The pandemic has forced every type of organisation to accelerate their digital transformation programmes, so that employees can continue working with minimum disruption. In some cases, organisations have been dragged into the future by events beyond their control, so that employees can work flexibly and remotely.

In the meantime, cybersecurity risks have escalated, uncertainty is rife, and global supply chains have been put under enormous strain by Covid restrictions. The technology sector itself has not been immune from these threats.

In 2022, many of these issues remain front and centre for tech companies, but with one key difference. Instead of reacting passively to events, C-level executives now have an opportunity to address the challenges strategically. That’s according to a new report from Deloitte, The 2022 Technology Industry Outlook.

Instead of managing the crisis, they can lay solid foundations for future innovation and growth, it says.

The technology industry has thrived over the past two years, but that momentum may not be sustainable, warns the report. “To enable the next wave of growth, technology companies should rededicate their efforts to improving transparency, agility, collaboration, sustainability, and digital innovation,” it explains.

But one of the key questions for decision-makers – and for providers’ customers – is how can the industry create the supply chains of the future, via the lessons of the past two years?

The pandemic has created numerous challenges. For example, chips and components were in short supply throughout much of 2021, while many companies experienced significant shipment and order delays.

But there is good news: lead times are expected to improve somewhat by the second half of this year. However, supply chain challenges may not “fully untangle themselves until 2023,” cautions the report.

Either way, the one thing we can be certain of is the unpredictability and risk that the pandemic has created. This means leaders must avoid the temptation to assume the crisis will soon be over, or that things will simply return to normal.

“Amid such a dynamic and fluid environment, tech companies should start preparing for the next wave of unknowns.

“Their preparation should take into consideration supply chain disruptions, systemic risks, and other uncertainties, including natural disasters and geopolitical instabilities that could create impacts of even greater magnitude.”

This may refer to rising tensions in Eastern Europe, and other geopolitical challenges.

“In 2022, tech companies should work with their channel partners to review channel performance and relationships, change and adapt channel programs, and figure out new ways to go to market together,” continues the report.

“To effectively deal with future (and potentially greater) supply chain challenges, tech companies should build their supply networks with the ability to offer granular visibility across all tiers and levels.

“Incorporating advanced technologies such as 5G, robotic automation, blockchain, and AI can provide sales, distribution, and channel executives with near-real-time insight, and better visibility into diverse areas across their supply chain, logistics, and channel operations.”

Strategic questions to consider include:

  • What parts of sourcing operations can be moved in-house or outsourced to nearshore third-party contractors and service providers?
  • What new analytics capabilities do tech companies need to enable live intelligence sharing and enhance preparedness for future disruptions?
  • And what business and channel partnerships and alliances do tech companies need to reassess, terminate, expand, or build from scratch to capture new markets and customers?

In the meantime, Deloitte advises companies to focus on building what it calls the “next iteration of the hybrid workforce” – integrating flexible, remote working practices with strategic business goals.

“Many have said that 2021 was the year of the Great Resignation, driven by changing employee attitudes and expectations because of the pandemic,” it says.

“Employee burnout, loss of work/life balance, demand for work-from-home opportunities, and a desire for more meaningful work were just a few of the reasons.”

While the tech industry is accustomed to high turnover, intense competition for talent, and critical shortages of expertise (as innovation gathers pace), it has been hit especially hard by the pandemic, not to mention by the uptick in customer demand.

To address these issues, companies should focus on three areas: creating equivalence between in-person and virtual work, driving purposeful engagement, and establishing rules on how and when to co-locate, says Deloitte.