Ingram signals modern workplace as a channel target

Ingram Micro Cloud has identified the challenges that IT departments face delivering the 'modern workplace' as an area where they can make hay advising and guiding users through the process.

The long heralded impact of millennials and staff demanding more flexibility and changing methods of working is the subject of Ingram and Microsoft research, The Modern Workplace, and there are clear messages that can be taken on board by resellers.

The main one is that over a third of employees felt that their bosses were failing to invest in next-generation workplace technology. Half of the UK workforce does not have the option to work from home buy 76% are looking for flexible working so there is a tension there.

There are also expectations from employees that there will be a shift towards AI, machine learning, big data in the next five years but the vast majority are not concerned about automation replacing their jobs.

“With the responsibility to design, implement and safeguard the infrastructure of the modern workplace falling under IT departments, it’s no surprise IT teams are feeling the pressure like never before. For most companies, managing IT systems in-house with the appropriate level of security policies in place is a time-consuming task that burdens and ties up human resources," said Apay Obang-Oyway, director of cloud & software, UK&I, Ingram Micro.

“If channel partners are to grow their presence in the cloud marketplace effectively, this presents an opportunity for them to move their roles away from being a simple technology store and to become a strategic business partner," he added "However, to shift these relationships, partners need to evolve the capacity of their roles within organisations and position themselves as providers and facilitators of ongoing IT services that enable a fast and fluid strategy execution,  at the same time delivering a flexible and robust operation in the face of a rapidly evolving technology landscape."