2026 Predictions: Managed Services

Digital Transformation Principal Analyst Bozhidar Hristov unpacks TBR’s predictions for the next three to five years of change in the IT services market. The conversation explores a fundamental shift underway in managed services: from a cost-optimization and labor-arbitrage model to a growth-oriented, insight-driven entry point for consulting, integration and modernization services. Boz explains why managed services are increasingly becoming a “door opener” rather than a back-end support function and examines why this pivot has been difficult for many consultancies to execute. Boz concludes with a peek at TBR’s forward-looking research agenda for 2026 and beyond, covering changes to commercial models, the decline of time-and-materials pricing, evolving ecosystem dynamics, and how service providers must rethink partner strategies as digital labor becomes a core part of managed services delivery. A must-listen for IT services and consulting leaders and ecosystem partners navigating the next evolution of managed services and digital transformation. Predictions is an annual series of special reports examining market trends and business changes TBR expects in the coming year. Download your copy of TBR’s 2026 Managed Services Predictions special report, “In 2026, Managed Services Shifts from Delivery Model to Growth Engine”: https://hubs.ly/Q03YBQ2V0Listen and learn with TBR Talks!Submit your Key Intelligence Questions for Patrick and his guests: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3T9VZek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about TBR at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tbri.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-heffernan-0b90785/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Boz on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/boz-hristov-2b0589a/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBR Talks is produced by Technology Business Research, Inc. Edited by Haley DemersMusic by Burty Sounds via PixabayArt by Amanda Hamilton Sy