IT Managed Services and the Evolution of Enterprise in the Face of a 5G Future

By Eva Andren; Head of Managed Services, Ericsson Middle East and Africa 

As business becomes more digitally driven than ever before, Managed Services will become a critical component for next generation network implementations

The digital evolution we are experiencing at present has accelerated with such momentum that it has been recognized by many as the fourth industrial revolution. Surpassing three previous revolutions in size, scope, and speed, the fourth industrial revolution has made an unprecedented impact on business, irreversibly altering the way enterprises operate from every angle. This is especially true for enterprises in the world’s smart cities and innovation hubs – those that are pioneering the fourth industrial revolution with next generation technologies like 5G, Cloud, IoT, and countless others.

In smart cities, the evolution of enterprise hinges on the advancement of ICT networks and solutions. As business operations become increasingly digitalized, with automation and efficiency among the top priorities for enterprises, network capacity and capability become paramount. As such, IT systems play a pivotal role in operators’ business processes and service quality assurance for enterprise customers. In the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, customer expectations are evolving, and operators are increasingly pressed to design and optimize the networks that will propel connected business forward in the world’s smart cities. Among the many ways they are answering this call is through the provision of enhanced IT Managed Services.

Particularly in the Middle East, where digital adoption and technological innovation exist in abundance, IT Managed Services are spurring a shift towards network optimization wherein enterprises’ operating models are being outsourced via Managed Services. In turn, enterprises are better equipped to succeed in a digital market as operators manage end-to-end customer experiences while reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and improving network performance. As ICT providers move from network-centric operations to customer-centric business across the region and all over the world, operators are adopting Managed Services as a key part of their business strategies.

The role of Managed Services in the evolution of enterprise is to enhance network performance, capacity, and coverage for businesses, in turn providing greater mobility, efficiency, and security. As end-user expectations increase and mobile data traffic volume surges, it is imperative for enterprises to have flexible, scalable, and effective IT service operations to keep customers satisfied, adopt new technologies, and launch new services. Further, Managed Services help future-proof enterprises to maximize sustainable growth by enabling greater adaptability in an ever-changing business landscape.

In line with this, Ericsson, a leading global ICT provider, is paving the way for enterprise prosperity with a comprehensive portfolio of Business Service Management, Cloud Operations, and Data Center IT Infrastructure Operations services spanning all activities typically required for effective and smooth IT operations[1]. By delivering cross-domain telco and IT expertise alongside an in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing communications service providers today, Ericsson is helping enterprises drive sustainability and create the best possible customer experience in digital operations. Not only have Ericsson’s IT Managed Services offerings been honed over many years and adapted for new technologies, services, and service delivery models – they are also subject to a continual improvement and innovation program that covers management, skills, processes, tools, and automation.

In a digitally dominated world, IT is moving to the forefront in managed services as operators seek to enhance enterprise operations and customer experiences with more tightly integrated networks and business processes. Ericsson’s Managed Services are designed to meet the unique needs of each operator in terms of cost efficiency, service performance and technology evolution, ultimately to improve operators’ abilities to meet consumers’ expectations in the face of the 5G future.

[1] https://www.ericsson.com/ourportfolio/networks-services/it-managed-services?nav=fgb_101_0858