Data and technology have changed the way we do business. Companies have more tools than ever to handle different tasks and available data to fuel their decision-making. That is why making business decisions based on intuition is a thing of the past.

Modern businesses make well-informed decisions and use their resources for maximum efficiency. That is why data analysis has become a mandatory process in any industry. It’s essential, like accounting or product development.

Let’s see how data analysis reflects on customer service and how you can use it to your advantage.

Explaining Data Analysis in Business

Data analysis refers to many methodologies and technologies for solving various business problems within business analytics. Data analysis has four different methods, each focusing on specific tasks:

1. Predictive analysis: includes statistics and modeling techniques on datasets to create likely future outcomes and predictions.
2. Statistical analysis: includes learning about trends, relationships, and patterns within quantitative data. This method allows researchers to uncover information that wasn’t evident at first.
3. Competitive analysis: includes learning about competitors and assessing different aspects of their customers, services, products, marketing, sales, etc.
4. Consumer data analysis: entails gathering customer information and analyzing it to learn more about consumers.

Why Is Data Analysis So Critical in Business?

Data analysis is a critical process that lets you gather more quality data while allowing your business to put proper analysis in place to get the most out of your data.

Organizations that use proper data analytics processes to fuel accurate and relevant data can easily:

• Change, adapt, and improve the company mission, values, or vision to keep up with customer needs, market trends, and employees.
• Create, polish, and manage new sales and marketing strategies.
• Create better business plans or make upgrades to their current ones.
• Find the best solutions for current challenges and recognize technological shortcomings.
• Recognize their best and worst processes, departments, and workflows.

In other words, you can gather all the data you want, but if you don’t analyze it properly, it won’t give you the benefits you need. For example, many companies force customer service reps to juggle multiple platforms and perform manual data entry.

However, they can streamline data entry and make data analysis much easier with a simple CTI system, as they have consistent input.

How Data Analysis Reflects on Customer Service

Customer service and data analytics complement each other. That is especially true with consumer data analysis. Overall, data analytics can give more context, depth, and information necessary to provide better customer service.

Recognizing the Weakest Points

Customer service allows you to gather valuable feedback and metrics you can analyze to learn what you’re doing wrong and improve different aspects of your process.

However, customers don’t always talk about what they dislike or like, and it’s often tricky to discover what they think. That is where data analytics comes into play, as it can uncover unseen trends and patterns.

Improved Personalized Experiences

More data means better insights, and better insights help create a personalized experience. Modern consumers want to feel unique and trust companies that try to give them what they need. Data lets companies learn what customers like the most about their ads, products, services, website, etc.

This information lets customer service reps approach every customer individually and establish meaningful communication.

More Knowledge About Services and Products

With data analysis, companies can also learn how their customers use their services or products, the best features they like about them, why they bought them, any issues they might have, etc.

This information piles up over time and becomes the fuel customer service reps need to deal with queries more effectively.

How to Analyze Business Data to Improve Customer Service

Here are the essential steps to take to get all of the benefits above and then some.

Spot Critical Trends on Time

With data analysis, you can find recurring trends and patterns that can be both positive and negative. Having the whole process at your fingertips with a clear overview can make it easier to implement these trends using CRM software.

Determine Your Crucial KPIs

There are so many KPIs in customer service, and you need to prioritize. Think about the core of the problem. For example, if your average response time is too long, you can analyze this process to see what’s wrong and not hire new reps immediately since the problem can be in many different areas.

Create a Better Customer Journey

Creating a visualization of customer journeys can help companies understand what motivates consumers. With this journey, you can also understand how your service fits into the whole process and improve any issues. You can solve these problems and create a customer journey map with data analytics.

Bottom Line

With proper methods and technologies, data analytics can fuel your customer service process. You might need some time to develop an efficient data workflow, but in the end, you will see excellent returns on your investment.

Communication is crucial for your business to thrive. It’s even better when there’s effective communication among your team members. It ensures the team is in sync and working toward a common objective.

Furthermore, your team members can feel part of a family, thus boosting their morale. However, you may need help with how you can best achieve this. That’s where current technologies come in handy. They provide various platforms and tools to enhance your internal communication. Most of them are free of charge. But you may need to pay for others. 

Your information technology (IT) service provider may host several communication tools on a subscription-based model. As such, you can check its managed IT services pricing guide and choose the ones ideal for your business. Depending on your business model and workplace, the communications tools below, among others, can be significantly beneficial: 

1. Collaboration Tools 

Collaboration software provides your team members with an effective platform to connect. In so doing, your staff can share knowledge and ideas even when working remotely. Besides, collaboration tools are also helpful in linking various departments. Thus, you can have multiple departments working cohesively together. 

In addition, collaboration tools help track task progress. As a result, you can achieve better project management. Notably, collaboration tools help reduce unnecessary emails and encourage interactive sessions, increasing productivity, motivation, and efficiency. 

Having Orion Networks or other trusted IT service providers as your collaborative partner can ensure a seamless integration of these tools into your business operations. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, they can cater to your specific needs and provide customized solutions for effective internal communication.

2. Instant Messaging Tools 

Say you have a vital message you want to pass across to your team members. In the past, you may have called everyone for a quick office meeting to do so. However, the current tech world allows you to create chat groups where you can instantly send links, texts, videos, and photos. As such, you don’t have to find an ideal time to pass your message across. 

Besides, most instant messaging (IM) tools are mobile responsive. Therefore, your team can access them anytime, anywhere. These tools also improve two-way communication. Thus, you can get feedback more quickly. 

Furthermore, you can also create water cooler forums on IM tools to enhance personal bonding among your staff. Thus, it can help bring the team together and improve morale and teamwork. 

3. Videos 

Various tools provide video recording for multiple purposes. For instance, you can record videos for training or internal marketing. In addition, the human resources department can have video recordings for onboarding new members. 

These video tools allow you to share through other communication channels like emails and instant messaging. Furthermore, your team members can leave comments and reactions on various parts of your video recording. Such functionalities help show the team’s feedback, and you can use them to make necessary improvements. 

4. Organization Newsletters 

You can have digital company newsletters that allow you to share the organization’s information and other vital data. For instance, the newsletter can highlight weekly achievements, new hires, monthly celebrations, and other benefits. You can also share past and upcoming company events, allowing your team to stay in touch with the company’s current affairs.

Most newsletter tools allow you to share, track, and manage your newsletter on different operating systems. Thus, your team can also view it on their mobile devices. 

5. Survey Tools 

Staff feedback can be vital to improving workflow and project management. Additionally, it can help assess the goals and objectives of each team member, providing a platform to set individual and group key performance indicators (KPIs). 

Digital or SMS survey tools play an essential role in such an exercise. Moreover, you can also provide an anonymous option for the surveys. Hence, you may get more open-minded feedback from your team.

Techniques To Help Improve Internal Communication

Using internal communication tools can be helpful. However, it’s essential to follow a few techniques for them to be more effective. You can use these tips as a guideline. 

• Streamline Your Communication Channels – Having internal communication tools is excellent. However, they can be cumbersome if you have too many of them. Therefore, have tools vital to your business objectives and team productivity. In addition, ensure the tools don’t create duplicity. Streamlining the tools reduces the time wasted by your team toggling from one tool to another. 
• Always Be Clear, Concise, and Consistent – When relaying a message, be precise and avoid excessive jargon. Additionally, be engaging in your communication to create room for feedback. You should also consistently provide regular updates, check-ins, and announcements through the relevant tools. This can help the team stay updated and know they have sessions for interaction and feedback. 
• Create Open Interaction – You may have the best communication tools. However, they may be less valuable if the team can’t fully utilize them. Therefore, lead the way by creating an environment where interaction is healthy among the team members. For instance, you can have a forum that encourages the exchange of ideas. This can help even the silent team members to share more, expanding everyone’s reach. 
• Mix Your Communication Strategy – Find different ways of conveying your message. You can use a video tool with visuals if an email may seem long. Thus, you can capture your audience’s attention and be more effective.

Final Thoughts

Effective internal communication can significantly boost your business’ growth. However, you may need to encourage formal, informal, horizontal, and vertical communications as above to achieve it. Fortunately, you have several communication tools you can use as well. With a good strategy, these tools can help bring your team together and improve collaboration, productivity, and morale.

The first step to implementing a cybersecurity program is educating your employees about cybersecurity’s importance. Most companies have policies requiring employees to adhere to specific guidelines, but those policies often need to be revised. 

The best way to ensure that your employees are educated about cybersecurity is by providing training. This will allow them to understand how their actions affect the company as a whole and how they can help prevent future attacks from taking place. It’s also crucial for companies to make sure that their employees know what they can do if they encounter an issue while on the job. 

Here are five ways you can train your employees about workplace cybersecurity: 

1. Establish A Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign 

A cybersecurity awareness campaign is the first step to preventing an attack and can be done by all departments in the organization. This campaign aims to raise awareness of cyber threats, encourage employees to take appropriate steps to protect themselves, and help them understand why taking advantage of these measures is essential. 

When developing a cybersecurity awareness campaign, you may ask the assistance of experts from Netsurit’s cyber security services in New York or similar companies. They’ll help you ensure that the information provided is accessible for employees to understand and remember so they can learn it quickly. 

Employees should be able to relate to the issues you are explaining through real-life examples. For instance, if you’re talking about how hackers can steal information from your company, have an example of this happening in a recent news story or on social media. 

2. Teach Them About Password Management Practices 

Following password management best practices are a good way for employees to keep their passwords secure. They should use different passwords for each website they visit, use different passwords for each account, and never reuse passwords across multiple accounts. This will help prevent hackers from gaining access to your personal information if one website gets hacked.  

Employees should also practice good password hygiene by using different characters and numbers when creating their passwords. For instance, they can use uppercase letters instead of lowercase letters and numbers instead of symbols. This will make it more difficult for hackers to guess the password. 

3. Educate Them On Common Cyber Threats 

Another essential thing in keeping your company safe is educating employees about cyber threats. This way, they can understand the risks and how to handle them.

This means educating them about how to stay safe online, how to recognize phishing attacks, and how not to fall for financial fraud. You can do this in different ways, such as conducting a training session on common cyber threats and how they can reduce their vulnerability to them.

It is important to fully train your employees about workplace cybersecurity so they are aware of the different types of cyber attacks and how to prevent them from happening. 

4. Create An Employee Handbook 

A good strategy is to write an employee handbook or policy outlining who should be responsible for cybersecurity and what training they need. The document should also include information about the types of protection available, such as two-factor authentication and credit card security. Have a list of resources employees can access if they need help with their security. 

When creating an employee handbook, it’s essential to consider the needs of both workers and managers. The document should outline what is expected from employees and how they can report suspicious activity. The handbook should also include information about the types of protection available, such as two-factor authentication and credit card security. If possible, have a list of resources that employees can access if they need help with their security. 

5. Provide Them With The Right Tools To Stay Safe Online 

You can also provide them with the right tools to stay safe online such as antivirus software. This will allow them to remain protected from attacks even if they’re not at work.  

When choosing tools, consider a combination of anti-malware and anti-phishing software. This will provide extra protection against dangerous attacks and can help your employees stay protected while they’re on the clock. 

Consider setting up a secure email account for your employees. This can be done by providing them with a free webmail account that is kept secure by encryption. Encryption keeps data safe from prying eyes and helps ensure that no one else can read it without the sender’s permission. 

Key Takeaway 

As businesses become more reliant on digital devices, they also become more at risk of cybersecurity risks. To safeguard your company’s most sensitive data, you must teach employees how to protect their data and your business against breaches and other threats. Take the time to follow these tips to help your workforce avoid cyber attacks. This way, they’ll be able to better protect your company from criminal hackers and sustain your brand image.

Team building activities are a great way to bring employees together and create a sense of camaraderie within the workplace. From encouraging communication to fostering creativity, team-building activities can help build strong relationships between coworkers, boost morale and productivity, and help establish trust within a team. It’s important to choose activities that engage everyone, and focus on team-building skills such as communication and collaboration, while also being fun and exciting. Here are some awesome activities to try for your company’s next team-building event.

1. Gel Blasting competition

Gel blasting is a fun outdoor activity that combines paintball and laser tag. It’s great for team-building as it gives everyone the opportunity to work together in order to achieve success – be it capturing the flag or hitting the opposing team’s targets! Look for the best gel blasters on the market and have a blast. Additionally, you may want to provide protective gear and safety glasses for your employees. If you don’t have a designated space for gel blasting, consider renting an outdoor facility. Also, make sure to provide some refreshments afterward so that everyone can relax and debrief the event.

2. Escape Room Challenge

Escape rooms are a great way to test problem-solving skills and build connections while having fun. Divide your team into smaller groups and set up an escape room challenge in your office or local area. Give each group a number of clues, objects, and puzzles to solve within a limited amount of time. This activity encourages creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and teamwork – all important qualities for any successful business. Additionally, it’s a great way to break up the monotony of office life! If you don’t have the resources to set up an escape room, there are plenty of pre-made “escape kits” available online. Also, check for local escape room companies in your area.
The PanIQ Escape Room for team building exercises is a great way a company can improve work morale by allowing employees to engage and communicate efficiently in high-pressure environments. 

3. Charcoal Drawing 

This activity is perfect for creating a work of art that everyone on your team can be proud of. All you need is some charcoal and paper. Everyone will have to draw something together as a group! You’ll be surprised how creative the team gets when working together to create one single piece of artwork. This activity encourages teamwork, communication, and creativity – all things that are important for any successful team! Plus, in the end, you can display the artwork in the office as an inspiring reminder of what happens when everyone works together. If you’re feeling extra creative, use the artwork as an opportunity to come up with a mission statement or team slogan.

4. Team Olympics

This fun activity combines healthy competition with teamwork. Divide your team into smaller groups and set up a series of mini-games that test coordination, communication, and strategic thinking. The games should require collaboration and the teams can compete against each other to win points. You can have different levels of difficulty, depending on the skill level of your team members. In the end, award medals or prizes to the top three teams. This activity will foster teamwork and build relationships between teammates while having fun at the same time! While a mini-Olympics may seem like a daunting task, it’s actually quite easy to set up. 

5. Cooking Competition

This activity is great for teams of all sizes. Divide the group into small teams and assign each team a dish to make. Give each team a budget, some basic ingredients, and any necessary kitchen equipment. Let them be creative and challenge them to make something delicious! Everyone can come together at the end to taste-test the dishes and vote on their favorite one. Not only is this activity fun, but it also encourages communication, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills – all important qualities for any successful business! Plus, in the end, you’ll have a delicious feast that everyone can enjoy together. While you can do this activity in the office, it’s best to rent a kitchen facility if you don’t have one at work 

6. Team Scavenger Hunt

This is a great activity to get your team out of the office and explore their local area. It’s a good way to encourage them to work together as they search for items on the scavenger list. You can either come up with your own list or use some pre-made lists available online. Additionally, you can choose to give out prizes for the team who finds the most items. If you’re feeling creative, you can even turn it into a game and have the teams compete against each other. While this activity may seem simple, it’s actually a great way to encourage teamwork and build relationships between teammates.

7. Team Games

Team games are a great way to get your team to bond and work together. Some popular ones you can try are charades, puzzles, scavenger hunts, and even capture the flag. Make sure everyone is comfortable with the game’s rules before starting. This ensures that there is no confusion between teams or individuals when playing. Team games are also a great way to practice communication skills and develop problem-solving strategies among team members. Also, keep in mind that some team games may be better suited for groups of different sizes and ages. It’s important to pick something that everyone is comfortable with and will enjoy 

8. Paintball/Laser Tag

This is a great activity for getting everyone to work together as a team and have some fun while doing it. Paintball or laser tag pits teams against each other in an intense game of strategy and agility. It requires players to work together to plan their strategies, come up with creative solutions, and learn how to react quickly and efficiently in order to win the game. This activity can also be used as a way for employees to bond with each other over shared experiences, build trust between teammates, improve communication skills, and foster collaboration. No matter what type of team-building activities your company chooses, paintball or laser tag will be sure to make everyone involved feel like they are part of something larger than themselves.

9. Kart Racing

Go-kart racing can be an exhilarating and exciting activity that encourages team collaboration and friendly competition. Create a few teams to compete in a mini go-kart race, with the winners receiving special prizes. Not only will this be fun for your team members, but it’s also a great way to get everyone out of the office for a day and to spend some quality time together. Additionally, go-kart racing is a thrilling experience that can help break the ice and bring your team closer together. If you want to add an extra element of competition, you can even hold a tournament with multiple races and award a trophy or special prize at the end.

10. Karaoke Party

This is an activity that can be a lot of fun, but it also encourages teamwork. Have each team work together to pick the best songs and even create original lyrics. The teams should then perform their song in front of the whole company. It’s a great way to build camaraderie and have some laughs in the process. Also, don’t forget to have prizes for the best singers. This is sure to be a hit with everyone! If the budget allows, hire a professional karaoke DJ to make the experience even more enjoyable. While the singing part may take a bit of practice, the team-building aspect is sure to be a success. Additionally, karaoke is a great way to break the ice and get everyone in the spirit of team-building.

11. Potluck Lunch

A potluck lunch is a great way to get your team to bond over food. Have each person bring in something special and put together a nice spread for everyone to enjoy! It’s an especially good activity if you don’t have much time, as the group can simply take turns discussing their favorite home-cooked dishes or recipes and talking about the importance of nutrition and health. This will also help create a more relaxed atmosphere with everyone at ease. Also, it could be a great opportunity to educate your team on the importance of proper nutrition and its effects on productivity. It’s a great way to have some fun while also learning something new.

12. Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to build team morale and make an impact in the community. It can also help develop prosocial behavior and create a sense of purpose for your employees. Have a discussion with your team about causes they would like to support, and then organize a day or evening where everyone comes together to volunteer at that organization. Depending on the type of volunteering you decide to do, it could be anything from building homes for Habitat for Humanity, making cards for hospitalized children, or helping out at a local food pantry! Whatever you choose to do, volunteering will bring your team together in ways that are both meaningful and fun.

13. Themed Parties

Having a themed party is an excellent way to bring everyone together with some fun and excitement. Think about hosting a movie night, game night, or a holiday-themed party. You can also organize a costume contest if you want it to be more competitive. This is an especially great way to celebrate major milestones in the company, such as anniversaries or product launches. Not only will your team have some laughs and enjoy each other’s company, but they will also gain an appreciation for their efforts and understand the importance of working together towards a common goal. It’s a great way to build team spirit and show everyone how much they’re valued.

14. Company vacation

A company vacation is a great way for staff to bond and relax in a new environment. It can also be an opportunity to have team-building activities like group hikes, picnics, or even beach days! Make sure everyone has the same expectations before setting out on your adventure. Also, make sure to discuss any dietary needs or accommodations that may be necessary. With the proper planning and organization, a company vacation can be an experience your team won’t forget. It’s also a great way to show your team that you appreciate them and value their hard work. This can go a long way toward creating a positive company culture.

15. Hiking

Hiking is a great way to build teamwork, foster communication, and improve morale. You can take your team on a day hike or even an overnight camping trip! No matter what kind of hike you choose, make sure everyone has the right gear and enough food and water. If you go camping, make sure to plan activities like campfire stories or stargazing. Not only will this be fun and enjoyable for everyone involved, but it will also help develop their problem-solving skills by challenging them to work together as a team in unfamiliar surroundings. Plus, there’s nothing quite like enjoying nature with the people you care about! 

16. Video game tournament

If your team is full of gamers, a video game tournament can be an entertaining way to bring everyone together! You can organize a friendly competition for popular games like Mario Kart or even something more competitive like Call of Duty. This can be a great opportunity for employees to bond and have fun with each other in a relaxed setting. It’s also a great way to promote healthy competition among your team members and show that you value their hard work and dedication. Plus, it’s sure to create plenty of laughs! Additionally, consider setting up prizes for the winners to reward them for their efforts.

Team building activities are a great way to bring your employees together and foster collaboration and communication. Whether you choose charitable volunteering, themed parties, company vacations, hikes, or video game tournaments, there is sure to be something that everyone enjoys. Not only will these activities help build relationships between coworkers, but they will also improve morale and bring a sense of unity to the team. So, don’t be afraid to get creative and start planning! It’s certain to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

Thanks to modern technology, the recruitment process has never been easier. Businesses don’t need to send out hundreds of letters inviting prospective employees to interviews, nor do they have to vet each person individually by mail or phone. Businesses are able to efficiently background check people and invite them for interviews. Interviews themselves can also be held online, which makes them a lot easier for interviewees and interviewers.

This post will explore this subject a little deeper. Technology can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the recruitment process:

Job Listings

Technology gives companies the opportunity to post more concise and informative job listings. Additionally, with the aid of technology, companies can advertise their job listings to large audiences. More concise and informative job listings significantly improve the candidate experience, which can, in turn, result in happier and more content employees. When you are posting job listings for your company, it is very important to publish accurate information. As well as accurate information, make sure that you include the wage on offer, as well as the benefits of working with your company. A lot of companies fail to do this, which significantly reduces the number of applicants that they get for positions that they are advertising. More concise listings will increase the number of applications that you get.

Online Applications

Job listings aren’t the only things that technology allows companies to publish online. The internet also gives companies the opportunity to have applicants complete online applications, before sending their resumes in. These applications give businesses the ability to filter out applicants that don’t meet the job’s criteria. Companies can put question boxes on the application’s page, and then immediately deny applicants that answer the questions in a way that’s undesirable for that company. Online applications also give applicants an opportunity to talk about themselves, explaining what their strengths are. This makes the lives of hiring managers much easier because they are able to see who’s more qualified for the position that’s listed without checking out resumes first.  

Digital Interviews

Interviews don’t need to be held in person anymore. Trying to find the time to interview multiple people in person can be extremely difficult, especially if it is just the first interview. Some jobs have several interview stages. If your company is going to be holding several interviews per applicant, then digital interviews are a great way to filter out underqualified and undesirable applicants, without wasting their time (and yours). Additionally, digital interviews are COVID-safe. The pandemic’s still ongoing despite wide vaccine rollouts, so ensuring COVID safety is strongly recommended by governments from around the world.

Reference Checks

Reference checks are a very important part of the recruitment process. They are conducted so that companies can be sure the people that they are hiring are qualified, experienced, and most importantly of all, of good character. The most common type of reference check performed is a police background check. Before technology, companies had to apply for these in writing (or required individuals to provide their own). Now, it’s possible to perform these checks online. It’s also easier for companies to background check people with the help of social media and Google searches. Background checks have been simplified tremendously by technology.

Efficient Onboarding

When applicants are offered jobs, onboarding is the next step. However, before technology, employees would have to attend their new job’s main office in person and supply HR staff with their passport, bank statements, and proof of address. Onboarding has never been easier, with the help of technology. Now employees can be onboarded via email and with the use of various video messaging platforms, like Zoom and Skype. The ability to onboard online makes it a lot easier for people to get on with their new jobs, without interrupting their schedules, especially if their jobs are remote.

Remote Working

On the subject of remote work, technology has given companies the ability to offer employees the opportunity to work from home. Working from home is an extremely effective way of saving your staff time and money. Commuting to work can be very draining, not to mention extremely expensive. Technology makes working from home possible. You will be able to have an entire workforce working from home, as long as you supply them with phones and laptops. Remote working also ensures that your staff are safe and don’t have to worry about picking up any viruses or illnesses at work when interacting with large groups of people.

Technology has completely transformed the way that companies hire new staff. Not only is recruitment a lot easier now, but it is also a lot more cost-efficient. Job applicants and companies alike have never had it easier, thanks to technology. 

Ever since the Russia-Ukraine conflict has taken global attention, there are aggressive debates on concerns around energy supply and prices. But there is another major impact to talk about, i.e., outsourced IT services.

Ukraine stands as one of the world’s leading suppliers of outsourced IT services, experienced programmers, and other types of IT professionals. Ukraine’s outsourced services are offered to thousands of companies all over the world, especially in American and European markets. With the upraising Russia-Ukraine conflict, there is a fear that it will undermine IT services and related projects all over the world. Therefore, this article emphasizes the ongoing conflict and its impact on outsourced IT services.

Ukraine IT Market

Ukraine holds a strong IT market that has a key impact on the country’s export figures. Just in the year 2021, the Ukraine IT market generated 36% more sales revenue compared to 2020. As per IT Ukraine Association, the market managed to generate $6.8 billion in export compared to $5 billion in 2020 and $4.2 billion in 2019. The association also highlighted that the IT specialists count also rose to 285,000 in 2021 compared to 244,000 in 2020.

There are many software companies and developers that have emerged from Ukraine, such as MacPaw, Grammarly, etc. Owing to being one of the global hubs of IT services, Ukraine also serves as the headquarters of at least 13 of the world’s top 100 outsourcing service providers, as per the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP). Overall, there is no doubt in acknowledging the fact that almost all the big IT companies in the USA and Western Europe are somehow linked with IT outsourcing services or IT developers from Ukraine.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Its Impact

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the whole IT services of the country are experiencing disruption, as the professionals don’t have the proper environment to work and the internet is also causing a lot of trouble. Those companies that have headquarters in Ukraine are also facing a serious service disruption crisis.

Impact of Non-Availability of IT Professionals

As per Forbes, the impact number is massive because the ongoing war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia are/will cause severe disruption of services. For example:

• There are over 50,000 individuals working with outsourced service providers in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia with clients in the healthcare, automobile, banking, and retail industries.
• There are over 30,000 individuals working in Global Business Service (GBS) centers in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.

Now imagine the disruption of services caused by these 80,000+ professionals who are/will unable to deliver their services at the right time. The 80,000 number figure might seem a small number compared to the total count of IT professionals in the world. But you should know that most of Ukraine’s IT professionals are senior talent, so they have a major influence on the global IT market.

Impact of Talent Shortage and Service Pricing

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is triggered at a time when the world is already experiencing a talent shortage. The global talent shortage as of 2021 counted to 40 million skilled workers across the world. If this trend keeps going further, then it is anticipated that companies across the world could lose $8.4 trillion in revenue by 2030 just due to the talent shortage.

Now combine this talent shortage with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and project where the service pricing will go. With minimal access to skilled developers, the service charges are already growing aggressively. Moreover, the inflation pressure combined with war influence is also triggering the rise in service pricing even further.

Impact on Future Contracts and Hiring Shift

Undoubtedly, most of the American and European companies that are linked with Ukraine’s outsourced IT services are facing some sort of disruption in services presently. Moreover, since the war situation is still uncertain, there is a fear that such companies will shift to other outsourcing alternatives. Countries like India, Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia, and similar others are also known for offering the outsourced services companies need. So, it is also expected that IT services providers in such countries will likely get more hiring chances. This will impact the sales of Ukrainian IT companies, further worsening the situation for them.

How Long Will This Disruption Last?

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is a major event, which is casting its impact across the globe. But just like every conflicting situation has a solution, there are strong hopes that the situation will get better gradually. However, the ceasefire will not be enough to bring the market back to its war-prior state. It will take some time for the market to absorb the whole disruption just like the world’s economies, which are absorbing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic till today. In short, considering the market trend and current position, it is anticipated that the market will need at least 3-6 months to recover after the ceasefire.

Diversification – The Key to Overcome Such Black Swan Events

A black swan event is an unpredictable event that occurs every 3-5 years in different shapes, such as flood, war, disease, etc. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is also one such black swan event that the world is facing currently. But companies could have easily absorbed its impacts if they had adopted the simple principle of service diversification.

Often companies concentrate to get services from one location, instead of diversifying their service locations. So, any unusual event in that location will cast a severe impact on service delivery. This is exactly what companies involved with Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus are facing today. And now, such companies are either shifting their workers to safer locations or looking for alternative services.

Therefore, the key to avoiding major disruption in services at present time is to practice service diversification. For example, if you are outsourcing your IT needs, then you should divide those needs and then look for outsourcing services in different locations. This way, even if you face disruption in one location, you can stay assured that the rest of your services are active and running.