Canalys fortifying its foothold expanding its network with global Channel community

The twelfth Canalys Forums APAC and the 38th worldwide event kicked off from 5th Dec to 7th Dec in Bangkok. The focus was on growth opportunities in managed services, cybersecurity, XaaS, and cloud solutions. Over 1,000 in-person attendees, including leading industry distributors and tech vendors, emphasized the value of this annual gathering on the APAC tech channels landscape. The event provided a unique chance for attendees to learn from experts, discuss potential joint ventures, and share effective approaches to growing their businesses.
 

Canalys presented unique insights into the state of the channel, particularly emphasizing how AI is poised to revolutionize working lives. The Canalys Forums have gained a reputation for delivering independent, thought-provoking, and pertinent content, influencing business decisions and reshaping priorities. 
 

One major prediction from Canalys Forums APAC is that by 2026, a significant paradigm shift in AI trends is expected, with 70% of AI power being harnessed on devices. Despite this, the integration of unique AI features lags for many software companies. Devices like smartphones, tablets, and PCs are poised to possess AI capabilities comparable to today's supercomputers, yet users may face disappointment due to the uneven implementation of these features on expensive devices. Notably, Microsoft, Google, and Apple are leading in on-device AI capabilities, thanks to exclusive access to proprietary AI models, substantial user data, and a robust team of AI experts. To remain competitive, vendors must make strategic investments now to avoid losing users to more agile competitors in the next five years.
 

In the same timeframe, generative AI is expected to evolve from a standalone product into an integral component of every software, hardware, and service. In contrast to current models that charge extra for AI features, generative AI is anticipated to seamlessly integrate into products without additional costs. Companies such as Microsoft and Salesforce, which currently charge for copilot and Einstein GPT, are expected to adapt to a new industry landscape that prioritizes integrated features and services, presenting a $158 billion opportunity. 

The geopolitical and regulatory landscape is poised to reshape the AI industry, potentially leading to the closure of some AI companies. Regulatory complexities will intensify exponentially, presenting challenges for companies navigating this evolving landscape. Moreover, technological factors and market partnerships will contribute to the continuously evolving world of AI. 
 

A significant shift in coding dynamics is anticipated by 2026, with a quarter of all code expected to be produced by individuals without formal programming training. Generative AI, anchored in language understanding, translation, and production, is becoming pivotal in code generation. Approximately 40% of co-pilot users currently witness their code being generated by AI, a trend expected to grow. This propels generative AI as the catalyst for the next generation of no-code builders. 
 

The tech industry, characterized by its rapid evolution, presents unique opportunities. The transition from crypto-centric activities to generative AI showcases the industry's adaptability and resilience. In contrast to crypto, Bitcoin, IoT, and the metaverse, generative AI is identified as a transformative force in both life and business. While job displacement is inevitable, particularly in routine automated tasks, new opportunities will emerge. Concerns within sectors, such as actors fearing the reuse of their images in an AI-driven world, highlight societal impacts. Nevertheless, the emergence of novel roles, from data scientists to social media managers, reflects the adaptive nature of the job market. As the landscape continues to evolve, individuals must embrace adaptability and continuous learning to thrive in the dynamic tech industry.

Keynote: 

Steve Brazier  
CEO, Canalys  

“Recruit staff if you can, but more importantly, keep your own skills up to date. If you are falling behind with your own skillset, you cannot be a leader of the future. The two domains—AI and cybersecurity—constitute the primary arenas of exponential growth. Notably, the enduring demand for Wi-Fi remains robust, with market leaders like Aruba and Cisco capitalizing on this ubiquitous necessity. The market's resilience is evident in the sustained growth of Wi-Fi technologies, reflecting an indispensable need across diverse sectors. Listen to your customers, provide them with what they want, and that is what the channel does. As long as you keep providing the customers what they want, you will have a brighter future and the channel will continue to grow across the world.” 

Tech Leaders’ takeaways:

Tian Beng  
Senior Vice President & General Manager - Channels, APJ Dell Technologies 

"Attending the Canalys event annually provides a valuable opportunity to fine-tune our strategy. We engage with numerous members of the partner community, including those who have been longstanding collaborators and contribute significantly to our business. Moreover, this event allows us to connect with new partners who may not have previously experienced working with us. As we share our strategy during the event, it's gratifying to observe many of these new partners expressing interest and, by the event's conclusion, initiating transactions with us. This dynamic interaction is undeniably thrilling for our team.” 

 

Rajat Vohra  
Chief Sales Officer, Redington Ltd. 

“There were a couple of expectations, one to understand the tech trends that are happening across the world. You have a mature economy and growing economy, India has a very fast-growing economy and it is very heartening to see that for the last two years the entire Canalys was all about India. Second, to understand the technology trends that are happening across the world and what it is that we believe could happen in the country in the next year or so which helps us to build the capability as an organization to enable our partners to win. From a key take away perspective, it was all about India, being at the right place at the right time, growing, understanding various trends that are happening and our job as a distributor is to enable availability of all the technology.”     

Debasish Mukherjee  
VP - Asia Pacific and Japan, SonicWall 

"We are trying to understand what is going on in the market and based on that we are re-strategizing our strategy so that we remain relevant for the next five to ten years. We are seeing the same thing in the Canalys event which means that we are in the right direction. So, our expectation is that we are on the same line with what they are talking about. It is like a revalidation and fortunately we are going on the right direction.”  

Jaideep Malhotra  
President - Asia Pacific & Japan, Tech Data  

"Canalys is a great platform that brings the ecosystem together. It creates opportunities for networking and gives us a platform to think about what’s happening in the ecosystem, the trends, and where we should be looking for the future. An analysis of technology trends and their market reception, as outlined in the recent report, reveals numerous positive indicators. A substantial 73% of IT expenditure funnelling through the channel is a significant highlight. This underscores the vastness of the market and its pivotal role in technology distribution."