New research by Westcon-Comstor has found that channel partners want to develop their cloud capabilities but nearly half feel they lack the technical skills to meet customer needs.
The company surveyed almost 900 partners across eight countries for its Mastering the Maze report and found that 93% of UK-based respondents see developing a cloud practice as a priority – a figure higher than any other country and is set against an international average of 85%.
The desire to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the rapidly growing cloud market is consistent across all markets where the research was conducted: Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the UK.
More than three quarters (77%) of UK-based partners said their customers are looking for specialised cloud skills, but only 56% are confident in fulfilling this demand – with the remaining 44% describing skill shortages as a challenge.
Indeed, a lack of technical skills and FinOps expertise – along with associated hurdles around hiring and talent – emerged as one of the main obstacles facing partners as they strive to meet end-users’ cloud requirements.
Partners’ concern over their own cloud technical skills was strongest in New Zealand, where 49% of respondents flagged this as a challenge. Partners in France are most confident in their own skills.
Leveraging cloud provider programmes to full effect is another major challenge for partners, with 56% of UK respondents highlighting this as one of the biggest barriers they face when advising their customers on cloud cost optimisation.
Meanwhile 63% of those in the UK pointed to issues around understanding cloud pricing models, with the complex nature of these models making it hard to give customers certainty over costs.
Other barriers to cloud success include meeting customers’ cloud security needs and fending off fierce market competition, with an above average 42% of UK partners highlighting the pressure to outperform rivals by delivering better, faster solutions.
David Grant, CEO at Westcon-Comstor (pictured) said: “Our research shows that the channel is poised to grasp the huge growth opportunities presented by the cloud market, but is facing certain gaps around skills, capabilities and expertise.
“There is a common thread in global partners’ desire to expand their cloud capabilities and meet their customers’ needs. It is incumbent on distributors to support, enable and empower partners in pursuit of these aims by harnessing and deploying their own cloud expertise.”