Just five years ago, training in the best-practice IT processes laid out by the ITIL framework were just a small speck on the map of IT qualifications in the UK. Fast-forward to 2008 and the ITIL Foundation course has become one of the most heavily enrolled training classes in the sector. But it seems that the channel has been slow to add it to their portfolio.
With benefits including the ITIL qualification, a greater understanding of the value of IT as a service and closer alignment with business objectives, ITIL is an obvious choice for many organisations looking to improve service delivery.
ITIL training gives IT professionals the tools to see service delivery from a different angle: as a route to making changes that will help them to gain recognition beyond the confines of the IT department. There is no doubt that the ITIL training market is ripe for the picking.
With last year’s launch of ITIL v3, many companies are planning to train service desk professionals on the new version in the coming months.

Hesitation
But while training companies have seen an influx of interest in v3, larger organisations have been hesitant to sign on the bottom line. Instead, they are playing a waiting game to see what the new examinations look like before sending a host of team leaders, service desk analysts and other IT operations professionals into the fray.
This is because version 3 of ITIL differs in a number of ways from its predecessors, causing much confusion within the IT service management community. The strategic focus of v3 has been viewed as difficult to read by some and is seen by many as major move away from the process-driven approaches outlined in v2.
But there is no stopping progress. The new guidelines have been written, not as a replacement for v2, but for the handful of organisations that are already process-mature. As the gap between best-in-class enterprises and service delivery laggards widens, there will be more opportunity for both v2 and v3 training.
ITIL training is increasingly standard for the large majority of IT operations professionals. For those looking to move jobs, many companies won’t even give candidates a second glance without the ITIL badge of honour.
Business partners seeking out the best way to become that trusted advisor now need to offer a wider portfolio of services to compete. Adding ITIL training to support ranges before the v3 wave could serve to boost sales as the certification becomes more critical for many organisations and individuals. Channel members looking to add ITIL training to their offering should seek direction from examination institutes.
Interest in ITIL will continue to grow at a rapid rate. Value-added resellers and consultancies will need to act quickly if they want to tap into the ITIL market before the competition does. ●