Business Puts Pandemic Behind: 10 Trends Shaping IT, the Channel in 2022

IT businesses are eager to get back to “normal,” optimistic about a return to growth and innovation in 2022. Meeting or exceeding pre-pandemic levels of business is something IT professionals think is possible, according to new research. Nonprofit CompTIA’s recent study found that nearly eight in ten channel companies said they have a positive outlook about their firm’s prospects for next year. In addition, that optimism is matched by IT professionals, with nearly 80% feeling good about their role as a technologist.

CompTIA’s Seth Robinson

Seth Robinson is senior director for technology analysis at CompTIA.

“2022 is shaping up to be a year of not just recovery, but of acceleration and innovation,” Robinson said. “We are seeing signs of this in IT budgets, in the initiatives that companies are planning and in the skills employers are looking to add.”

IT Businesses Move Into New Markets

Carolyn April is CompTIA’s senior director for industry analysis. April says IT channel companies previously holding on to existing customers are now bullish. As a result, they are pursuing new customers and new customer segments in 2022.

CompTIA’s Carolyn April

“That means they are going to ramp up sales and marketing efforts and move their business into new areas, especially consulting services and getting more serious about the internet of things, artificial intelligence and other emerging tech opportunities,” she said. “It also means that they expect customers to resume their investments in technology.”

In ‘IT Industry Outlook 2022’, CompTIA cites 10 trends likely to shape the IT, its workforce and its business models in the new year. Scroll through the above gallery to learn about the forecast.