Cisco : 3 Things Service Providers MUST Do to Thrive During Tech Talent Shortages in the Post-Pandemic Marketplace

Today's Service Providers are bringing to market next-generation solutions like 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), software-designed networking (SDN), zero-trust network access (ZTNA), secure access service edge (SASE), and real-time enterprise (RTE). Additionally, they are focused on keeping and recruiting essential skilled resources. They currently have an aging workforce who are retiring and taking expert-level networking skills with them. All industries are looking for new professional entrants with data science and analytics modeling skills. Also, the IT industry is experiencing an ongoing scarcity of skills in Automation and Security. Globally, Service Providers grapple with the unique challenge of simultaneously developing technology all-stars with a combination of networking, automation, data science, and coding in secure data transport environments while at the same time delivering on the promise of revenue from next-generation networks.

How can Service Providers accelerate the transformation of their portfolio towards new technologies and services while still maintaining operational reliability and their good reputations?

You would think just hiring new talent with new skills is ideal. However, it's taking longer to recruit, hire, and train these individuals, and the level of experience is widening every day as older gurus retire. Experience is tough to teach, and some skills are just plain foundational. Everyone is looking for "Infra Modernization" talent right now. New employees want to train on new technologies, the training programs are in high demand, and it takes time away from the network. So, finding a way to develop the next generation Service Provider skillset will require vendor support and hands-on, collaborative training as you go.

By establishing these three motions with their vendors and in-house staff working together, forward-thinking Service Providers can augment their skills gaps while increasing revenue and maintaining consistently reliable operations:

1. Grow revenue through accelerated innovation. Fast-track the transformation of your services portfolio to next-generation technology via incubator labs that enable "sandbox" concept testing of automation, virtualization, and new architectures.
2. Build resilience with infrastructure modernization. The transition from hardware-based to software-based requires shifting from existing systems, methodologies, and processes to more agile methods that permit iteration and automation.
3. Empower your team with knowledge. Increase skills via hands-on assessments, workshops, and collaborative cross-team learning and retraining. Leverage actionable, value add Analytics to provide insights to the network for data-driven decisions and preventative actions.

While it's nearly impossible to predict everything, our research shows that teams who stay focused on building resiliency, adaptive talent pools, and transformative IT to drive innovation are in the best position to accelerate digital agility and growth. Not just skills but a level of experience as well. It's good to have new workforce talent, but you have balance if you can leverage real-world experience.

While it's nearly impossible to predict everything, our research shows that teams who stay focused on building resiliency, adaptive talent pools, and transformative IT to drive innovation are in the best position to accelerate digital agility and growth.

Learn more about how Business Critical Services can help augment skills shortages with focused expertise in new technologies, automation, assessments, and performance tuning strategies.

See how Rakuten partnered with Cisco Customer Experience to build out their 5G network.

Cisco Business Critical Services for Mobile Service Providers

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