As the world moves towards 2026, the managed services landscape is undergoing seismic shifts. It’s no longer just about ensuring uptime but delivering measurable outcomes tied to cost efficiency, user experience, and business agility. In an exclusive conversation with Tech Achieve Media, Keith Odom, EVP of Consulting & Services at AHEAD, shares how the company is harnessing cutting-edge technologies like AI, leveraging India’s talent ecosystem, and pioneering integrated delivery models to drive unparalleled value for enterprise clients. He also highlighted how AHEAD is redefining the managed services paradigm, scaling innovation, and shaping the future of digital platforms.
TAM: What are the biggest shifts you are seeing in the managed services space as we head into 2025-2026?
Keith Odom: Managed services is no longer just about uptime – it’s about outcomes. Clients today expect value tied to cost efficiency, user experience, and business agility. We’re also seeing a surge in AI and automation. Over 70% of our SOC operations are now automated, helping us proactively detect, triage, and respond faster than ever. The model is evolving into intelligent operations that scale with impact.
TAM: How is the India expansion playing into the company’s broader strategy for global scale and delivery excellence?
Keith Odom: India is central to our global delivery model. We’ve embedded Indian talent across consulting, implementation, and managed services, enabling true 24×7 support and seamless integration across time zones. This depth gives us agility and scale without compromising on quality – which remains non-negotiable at AHEAD.
TAM: You’ve worked on several acquisitions and integrations. What role does M&A play in accelerating digital transformation for enterprise clients?
Keith Odom: M&A helps us accelerate capability and impact. When we acquire, it’s not just about expanding services – it’s about aligning on a shared vision for digital platforms. The value lies in integration: when teams operate as one, clients benefit from deeper expertise, reusable IP, and faster go-to-market execution. We are constantly looking in the market for M&A targets that can help us scale our current capabilities and for targets that can expand our capabilities that tie directly to providing our client business value.
TAM: What distinguishes AHEAD’s approach to building digital platforms from traditional consulting or outsourcing models?
Keith Odom: We don’t parachute in midstream or hand work off. Our teams stay accountable across the lifecycle – from strategy and design to execution and ongoing operations. Because our consulting, professional services, and managed services teams work as one, clients get continuity, speed, and results. That integrated model is our edge.
TAM: How do you envision the role of talent evolving in managed services, particularly with the growing operations in India?
Keith Odom: The shift is clear: from labour-driven to knowledge-driven delivery. With automation handling repetitive tasks, our teams focus on consultative value – thinking critically, solving problems, and driving transformation. In India, we’re building talent not just for operations but for high-impact roles across cloud, data, and cybersecurity.
TAM: AHEAD has been vocal about being a people-first company. How does that philosophy translate into real business outcomes?
Keith Odom: Putting people first isn’t just a value – it’s a strategy. When you invest in your teams, you get better outcomes. Our client relationships span decades because we focus on talent, culture, and growth. That drives retention, service quality, and agility. The human side of tech is our most durable advantage.
TAM: What are some client expectations today that would have been unthinkable five years ago? How is AHEAD adapting to the rising demand for cybersecurity, automation, and cloud services?
Keith Odom: Today, security isn’t an add-on – it’s the starting point. Five years ago, clients rarely asked us to manage CI/CD pipelines or automate SOC workflows. Now it’s expected. We’ve responded by expanding our cloud and security talent, investing in automation IP, and building modular, secure platforms that meet clients where they are. The big one is Zero Trust Security architectures which are the baseline today not an advanced service, vs five years ago, perimeter based security was still dominant.
TAM: From your perspective, what’s the next frontier for enterprise IT, and how is AHEAD positioning itself to lead in that space?
Keith Odom: We believe the future lies in intelligent, adaptive platforms. AI will be a key driver—but only with the right data and governance behind it. We’re helping clients prepare their data estates, embed AI responsibly, and automate securely. Internally, we’re piloting AI to enhance service delivery – from real-time decision support to incident analysis. It’s about amplifying human potential with smarter systems. We are helping clients integrate AI into their core apps, infrastructure and workflows; to build reusable, secure self-service platforms for developers; build data driven-infrastructure that adapts to data gravity and analytics needs that support real-time, distributed, AI-ready workloads.
TAM: We are seeing massive cloud adoption globally, with India emerging as a strategic talent hub. How are you leveraging India’s tech ecosystem to deliver value to your clients?
Keith Odom: We’ve built India into the core of our global delivery – from advisory and engineering to cloud migration and managed ops. Our teams here lead in areas like CI/CD, QA, and platform operations. With full integration into global programs, India gives us speed, scale, and consistency – delivering the kind of high-quality experiences clients expect, regardless of geography.
