How to Win in Mixed IT Environments: Upskill, Simplify, Succeed

Gone are the days when IT was just about fixing things. Today, it’s about building skills, driving strategy and keeping up with rapid change. With more devices to manage, leaner teams and a growing IT skills gap, tech professionals are under pressure to do more with less and do it faster.

In IT Glue’s webinar with IDC guest speaker Phil Hochmuth, “Upskilling for Success: Mastering Mixed Environments Today and Tomorrow,” the message was clear: the future of IT starts with strategy, automation and smart documentation. Backed by insights from recent IDC surveys, the session shed light on the challenges facing modern IT teams and the key steps they can take to stay ahead.

Here are the top takeaways to help your team not only keep up with today’s complexity but thrive despite it.

The mixed environment reality: More devices, less time

As organizations grow more reliant on digital tools, IT teams are expected to support a constantly expanding mix of operating systems, devices and platforms with fewer resources than ever before.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Multiple operating systems (OS): Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
• Device overload: Users average three devices each
• Too many tools: Organizations use an average of four endpoint management solutions

And this complexity isn’t going anywhere. Device counts are growing while IT operations roles are expected to decline by 9% by 2028. That means each admin could soon be managing over 10,000 endpoints.

The path forward: AI, automation and documentation

Juggling multiple tools, operating systems and devices may be the new normal, but it doesn’t have to be unmanageable. To stay ahead, IT teams need to work smarter, not harder. That means embracing modern solutions that reduce manual effort, improve visibility and free up time for more strategic work.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Leverage AI to fill the skills gap

AI can act as the bridge between today’s resource crunch and tomorrow’s smart operations. Whether it’s generating scripts, automating workflows or surfacing vulnerabilities, AI empowers lean teams to handle enterprise-grade workloads without burning out and can help IT staff shift from reactive, administrative work to strategic value creation.

2. Upskill from within

Rather than relying solely on external hires, organizations should prioritize developing existing talent. The people who already know your environment are well-positioned to step into high-impact roles like data ops, ML ops and platform engineering.

Your secret weapon: IT Glue

In a mixed environment where complexity keeps growing but resources stay flat, smart IT documentation becomes your greatest operational advantage. Modern IT documentation needs to be dynamic, automated and woven directly into how your team works every day.

This is where IT Glue shines: Teams using IT Glue with automation and AI capabilities report managing 2.5x more endpoints per technician, proving that when documentation is done right, it multiplies your team’s efficiency. During the webinar, Wendy Har outlined how smart documentation not only helps teams stay organized but also gives them the breathing room to upskill, automate and take on more strategic projects. Here’s how to lay the groundwork for that kind of transformation:

• Consolidate everything in one place
  Bring all your critical data — IT assets, passwords, SOPs, vendor details, software, licenses and more — into a single, searchable platform. IT Glue integrates with the tools you’re already using, from endpoint management to backup and networking, pulling in up-to-date information automatically. No more jumping between spreadsheets, wikis and personal notes just to get the full picture.
• Structure your data for scale
  As your environment grows, consistency becomes essential. IT Glue enforces structure across your documentation so every endpoint, process and asset is captured uniformly. That means less time spent figuring things out and fewer chances of error when you’re under pressure.
• Automate with AI
  Cooper Copilot, IT Glue’s AI engine, enhances documentation with four powerful features:
  • Smart Relate suggests logical connections between assets, like linking users to devices or passwords to domains.
  • Smart Assist helps to cut out information noise and declutter your documentation by flagging documents that are outdated, duplicated or stale.
  • Smart Create helps you take action faster with intelligently consolidated insights and automated summaries for key service areas.
  • Smart SOP Generator captures every click, input and action performed in the browser, automatically turning them into structured SOPs as your team works.
• Instantly accessible 24/7
  Documentation is only valuable if it’s used. IT Glue makes key info available exactly when and where it’s needed. With a mobile app, browser extensions and deep search capabilities available even outside of the application itself, your team can resolve issues faster, with fewer mistakes.
• Turn documentation into a force multiplier
  With features like auto-suggested documentation directly inside your PSA or RMM, and trigger automations for alerts on expiring SSL certificates, warranties or changes to critical passwords, IT Glue helps you stay proactive and responsive — no more surprises, fire drills or slow response times.

Your IT ops checklist for the future

To stay ahead, follow this simple checklist:

☐ Simplify your endpoint management tools

☐ Centralize all documentation into a single source of truth

☐ Automate routine work to reduce technician fatigue

☐ Upskill your current team with AI and documentation support

☐ Harness AI to unlock new levels of productivity and insight

Ready to see it in action? Get a custom demo of IT Glue and discover how to simplify your mixed IT environment, empower your team and future-proof your operations.