According to a report by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), Mac owners are holding onto their devices for longer, with 68% of Mac owners having a device older than two years as of March 2024. This trend is attributed to incremental upgrades, longer-lasting hardware, and the shift towards streaming and web-based apps. The decline in Mac sales is similar to the dip in new smartphone purchases.
According to research by Computer Weekly, tech companies across Europe are facing a worrying lack of skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber. The survey found that almost 40% of European IT workers identified a lack of AI skills as a problem, while 37% highlighted a shortage of cyber security skills. The report emphasizes the need for upskilling and reskilling in critical areas such as data science, machine learning, and advanced analytics to ensure long-term success in AI strategies.
Why do we care?
“Good enough” is extending hardware, and the cloud drives a lot of that. Don’t fight it – embrace it, as it is cost savings for customers, and services revenue is higher margin anyway. Instead, embrace it.
And focus on supplementing customers with the skills they need. Emphasizing software and service innovation, lifecycle management, and strategic talent development will be key to navigating these industry shifts and ensuring long-term success.