Where do you outsource your IT functions? The answer may depend on where you’re located, how big your company is, and what you’re trying to accomplish. Globally distributed teams are now the norm, so businesses must think about both outsourcing abroad and localizing their workforce in foreign countries to take advantage of cost savings and time zone benefits. In 2022, these 10 IT outsourcing trends will be the most relevant to organizations all over the world, large and small alike.
Latest IT Outsourcing Trends
1) Artificial Intelligence
While artificial intelligence (AI) is in its infancy, it is already being used to automate tasks in several industries. While there are many different forms of AI (e.g., machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing), expect to see rapid advances that will allow businesses to streamline their operations and increase efficiency across all processes by leveraging AI technology to automate various IT functions. Businesses have been slow to adopt AI-based technologies; however, as these technologies become more sophisticated and reliable they will be implemented more widely.
2) Security as a Service
One of several IT outsourcing trends, Security as a Service (SaaS) makes cloud-based security solutions available to companies that can’t afford—or don’t have time—to create and manage their own security infrastructure. SaaS enables users to make changes from their computers or smartphones, ensuring that they won’t fall behind on critical updates and patches.
SaaS allows businesses to focus more on their core business activities while also protecting them against threats. While small businesses are likely to use SaaS in tandem with other technologies, big enterprises will see it take up even more market share in 2019 as organizations reduce internal costs and gain access to capabilities they couldn’t otherwise afford individually.
3) Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is one of today’s top IT outsourcing trends, and it’s set to explode in popularity over the next few years. As more companies begin adopting cloud technology, there will be a greater need for talented individuals who can help these businesses navigate their transition. Cloud hosting services will give you access to highly customizable and scalable virtual resources at an affordable price—which means cloud computing is likely here to stay as one of today’s top IT outsourcing trends.
Many Companies transitioning to Cloud-Computing: Much like anything else that’s technologically complex (as IT infrastructure tends to be), cloud servers are prone to unexpected problems. When all your company data is stored online, any problem with your server has potential ripple effects throughout your business and could result in down time that leads to unhappy customers—or lost revenue from missed opportunities.
4) Data Center Consolidation
A year ago, Facebook announced plans to purchase another 70 acres of land adjacent to its existing site in Utah. This additional space is slated to be used primarily as a data center. The company’s stated reason for expansion was simple: increasing data requirements and limited available real estate near existing facilities will force companies to seek out cloud computing options elsewhere.
Tech experts predict that other businesses will soon follow suit. After all, it makes sense to expand if you need more room—and many organizations do. By consolidating their IT outsourcing services with one provider, large-scale organizations can optimize costs and minimize risks associated with managing multiple contracts across different geographic regions—while also enjoying quicker access to new technology solutions developed by well-respected vendors.
5) Optimizing Business Processes
While some companies outsource to save money, others do so in order to grow. By outsourcing non-core operations, organizations can focus on what they do best and are able to scale up or down depending on seasonal demand. An added benefit of business process outsourcing is that it allows companies to leverage technology without having to invest in a full-scale IT department. From a tactical standpoint, IT workers with expertise in specific areas can be brought on board as needed without incurring extra costs.
In addition, when your company provides services to other businesses or enterprises you likely have better insight into their needs; helping optimize both parties’ workflows will not only result in faster and more accurate service delivery but will also provide benefits beyond BPO itself.
The key trend we’re going to talk about today is optimizing business processes through automation.
6) Mobility Solutions
Mobility has been a key factor in business today, from employees on the go to customers accessing your services from anywhere. To stay competitive, you need a mobility strategy that can keep up with customer expectations, and as your company grows. Without one, you’ll have trouble keeping pace with competitors—and that could be fatal to your business down the road.
Mobility is crucial to making customers happy and staying ahead of the competition because it takes precedence in nearly every industry. Today’s consumers not only expect convenient access to your products, but they also want customized experiences that fit their busy lifestyles. Mobile solutions are evolving rapidly to meet these demands. It may seem like an easy solution: just launch an app and get started!
7) Hybrid Cloud Strategy
A hybrid cloud strategy will allow companies to better optimize their IT infrastructure, using a variety of cloud services that work together seamlessly. This method also makes it easier to transition from one service provider to another without interruption. For example, businesses may start out with an on-premises server and then transition to a multi-cloud solution once it’s more cost-effective. They could then run more data through a public cloud service such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) when they need extra bandwidth or processing power.
8) Automation and Self-Service Portal
The rise of automation and self-service portal is sure to take over. This will ensure that service requests are completed faster, without needing too much human intervention. It will also help lower costs and improve workflows.
We’re already seeing a shift towards self-service portals, but with increasing demand on technology companies to deliver services faster than ever before, we expect automation to emerging as an even bigger trend. For example, Cisco predicts that by 2022 we’ll see automation or artificial intelligence (AI) touch every layer of IT infrastructure from networks to cloud computing. All service delivery processes and workflows will be optimized by software-defined everything – speed by agility.
9) Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC)
UCC refers to unified messaging and collaborative tools, in which team members can exchange messages regardless of where they are or what device they’re using. Unified communication is a broad term that includes voice, video, text messaging and other collaboration tools used by companies.
These systems can provide information about a user’s location and allow them to access their data from anywhere at any time. Unified Communications also allows teams to communicate across distances without having a physical meeting in order to reduce travel costs and improve efficiency.
10) Migrating to Office 365
Moving to Office 365 offers a number of benefits, from easier collaboration and real-time document sharing to simpler administration. But as your organization considers an Office 365 migration, it’s also important to consider both short-term and long-term trends—including IT outsourcing trends 2022. Here are some factors you should look at as you plan your transition. The future has finally arrived—and it looks a lot like what we saw in science fiction movies 30 years ago. We have flying cars, moving walkways and robotic companions that look eerily similar to C-3PO and R2D2.
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