest in a Managed Service Provider (MSP) to fill the gaps and provide 24/7 IT support
By outsourcing your IT support, you’ll have immediate access to specialized skills and fast, reliable support, any time.
GainSide provides expert IT support and cybersecurity protection services, allowing you to close the skills gap within your team, accelerate innovation and technology adoption, and drive meaningful results. We can serve as either an extension of your existing IT team – providing added manpower and specialized expertise to speed up response times and decrease your risk profile – or even step in as your primary IT support to cover more of your business needs.
The skills you need and the support you deserve are within reach. Speak with one of our consultants today to learn more.
