TBR Talks: Decoding Strategies and Ecosystems of the Globe's Top Tech Firms

Technology Business Research, Inc.
  • 5.0 (6)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to “TBR Talks: Decoding Strategies & Ecosystems of the Globe’s Top Tech Firms.” Each week TBR Principal Analyst Patrick Heffernan chats with special guests on disruptions in the broad technology ecosystem. Patrick also answers key intelligence questions TBR analysts hear from executives and business unit leaders among top IT professional services firms, IT vendors, and telecom vendors and operators. TBR is an independent market, competitive and ecosystem intelligence firm that provides timely and actionable business and financial analyses in formats tailored to clients’ needs.

  1. FEB 6

    2026 Predictions: Federal IT Services

    Senior Analyst John Caucis and Analyst James Wichert explore how a turbulent 2025 — marked by budget uncertainty, a prolonged government shutdown and shifting federal priorities — is setting the stage for a more stable, but structurally different, federal IT market.  Learn why 2026 is likely to bring stabilization rather than a full rebound, with defense, intelligence and national security-related spending remaining resilient while civilian agencies take longer to normalize procurement cycles.   Additionally, the pair will look at what will matter most in 2026: accelerating partnership activity, deeper engagement with commercial technology providers, and AI-led modernization as a core differentiator for federal systems integrators.   A forward-looking debate on which companies will dominate the conversation by the end of 2026, this a must-listen for executives, strategists and partners tracking the evolution of the federal IT services ecosystem.  Monthly market, competitive and ecosystem intelligence — free. Subscribe to Insights Flight to receive top-tier analysis delivered straight to your inbox, plus access to Spotlight Reports that keep you ahead of the curve. Choose your Content Role when subscribing to receive exclusive invitations to expert-led webinars with downloadable presentation decks after each session. Sign up today: https://hubs.ly/Q03Ydq5L0 Listen and learn with TBR Talks! Submit your Key Intelligence Questions for Patrick and his guests: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3T9VZek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about TBR at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tbri.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-heffernan-0b90785/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with John on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncaucis/⁠ Connect with James on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswichert/⁠⁠⁠ TBR Talks is produced by Technology Business Research, Inc. Edited by Haley Demers Music by Burty Sounds via Pixabay Art by Amanda Hamilton Sy

    14 min

  2. JAN 30

    2026 Predictions: Devices & IT Infrastructure

    TBR Senior Analyst Ben Carbonneau breaks down why he believes AI PCs will evolve from early-stage adoption to full-market dominance within the next decade and discusses the role Microsoft and Windows on ARM will play, how collaboration across the ecosystem could reshape competition, and why “prioritization for premiumization” may become the defining strategy for vendors heading into 2026.   If you’re tracking the future of PCs, silicon innovation, or the business dynamics around the devices industry, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.  From AI adoption at the edge and ROI-driven use cases, to the ripple effects of data center modernization and VMware decision making, TBR Principal Analyst Angela Lambert discusses how changing customer expectations will influence demand across the infrastructure stack in the new year. She also weighs in on the modernization versus transformation debate, shifts in AI-accelerated server investment, and which vendors — from silicon providers to OEMs — are best positioned to lead in 2026.  If AI infrastructure, hybrid cloud dynamics or customer-driven strategy are on your radar, this conversation is your preview of the year ahead.  Monthly market, competitive and ecosystem intelligence — free. Subscribe to Insights Flight to receive top-tier analysis delivered straight to your inbox, plus access to Spotlight Reports that keep you ahead of the curve. Choose your Content Role when subscribing to receive exclusive invitations to expert-led webinars with downloadable presentation decks after each session. Sign up today: https://hubs.ly/Q03XGXBv0 Listen and learn with TBR Talks! Submit your Key Intelligence Questions for Patrick and his guests: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3T9VZek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about TBR at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tbri.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-heffernan-0b90785/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Angela on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelalambert1/⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Ben on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-carbonneau/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TBR Talks is produced by Technology Business Research, Inc. Edited by Haley Demers Music by Burty Sounds via Pixabay Art by Amanda Hamilton Sy

    15 min

  3. JAN 23

    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/Q03YBQ2V0 Listen and learn with TBR Talks! Submit your Key Intelligence Questions for Patrick and his guests: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3T9VZek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn 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 Demers Music by Burty Sounds via Pixabay Art by Amanda Hamilton Sy

    14 min

  4. JAN 16

    2026 Predictions: Alliances & Partnerships

    Join "TBR Talks" Host and Principal Analyst Patrick Heffernan, Principal Analyst Allan Krans and Principal Analyst Angela Lambert as they break down 2026 predictions for alliances and partnerships across cloud, software, infrastructure and the rapidly evolving edge ecosystem. The team dives into the resurgence of enterprise edge, why AI is accelerating demand for edge deployments, and how systems integrators and OEMs are redefining orchestration, commercial models, and partner engagement as infrastructure and platforms become tightly integrated.  If your focus includes partner strategy, AI ecosystems or competitive positioning, this episode delivers insights you’ll want in hand as 2026 ramps up.  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 Predictions special report on Alliances & Partnerships, “2026 Will be a Pivotal Year as AI Momentum Drives Deeper Ecosystem Alliances,” featuring insights into AI-driven sales and marketing, AI alliances and operational technology, and sovereign AI: https://hubs.ly/Q03YBNp70 Listen and learn with TBR Talks! Submit your Key Intelligence Questions for Patrick and his guests: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3T9VZek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about TBR at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tbri.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-heffernan-0b90785/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Angela on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelalambert1/ Connect with Allan on LinkedIn⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-krans/⁠⁠⁠ TBR Talks is produced by Technology Business Research, Inc. Edited by Haley Demers Music by Burty Sounds via Pixabay Art by Amanda Hamilton Sy

    22 min

  5. JAN 9

    2026 Predictions: Cloud & Software

    Are we approaching the end of traditional SaaS as AI-native architectures and agentic platforms take center stage?  TBR Cloud & Software Senior Analyst Alex Demeule discusses which SaaS incumbents are best positioned to execute a true hard pivot toward AI, highlighting how workforce restructuring, sales realignment and platform modernization at vendors like Salesforce, SAP and Microsoft reveal early signs of strategic transformation. Additionally, this conversation explores the growing tension between general-purpose large language models and specialized small language models, digging into the economics, power constraints, and architectural trade-offs that will define enterprise-grade AI applications.  A must-listen for SaaS leaders, cloud strategists and ecosystem partners navigating the industry’s most consequential pivot in over a decade.  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 Cloud & Software Predictions special report, “Will AI be the Death of SaaS?” featuring insights into SaaS and PaaS revenue expectations and SaaS’s impact on AI strategies: https://hubs.ly/Q03YBPCg0 Listen and learn with TBR Talks! Submit your Key Intelligence Questions for Patrick and his guests: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3T9VZek⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about TBR at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tbri.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-heffernan-0b90785/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderddemeule/⁠ TBR Talks is produced by Technology Business Research, Inc. Edited by Haley Demers Music by Burty Sounds via Pixabay Art by Amanda Hamilton Sy

    19 min

  6. JAN 2

    2026 Predictions: Telecom

    From the widening K-shaped economy to shifting customer affordability and changing price-for-value expectations, Principal Analyst Chris Antlitz outlines why telcos must rethink their pricing, bundling and financing models to stay competitive in 2026. This conversation explores the big agenda items shaping the 2026 telecom landscape: the integration of 6G into market forecasts, edge computing’s renewed relevance, the energy problem slowing scale, and how previously hyped technologies like blockchain and the metaverse may be poised for resurgence. Listen today for a clear, unvarnished view into the constraints and catalysts defining the telecom industry in 2026. 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 Telecom Predictions special report, “Telecom Industry Will Adapt to K-shaped Economy in 2026,” featuring insights into AI-driven sales and marketing, AI alliances and operational technology, and sovereign AI: https://hubs.ly/Q03XGZPn0 Listen and learn with TBR Talks! Submit your Key Intelligence Questions for Patrick and his guests: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3T9VZek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about TBR at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tbri.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-heffernan-0b90785/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-antlitz-a1541312/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TBR Talks is produced by Technology Business Research, Inc. Edited by Haley Demers Music by Burty Sounds via Pixabay Art by Amanda Hamilton Sy

    14 min

  7. 12/26/2025 · BONUS

    What’s Next on TBR Talks?

    “TBR Talks” is on break this week for the Christmas holiday. Join us Friday, Jan. 2 for the first of our 2026 Predictions Series episodes, which will highlight our expectations for industry markets in the new year. Our first episode will feature TBR’s Principal Analyst & Practice Manager Allan Krans and Principal Analyst Angela Lambert discussing predictions for alliances, partnerships and the tech ecosystem.   In the meantime, be sure to catch up on the first half of “TBR Talks” Season 4, which featured discussions with top persons at Work & Co., Ericsson and BCG as well as key insights and analysis from TBR’s leading experts.   Listen and learn with TBR Talks! Submit your Key Intelligence Questions for Patrick and his guests: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3T9VZek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about TBR at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tbri.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TBR Talks is produced by Technology Business Research, Inc. Edited by Haley Demers Music by Burty Sounds via Pixabay Art by Amanda Hamilton Sy

    1 min

  8. 12/19/2025

    TBR Talks Retrospective: What We Learned in 2025

    As we close out 2025, “TBR Talks” host Patrick Heffernan and producer and TBR Marketing Coordinator & Account Executive Haley Demers sit down for a candid, end-of-year retrospective and a sneak peek at what listeners can expect in the new year.   Additionally, the pair unpacks the podcast’s growth, with nearly half of this season’s conversations featuring voices from outside TBR, and shares a behind-the-scenes breakdown of the show. They also discuss how those external perspectives have broadened the scope of the dialogue, how the show has evolved as listeners began reaching out proactively to participate, and the unexpected value that emerged when technology-focused discussions turned personal.   Listen and learn with TBR Talks! Submit your Key Intelligence Questions for Patrick and his guests: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3T9VZek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about TBR at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tbri.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-heffernan-0b90785/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Haley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleydemers/ TBR Talks is produced by Technology Business Research, Inc. Edited by Haley Demers Music by Burty Sounds via Pixabay Art by Amanda Hamilton Sy

    19 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to “TBR Talks: Decoding Strategies & Ecosystems of the Globe’s Top Tech Firms.” Each week TBR Principal Analyst Patrick Heffernan chats with special guests on disruptions in the broad technology ecosystem. Patrick also answers key intelligence questions TBR analysts hear from executives and business unit leaders among top IT professional services firms, IT vendors, and telecom vendors and operators. TBR is an independent market, competitive and ecosystem intelligence firm that provides timely and actionable business and financial analyses in formats tailored to clients’ needs.

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