TEKsystems Survey Reveals Top New Initiatives for IT Teams 

Aug. 15, 2017 | HANOVER, MD | For media inquiries, please contact us at media@TEKsystems.com.

Automation Tops the List of New Initiatives in 2017; IT Pros Skilled in .NET and Other Programming Languages Critical for New Initiatives Will be in Demand

TEKsystems^®, a leading provider of IT staffing solutions and IT services, today highlighted survey results that explore new initiatives IT leaders are focusing on. Recent survey results reveal that automation is the top priority IT leaders currently support or plan to support for the remainder of the year. The results also shed light on the level of confidence IT leaders have in satisfying new initiatives and on their quest to find talent with the required programming language skills.

Key highlights from the survey include:

Automation the Top New Initiative for 2017; IT Leaders Have Greatest Confidence in its Implementation

TEKsystems’ Take: The majority of IT leaders surveyed are currently supporting automation initiatives to improve productivity and accountability, and are highly confident in their ability to do so. TEKsystems believes that the heightened level of interest in automation may also be due to the fact that it is often considered a foundational element for successful digital transformation and digital marketing. The plan to support automation also reflects trends in IT budgets. On the heels of the TEKsystems Mid-Year Reality Check, it is evident that IT hiring and budgets have not increased at expected levels, and IT leaders may be looking to automation to keep teams efficient, highly productive and consistent. The fact that nearly 7 out of 10 IT leaders are confident in their ability to successfully support automation as a new initiative speaks to the fact that confidence is reflected in the overall maturity of many of the initiatives, thereby justifying high confidence in automation versus lower confidence in augmented reality (AR). It appears as though automation is the stepping stone toward further enterprise-level innovation, including digital transformation.

IT Leaders Report Top Programming Languages for Key New Initiatives; .NET and Python Emerge

TEKsystems’ Take: The data indicates that the wide variety of programming languages necessary to implement new initiatives will make it challenging to source talent with the required language expertise. Conversely, individuals versed in multiple languages have a stronger opportunity of placement and continued employment based on their flexibility and proficiency in working on more than one new initiative. The prevalence of .NET as the top programming language for several new initiatives—combined with the fact that it’s identified as among the most difficult to find for both automation and digital transformation—is a good indication that IT pros with .NET skills will be in strong demand for the balance of 2017. In terms of workforce planning and the priorities in implementing new initiatives in 2017, IT managers need to walk a fine line between seeking individuals with diverse programming skills versus individuals possessing skills specific to one particular initiative. Although .NET is a good starting point, depending on the initiative, there may or may not be a high degree of crossover between skill sets.

Most Difficult to Fill Positions Will Command Significant Salary Increases in 2017

TEKsystems’ Take: Hefty salary increases will be necessary in order to attract qualified individuals for difficult to fill IT positions in 2017. The ranking of the most difficult to fill positions should come as no surprise, given the priority of new initiatives for 2017, including automation, which requires programmers and developers with .NET skills, and software engineers with automation skills. Similarly, digital transformation, which takes second for the top new initiatives for 2017, requires IT professionals with information security skills, as well as software engineers and architects with skills capable of delivering superior customer experience.

“It’s no surprise organizations place automation at the top of their lists for new initiatives. With talent pipelines potentially becoming more restricted, automation is a practical solution to maintain or improve efficiencies within the business, and advances in technology create more confidence around its implementation,” says Jason Hayman, TEKsystems’ research manager. “Other areas like digital transformation and digital marketing are becoming table stakes, and organizations that can’t successfully transition in these areas will fall behind. When looking at the skill sets and programming languages necessary to successfully implement advanced initiatives such as IoT or AI/AR, IT leaders would do well to identify those individuals currently in their organizations already proficient in languages like .NET or Python, and take steps to retain those individuals for future projects before they move on. If not, they may lack the ability to follow through on their planned projects due to the industry-wide demand for these skill sets.”

TEKsystems’ Jason Hayman is available for additional commentary. For more information about the survey, or to schedule an interview, please contact Nathan Bowen at nabowen@TEKsystems.com.

About TEKsystems

People are at the heart of every successful business initiative. At TEKsystems, an Allegis Group company, we understand people. Every year we deploy more than 80,000 IT professionals at 6,000 client sites across North America, Europe and Asia. Our deep insights into IT human capital management enable us to help our clients achieve their business goals–while optimizing their IT workforce strategies. We provide IT staffing solutions and IT services to help our clients plan, build and run their critical business initiatives. Through our range of quality-focused delivery models, we meet our clients where they are, and take them where they want to go, the way they want to get there.