2024 - Recap..

Hello everyone and happy Saturday,

This is the last edition of this newsletter for this year. As one can expect, the weekly activities have gone down in these last weeks and today, we will cover the key highlights from 2024.

End-user technology

Key themes in 2024 have been around expansion of the scope of key end-user computing technologies, be it VDI, device management or DEX. In addition, key technology providers expanded leveraging partnerships, certifications or acquisitions. And of course, AI is a major part of all of it even though security remains a major theme especially in the wake of the Crowdstrike Microsoft issue. Major highlights of this year summarized below (with little help from ChatGPT):

DEX and observability scope expansion:

Technology providers in DEX and observability space expanded their scope beyond devices to include adjacent elements of IT infrastructure. DEX solutions are no longer confined to endpoint monitoring. Providers increasingly include broader IT infrastructure elements such as networks and applications within their scope. Providers such as Riverbed Technology can allow ingestion of data from competitors such as Nexthink. HP acquired Vyopta for expanding DEX capabilities to UC applications.

Also its perhaps time that enterprise client IT organization technology buyers understand that DEX can not be seen standalone. In the age of DEX ++, it has to be combined with something, be it digital adoption ( Nexthink acquiring AppLearn? ), DEX combined with other EUC components( 1E acquired by TeamViewer , Citrix acquiring Uberagent), OEMs enhancing device intelligence ( 苹果 Intelligence extending to device analytics), etc. In the quest for autonomous endpoint management (and associated ambitious target of 'zero service desk'), its imperative for IT organizations to consider DEX and observability beyond devices.

Resurgence of classic EUC vendors

After the upheavals caused by acquisitions and divestitures last year, both Citrix and Vmware, started to bounce back. While Citrix acquired firms such as uberAgent, deviceTRUST and StrongNetwork, Vmware's workspace solutions were spun off into a new firm called Omnissa . Although this is all new, existing clients need more convincing and new clients need more proof of differentiation

VDI DaaS was about Teams, Cloud PC, macOS and thin clients!!

This year, the focus for technology providers other than Microsoft was all about solidifying their client base and establishing their own niche. 谷歌 acquiring Cameyo is one such example. There was also some tech development to provide virtualized macOS by Citrix via a partnership. CloudPC continued to evolve and while Amazon Web Services (AWS) enhanced its DaaS offering for Teams and Zoom, 微软 itself improved its virtualized Teams instance performance with a new engine SlimCore. In addition, there is a renewed focus on thin clients. After Amazon did it last year, Microsoft announced Windows 365 Link, a new thin client in Ignite this year. This shows that innovation in the VDI and DaaS space continue, just the focus is lesser on supporting legacy Windows instances. Also both AWS and Microsoft are now supporting GPU-enabled instances to support new AI workload requirements with virtualized desktops.

More innovation in MDM because of Apple,

With Apple Intelligence, MDM vendors must develop capabilities to manage or control its access leveraging the features provided by Apple in its iOS. With Jamf parterning with Intune and its DDM, there is possibility of other MDM providers to support Apple devices management. Other specialized Apple MDM providers such as Kandji enhanced its solution capabilities.

Niche MDM providers continue to expand and register their presence

Many MDM providers, such as Hexnode 42Gears Matrix42 continue to partner and expand their presence in nontraditional markets or innovate to cover areas much broader than just device management.

CEO changes targeted towards growth and channel partners

Ivanti ControlUp Dizzion Workspot, Inc all had new CEO. These new leaders rose from the COO positions and helping the product reach new heights or were managing sales and partnerships to increase the Partner ecosystems.

Managed Workplace Services

As explained in my report this year, managed workplace service providers are focusing on enhanced scope of services that goes beyond traditional device management and service desk services. Key highlights of 2024 are:

Innovation or enhancement of scope of services

Compucom with its Full Lifecycle Observability, 源讯 XOC, 高知特 Cognizant Workplace Intelligence are offerings that leverage expanded DEX scope to cover more elements in the IT infrastructure stack for complete visibility and AI-enabled management. In addition, Kyndryl launched AI-enabled service desk and workflow orchestration services to compliment its workplace service portfolio. Tech Mahindra offers AgentX for service desk services.

Managed mobility services in combination with telecom players

Providers very strong in device lifecycle management are collaborating with telecom firms in different geographies to complement their MDM capabilities. HCLTech Flexspace with Verizon for 5-G enabled service, Compucom with T-Mobile, and Kyndryl with Vodafone in Germany are on similar lines. NTT DATA offers a new sustainability-focused service in combination with HP. 联想 offers LISSA (Lenovo Intelligent Sustainability Advisor).

AI and Copilot-related offerings make headlines

Many managed workplace service providers will continue to offer services to support Copilot, Microsoft AI PC and AI impact services. AI has become an integral part of managed workplace service delivery. NTT DATA, HCLTech, 埃森哲 and many others offer Copilot advisory and AI PC-related services. HCLTech partners with Intel for their new core processor-based device services.

Acquisitions and CEO changes focused on growth and expansion

Bechtle acquiring Quolcom or Pomeroy acquiring Soroc Technology is aimed at geographic expansion. NTT DATA acquired Nivues to expand in Google ecosystem. Similarly 优利系统 Pomeroy had new CEOs both internal elevation who have worked with operations and have contributed to delivery and solution developments.

UCaaS and Connected and Collaborative Work

UCaaS and collaborative work spaces were heavily disrupted by AI and continued innovation. What started with Microsoft Copilot was continued by many others. Key highlights in this area are:

AI-powered productivity:

Ai-related solutions development show a trend toward using AI for real-time insights, risk identification, and workflow automation. Be it Slack Asana monday.com Zoom etc., the solution developments are targeted at enhanced productivity with AI and assistants. Be it 思科 's meeting conferencing solutions, Zoom's dropping of Video communications to highlight its major workplace productivity provider, Microsoft's continued innovations, RingCentral 8x8 AI solution development for both CCaaS and UCaaS space, the tech providers ensured that the AI solutions are maturing at a faster pace compared to users' pace of learning or adopting. Zoom and RingCentral both offer AI assitant without additional costs which is also a differentiator.

Collaborative work canvas blurs the lines between work management and work

As explained in my report this year, with continuous development in AI technology and targeted solutions for diverse business functions, collaborative work management cannot claim the project management space as their own anymore. New productivity solutions such as Notion Smartsheet Airtable and continued innovation from providers such as Wrike ensure that the lines between work management and work are blurred. Latest acquisition of Coda by Grammarly is an indication of where work management and productivity is headed in the age of AI.

Telephony solutions find new innovations

Be it Ringcentral POTS replacement, Zoom's new partnership with Mitel , 8X8 Operator's connect, the modern telephony solutions are targeted to transition them to cloud-based systems at their own pace.

Focus on India market

RingCentral enters India market with appropriate licenses and Microsoft partners with TATA for offering its telephony for UCaaS operations.

AI in future of work

Lastly, trends in generic AI tech scope in future of work is immense. Be it AI-enabled productivity tools innovation, workflow optimization, associated compliance and regulations, integration across enterprise platform, or continued research and reports, every week we had something or the other!

On top of all that, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella gave a controversial statement about AI replacing SaaS. There is some visionary thought leadership there but there are also concerns. I shared my thoughts here:

In a nutshell, 2024 has been a roller coaster ride with many tech innovations and changing dynamics with the technologies that power digital workplace and future of work. I will come back with the predictions for 2025 and other related thoughts soon.

Thank you so much for being with me throughout 2024, please let me know your feedback and thoughts in the comments.

Wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2025!

Thanks

-M