Observations of an IT Service Provider: Trends of 2022

2022 has been a disruptive year of ups and downs. As an outsourced IT service provider we're given a unique perspective into businesses and their challenges.

These are the top trends we have observed in 2022 working with SMB's across various industries.

#1 : "Where'd everybody go?" - People Shortages

It's hard to find a business that hasn't had a hiring challenge in 2022. Finding new hires (let alone good ones) has never been so difficult. Coupled with changing demands of modern workers, businesses are having to rethink their People & Culture strategies.

It's reported that up to 41% of Australians are considering a change of job in the next 3-6 months. In short, businesses must invest in people & culture if they want to attract the retain top talent.

How can Technology help?

• The top reason people are citing as reasons to leave if flex working.
  • Flex working requires secure, reliable methods of connecting users to data and each other (more below).
• Another of the top reasons people are looking for change includes having the right tools & resources to do their jobs.
  • Ensure staff have the right equipment to do their job
  • Update your systems to improve productivity and remove frustrations
  • Modernise your 'knowledge management'
• With labour hard to come by, now is the time to think about automation and optimisation of processes.

#2 : "The invoice is what!?" - Rising Prices

Costs have been increasing across the board. Coupled with talk of inflation, interest rates & possible recession, businesses are concerned about rising financial pressure.

This presents a catch-22 as creating efficiency generally requires investment. Leading businesses are still being proactive despite the concerns; focussing on the potential gains & savings to be had vs. the likely reality if they are to do nothing.

How can Technology help?

• SMB's with a strategic approach to technology generally save 20-30% on their IT expenditure.
  • Technology roadmaps reduce unnecessary infrastructure costs
  • Regular auditing and compliance considerably reduces cloud subscription waste
• Addressing staff needs around tools, systems and resources can have a number of commercial impacts.
  • Improving retention avoids recruitment fees and rising salary expectations
  • Improved productivity can reduce burnout and/or the need for more staff
• Spending a little more on IT management & strategy supports confident decision making, reducing overall costs (see: Reducing IT Expenditure).

#3 : "Where are you working today?" - Flex Working

Many businesses have done some flip-flopping on WFH. Early 2022 many businesses encouraged everyone back to the office, only to have them home in isolation a few weeks later.

There are some notable challenges to having people work from home. Nevertheless, there are solutions and ways to make it work, often far better than traditional office environments.

Even an office first based work environment must cater for the days people can't make it in. Failing to do so now will result in reduced productivity, resignations and difficulty finding replacements.

How can Technology help?

• Provision of secure, reliable connectivity to company resources from any authorised location.
• Most businesses whilst on the cloud, are yet to optimise it to maximise their productivity.
• Staying connected to team members is essential to successful flex working.

#4 : "Another data breach?" - Cybersecurity

Data breaches have made many headlines in 2022, as a result, business leaders have renewed concerns for their business.

Less talked about than the breaches is the increasing movement towards greater compliance requirements and potential legislation that could pass in 2023. These changes are adding pressure to businesses to get more mature with how they approach data security.

Lagging behind these trends is likely to cost businesses a lot of money in 2023 and beyond.

How can Technology help?

• Keeping up to date with security requirements and trends greatly reduces vulnerabilities.
• Adopting frameworks such as the ACSC Essential 8 vastly reduces your chances of a breach.
• Keeping compliance in check greatly reduces risks relating to insurance and potential lost revenue.
• See also: Is your business really secure?

However you approach cybersecurity, the most important element is adopting an appropriate level of security. This should be based on the level of exposure your business has. If you have trouble understanding this, you should seek professional advisory.

Summary

It's been an interesting year of emerging & evolving challenges. It appears that at least for the next couple of years, concerns around people shortages and data security will continue.

What's your business doing to stay ahead? The most successful companies we work with have a proactive approach to these challenges.

If you're interested, we'd be happy to meet to discuss your business and share our insights on the above topics. There's no pressure to proceed with any changes, we would equally gain value from hearing another perspective and learning about another business and it's challenges.

Simply give us a call or book a time directly here: https://calendly.com/ray-sweeney