You’ve probably heard the mantra, “New year, new me.” Business leaders should consider a variation on that phrase: “New year, new IT.”
With 2025 barely underway, now is an excellent time to adjust your approach to technology. Overhauling your IT strategy now will increase your chances of achieving your goals as the new year unfolds.
If you’re fine-tuning your plans for the next 12 months in terms of technology, here are some IT resolutions we recommend adding to your list based on our knowledge and experience as well as insights from industry experts.
1. Create an artificial intelligence roadmap.
Investing in AI is essential if you want to keep up with the competition and enhance customer and employee experiences (CX and EX). When leveraged strategically, artificial intelligence can give your business a significant boost. For instance, IBM’s AI in Action 2024 report states that two-thirds of AI leaders (the top 15 percent of survey respondents) say that AI increased their revenue growth rate by over 25 percent.
However, the failure rate for AI projects is extremely high – over 80 percent by some estimates, according to a research paper from the non-profit think tank RAND. IBM found that the vast majority (85 percent) of leaders in the AI space follow a roadmap instead of simply being opportunistic. If you want to successfully reap the potential rewards of artificial intelligence deployment, a detailed plan of action is a must.
2. Enhance contact center operations with generative AI (genAI).
GenAI tools like intelligent chatbots, interactive voice response (IVR) systems and agent assistants can transform contact center operations by automating mundane tasks, expanding self-service options, and overall improving customer service and agent experiences. Nearly 60 percent of customer service professionals say AI has saved them time, and 83 percent believe they can help more people with artificial intelligence, according to Dialpad.
If you want to deliver better customer service while increasing agent satisfaction and reducing turnover, you should deploy AI in your call center. There are numerous native and overlay genAI solutions available for Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) platforms. Our team of trusted advisors can assist you by identifying offerings that align with your unique requirements; schedule a consultation today to start the process.
3. Partner with a managed service provider (MSP) to remedy IT and cybersecurity talent shortages.
A lack of resources might limit your ability to deploy AI and other advanced technologies. If so, you’re far from alone: 57 percent of senior tech leaders believe it’s difficult to find IT talent due to skills gaps, according to the Spiceworks 2025 State of IT report. As IT solutions emerge and evolve rapidly, professionals who have mastered the latest technological advances are in short supply.
The situation in the IT security world is similar, considering the breakneck pace at which new threats appear and mutate. The ongoing global cybersecurity workforce shortage ballooned to 5.5 million in 2024, according to ISC2.
Partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) is one way to access those highly sought-after IT and security skills without all the time and effort you’d need to invest in recruiting and retaining in-house experts. It also makes more sense from a monetary perspective. For example, a business with 50 employees could save approximately $35,000 per year by outsourcing ($60,000/year) instead of hiring an in-house IT manager ($95,000/year) for comprehensive remote support, employee on- and off-boarding, software and hardware procurement, infrastructure and workstation management, and basic security, according to Ntiva.
Most MSPs these days also have managed security service provider (MSSP) offerings, so you can outsource IT and security from a single provider, minimizing contacts and finger-pointing.
4. Explore VMware alternatives.
Following Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware and the resultant bundling and cost changes, it’s wise to evaluate your options and determine the best course of action for your business, whether that involves sticking with VMware or switching to another hypervisor. A cloud service provider can offer VMware guidance and provide insight into which course of action makes the most sense for your organization, financially and otherwise.
For details, please take a look at our previous blog, “Webinar recap: How to navigate the Broadcom/VMware aftermath.”
5. Prepare for Windows 10 end of support.
Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 after October 14, 2025. While that deadline might seem far away, those months will go by fast, and it’s prudent to start the process of upgrading and replacing any affected systems and devices as soon as possible. If you procrastinate and run into any roadblocks, your business could face downtime and heightened security risks. To ensure you’re ready for Windows 10 end of life, you’ll want to tackle the following before fall:
- Hardware replacements and renewals
- Application upgrades
- Avaya IP Office upgrades (if you have an older Avaya IP Office release)
- License procurement and management
For a more detailed explanation, please review our previous blog, “Are you ready for Windows 10 end of support?”
6. Re-evaluate your current phone system.
If you still rely on an on-premises PBX, migrating to Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) can make remote work easier, increase your staff’s productivity and eliminate costs related to on-site hardware. Even if you already rely on a UCaaS platform/cloud phone system for internal communications, the solution landscape fluctuates rapidly in terms of which suppliers dominate due to research and development, finances and other factors.
If it’s been a while since you deployed your current UCaaS solution, it’s worth revisiting your options to see if switching could lead to savings and access to additional features. Contact our advisors to kick off the evaluation process. You can also jumpstart your search with an interactive UCaaS assessment and compare cloud phone system providers via our Versus blog series.
Our trusted technology advisors are here to help if you want expert guidance as you adjust your IT roadmap for 2025 and beyond. With over 20 years of IT experience, access to the latest market data, partnerships with best-in-class suppliers, and advanced decision-making tools, our advisors simplify shopping for the best solutions. Why spend dozens of hours researching your options and sitting through biased sales pitches when we can pinpoint the top three in just an hour based on a quick assessment?
Call 877-599-3999 or email sales@stratospherenetworks.com to connect with our advisors today.
