Canalys Forums 2024: charting the course with “Challenge, Change, Champion”

The Canalys Forums 2024 urge the global channel community to “Challenge, Change, Champion”. This year’s theme is a call to action for every channel leader ready to make their mark in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. Taking place in Berlin, Miami and Bali, the Canalys Forums 2024 are designed to foster connections with the decision-makers who matter in the channel. At these events, vendor sponsors and attendees alike will engage in uniquely focused environments conducive to high-level strategy and partnership development. They are places where top channel leaders – CEOs, SVPs and other senior executives – come together not just to network but to shape the future of the IT channel landscape.

Canalys predicts a 6.2% rise in IT spending to an extraordinary US$4.94 trillion in 2024. The Canalys Forums in APAC, EMEA and North America will dissect the regional narratives to chart a global story of progress and growth. As the leading industry analyst in partner ecosystem intelligence, Canalys helms events rich with data and research that lead to actionable insights. Latest Canalys data and research are shared exclusively at the Forums, covering critical growth areas such as generative AI and cloud infrastructure cybersecurity, underpinned by the influence and impact of the channel. This ensures that every session and conversation is not only current but forward-thinking. The analysis shared at these events is cultivated from deep local knowledge, global vendors and channel relationships, ensuring a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the industry.

Embracing the Challenge

Challenge is a catalyst for growth and the Forums set the stage for challenges to be embraced. In an era punctuated by rapid shifts and disruptive technologies, the Canalys Forums are the arenas where channel leaders tackle these challenges head-on. In 2024, with over 50 elections affecting 45% of the world’s population, the challenges of political instability and energy security are on everyone’s radar. Canalys analysts and attendees can confront economic headwinds, the impact of geopolitical shifts, and the complexities of the latest tech advances together. We recognize that every challenge presents an opportunity for innovation — from leveraging generative AI to navigating the ongoing intricacies of cybersecurity. Attendees will have a unique opportunity to dissect these challenges, armed with Canalys’ leading-edge research and data, ensuring that every strategy can be crafted to overcome and excel.

Steering Change

Change is the only constant and at Canalys Forums 2024, it is the terrain we navigate. The role of channel partners is pivotal here, with Canalys estimates revealing that over 70% of IT spending goes through the channel. The Canalys Forums offer a platform to navigate change, riding AI’s wave of transformation, especially as Canalys forecasts that the rise of generative AI will create a multi-year investment cycle that reshapes the tech landscape, generating a US$159 billion opportunity by 2028.

Sessions will explore the transformative power of AI, which is primed to invigorate all IT segments. As we delve into change, the revival of the PC market and the strategic pivot toward AI-capable servers highlight the industry’s adaptability. Canalys anticipates these shifts will not only rejuvenate hardware spending but also recalibrate priorities toward higher-performance, AI-enhanced solutions. Meanwhile, the constant evolution of cybersecurity threats ensures that this sector remains a hotbed of innovation and investment. With a keen focus on emerging technologies, such as XDR, SASE and CNAPP platforms, the Canalys Forums will unpack the strategies needed to navigate this ever-changing landscape.

Cloud services are reaccelerating, fueled by larger commitments from businesses preparing for the next cloud migration wave and AI adoption. Canalys insights reveal this sector’s robust growth trajectory, highlighting it as a critical area of change within the tech industry. Similarly, the demand for managed IT services is expected to outpace overall IT spending. These services, particularly those focusing on cybersecurity, application and cloud infrastructure management, are becoming indispensable for organizations seeking expertise amid rising complexity.

At the Canalys Forums 2024, “Change” is not merely a topic of discussion but a lens through which we examine the industry’s future. It invites leaders to look toward the tech horizon, equipped with actionable insights from Canalys research and the opportunity to build connections to help steer their organizations to new success.

Becoming a Champion

To be a champion means to lead, excel and set the pace for others to follow. Each session, panel and keynote at the Canalys Forums is geared to cultivating industry champions. The events offer the opportunity to celebrate Champions onsite in each region with the prestigious Candefero Partner of the Year awards. It is about recognizing those who have turned challenges into stepping stones and changes into opportunities. As part of the exclusive gathering of CEOs, SVPs and senior leaders, sponsors and participants will find themselves among those shaping the future and celebrating the triumphs of the channel community.

Unfolding the “Challenge, Change, Champion” narrative

The narrative of “Challenge, Change, Champion” unfolds over days of short, sharp insights, immersive discussions, networking and partnership opportunities set against the backdrop of Berlin’s rich history, Miami’s vibrant culture and Bali’s tranquil beauty. It is about forming the alliances that will help you tackle tomorrow’s challenges, the strategies that will harness the winds of change and the leadership that will create the champions of the channel ecosystem.

To learn more about how you can join us as a channel partner attendee, distributor supporter, media partner or sponsor at the Canalys Forums 2024, contact us today.

EMEA: 8 – 10 October, Berlin, Germany

North America: 22 – 24 October, Miami, Florida

APAC: 3 – 5 December, Bali, Indonesia