Don't Just Provide Solutions: Be An Agent For Transformation

Briggs's last piece of advice for solution providers is redefine what it means to be a partner.

"Businesses need to redefine what it means to be a partner and what that partner ecosystem is," Briggs said. "So if you're a traditional player, how do you extend the value of what you are providing outside of the contracts, the licenses and core products?"

Business, Briggs said, aren't just looking for help from VARs to grow. They are looking for true business partners and startups including the incubator community. "A solution provider is someone who doesn't care, because they just want to close a deal and move onto the next one," Briggs said. "A partner is someone helping a company invest in the future and is committed to seeing a company realize its full potential."

The full 144-page "6th Annual Technology Trends Report" is available starting Tuesday via Deloitte's University Press website and can be found here.