CV_Fall_21_2

I nternational IT channel companies are cautiously optimistic as they refocus on growth opportunities in 2021 and beyond after the unprec- edented events of 2020, according to new research from CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the IT industry and workforce. Nine in 10 executives from countries including Australia and New Zealand (ANZ); Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg (Benelux); Canada; the United Kingdom; and the United States believe the channel maintains its relevance in the IT universe, CompTIA’s report finds. But the C-level officers are split when asked about the health of the channel: 46 percent say it is holding steady in its current form, 44 percent say it’s rapidly changing. The channel’s cautious optimism is bolstered to some degree by forecasts for global IT spending of more than $5 trillion this year, based on the feeling that customers will resume their spending on software, devices, hardware infrastructure and IT services. However, the report states that specifics of growth remain in flux citing the pandemic-fueled uncertainty of 2020. With the rise of the COVID- 19 Delta variant, that uneasiness for future spending remains. CompTIA did state that Gartner expects enterprise software to have the strongest rebound (8.8 percent), largely due to the expansion and maturation of remote work. The research firm also projects the devices segment will see the second highest growth this year (8 percent), expected to reach $705.4 billion in IT spending. Device and other hardware infra- structure spending may also be part of the general ripple effect of the remote work migration, especially for those users that were not equipped with home office equipment conducive to their professional needs. But channel executives acknowl- edge that some customers may still be reluctant to buy, including small businesses and industry sectors hit By Bruce Christian CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM PREVAILS IN IT CHANNELS INTERNATIONAL AGENTS 56 CHANNEL V ISION | Fall 2021