A productive, modern workforce is only as good as its tools. Without sourcing the right technology, interactions can be clunky, time-consuming, and disruptive, engendering a workforce that feels out of touch and restricted. En masse resignations, varying work models, and skills shortages means job satisfaction is front of mind for IT decision-makers.
Unsurprisingly, customers are looking to MSPs and VARs for support and guidance.
CRN's latest research in this space, conducted in partnership with Microsoft, reveals end-user experiences with software purchases and distribution, exploring the needs, challenges, and goals for IT leaders across a range of industries, and crucially, how those in the channel can best support them.
Technology and talent
Today, customers are struggling to attract and retain valuable talent, particularly in the tech space. The great resignation, a term recently coined, means users are seeking employment elsewhere. The available tools and technology at an organisation impact current and potential employees' decisions to stay or go. IT leaders are looking to channel partners for assistance in providing productive, secure experiences for much-needed talent.
Over 80 per cent of respondents at least somewhat agree that equipping their organisation with the right tools and processes is important for remaining competitive and productive in the digital economy - around 60 per cent strongly agree.
Authorised software is a key component of this. Purchasing temptingly priced software packages from the grey market can have major repercussions and are often detrimental to productivity as updates cannot be patched directly or quickly, leading to prolonged downtime. Preventing employees from achieving their full potential, owing to improper, failing software, will severely hamper not only their ability to do their job but their role satisfaction.
Unauthorised software, unknown hazards
Vulnerability to cyberattacks, a consequence of counterfeit software, is also common. Such software can come packaged with viruses and will not include security measures to detect harmful elements. Given the sophistication and pervasiveness of attacks today, as well as the damage they can have on company reputation, finances, and efficient operations, organisations cannot afford to have unknown software permeating networks. Unauthorised software endangers estates and the impact on employee workflows can be severe.
Partnering with an authorised distributor ensures the proper support network is in place, whereby updates and security issues are dealt with quickly, enabling faster, performant services that are reliably protected against threats.
Almost 90 per cent of survey respondents at least somewhat agree that software has a significant and direct impact on their organisation's efficiency and productivity. Evidently, the right tools are the backbone of modern business.
Supporting users effectively is only possible when software is authorised and reliable, and this goes hand-in-hand with empowering employees. Customers want to build relationships with partners they can trust - the ramifications of ingenuine software simply aren't worth the perceived benefits.
To learn more about CRN's research into the benefits of genuine software, read the full report.
This post was funded by Microsoft
