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Agentic AI in Cloud Professional Services: From Assisted Delivery to Orchestrated Autonomy

Jennifer Thomson, Eren Eser — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC Perspective analyzes the transformative impact of agentic AI on cloud professional services delivery. It highlights how leading vendors are shifting from labor-intensive, specialist teams to AI-augmented delivery models, resulting in faster, more consistent, and cost-effective outcomes. The research identifies clear maturity tiers among providers and emphasizes the importance of agentic AI depth as a procurement criterion, noting that structural advantages will accrue to those who embed agentic AI as a core delivery capability.

"Agentic AI isn't just automating tasks; it is rewriting the rules of cloud delivery, shifting engineers from execution to orchestration and redefining what productivity means," said Jennifer Thomson, VP for Research at IDC.

The Evolution of Cloud Professional Services: Navigating the Next Horizon — Agentic AI, Delivery Reinvention, and the Shift to Outcome-Centric Value

Jennifer Thomson, Eren Eser — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC Market Perspective examines the structural transformation of cloud professional services, where agentic AI, embedded engineering, and outcome-based commercial models are reshaping how engagements are staffed, priced, and measured. Drawing on primary research, including briefings with cloud professional services providers conducted in 2Q26, it covers the forces reshaping demand, competitive landscape stratification, delivery model evolution, and the shift from time and materials (T&M) toward IP-led structures. It offers a practical framework for where to compete and where to invest over the next one to five years.

“Cloud professional services is undergoing its most significant structural shift in a decade. Agentic AI is rewriting delivery economics, and clients now expect measurable outcomes rather than activity reports. The providers that move decisively on agentic delivery, vertical depth, and IP-led commercial models will define the next competitive era; those that wait face structural margin compression.” — Jennifer Thomson, vice president, Research, IDC

2Q26 Colocation Market: Key Developments and Emerging Trends

Olga Yashkova — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC presentation covers the key news, developments, and emerging trends shaping the colocation industry in 2Q26, offering a comprehensive snapshot of market activity and the forces driving change across the sector.

Market Share: Worldwide Application Management Services Shares, 2025

Peter Marston — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC presentation highlights how the landscape of application management (AM) services providers is evolving as players leverage varied strategies and capabilities to differentiate as well as jockey for market leadership.

“The top 15 AM service providers dominate market share for worldwide AM services. Overall services growth continues to climb as providers make services more valuable through infusing intellectual property, AI, analytics, and automation to meet evolving customer needs.” — Peter Marston, research director, Worldwide Intelligent Application Services, IDC

Increased European Spending on Services: Opportunity for Print Providers to Support Customers' Reinvention Plans

Jacqui Hendriks, Matthew Wilkins — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC Market Note reviews the European IT services opportunity to print service providers, given the fragmented competitive nature of the market and demand for solutions to support customers' reinvention plans.

Market Forecast: European Services Forecast, 2026–2030

Matthew Wilkins — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC presentation provides the five-year forecast for the European services market and offers insight into the drivers and inhibitors of growth.

"With half of European organizations believing they need to reinvent their business to survive, the realities of conducting business in the region are having a clear effect. Investment pressure exists during times of challenging economic outlooks, but European organizations have set clear mandates to invest in AI. Driving at-scale innovative AI-led efficiencies, differentiation and competitive advantage will be the hallmarks of successful business outcome–driven service provider engagements." — Matthew Wilkins, research director, European Services, IDC

Market Forecast: South Africa IT Services Forecast, 2026–2030

Eric Samuel, Jonathan Tullett — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC study presents the five-year forecast for the South Africa IT services market. IDC projects spending will grow from ZAR 117.2 billion in 2025 to ZAR 145.5 billion in 2030 at a 4.4% CAGR, led by managed services as hosting infrastructure expansion, AI adoption, and hybrid cloud migration reshape demand amid persistent skills shortages.

“As AI complexity and skill shortages make self-managed IT increasingly untenable, managed services are cementing their lead in South Africa’s IT services market, led by hosting infrastructure services. Vendors that invest in verticalized AI deployment and talent augmentation will build the account depth in the market,” said Eric Samuel, associate research director, Services at IDC.

Market Share: Saudi Arabia IT Services Shares, 2025

Eric Samuel, Uzair Mujtaba — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC presentation sizes the Saudi Arabia IT services market for 2025 and ranks the leading vendors across its project-oriented, managed, and support services segments. It assesses competitive shifts, market concentration, and the Vision 2030 drivers reshaping vendor positions, including PDPL enforcement, sovereign hosting demand, and accelerating AI adoption. At the overall IT services level, Solutions by STC leads the market, followed by Saudi Business Machines and SITE. The presentation gives technology suppliers actionable guidance on scaling AI advisory capabilities, embedding compliance into delivery, and competing in an increasingly consolidating landscape.

"Saudi Arabia's IT services market is restructuring around national priorities. Vision 2030 spending, PDPL enforcement, and sovereign AI initiatives like HUMAIN are reshaping how organizations choose partners. Buyers increasingly reward providers that pair local delivery with strength in AI, cloud, and cybersecurity, and the fastest gains now belong to locally rooted specialists." — Eric Samuel, associate research director, IT Services

IDC Survey Spotlight: Does Fixed Price Still Dominate Buyer Preference for Consulting Engagements?

Bill Latshaw — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC Survey Spotlight is based on data from IDC’s March 2026 Buyer Perception of Business Consulting Providers Survey (n = 656). Buyers were asked for their preferred pricing model for contracting business consulting services. Fixed price dominated at 62.2%, time and materials followed at 28.5%, and outcome-based pricing stayed niche at 9.1%, with a remaining 0.2% choosing other models. The message for traditional consulting is clear. Buyers value predictability and want delivery risk sitting with the provider, not on their own budget.

The picture changes sharply once AI enters delivery. In AI’s Impact on Pricing Models for Business Consulting Services Buyers — Detailed Perspective Version (IDC #US54540426, May 2026), buyers of AI-enabled business consulting (n = 161) spread their preferences almost evenly across four models: fixed price at 27%, time and materials at 25%, pay per use or metered at 24%, and outcome based at 23%. Outcome-based preference is roughly 2.5 times higher than in the traditional consulting survey. AI does more than nudge buyers toward outcomes. It fragments the pricing landscape and removes the comfortable dominance of fixed price.

This IDC Survey Spotlight focuses on business consulting services buyers exclusively. Data includes AI-related business consulting services but is meant as a counterpoint to AI’s Impact on Pricing Models for Business Consulting Services Buyers — Detailed Perspective Version (IDC #US54540426, May 2026).

IDC Survey: IDC’s 2026 Global IT Skills Survey

Gina Smith, PhD — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This IDC Survey explores how enterprises assess training strategies for AI and other emerging technologies as well as how AI impacts enterprise IT. It is based on results from IDC’s 2026 Global IT Skills Survey, which explores IT training preferences, strategies, drivers, and blockers among 1,043 IT leaders and professionals in North America, Asia/Pacific, and Western Europe.