The global market is in full transition toward Industry 5.0, where technology does more than just automate processes—it collaborates directly with humans to generate sustainable value. In this landscape, ITIL 5 emerges as the definitive framework for managing digital products and services.

Unlike previous versions, which were strictly focused on “infrastructure,” this new edition reflects the reality of modern, AI-native, complexity-driven organizations. But what does this mean in practice for your business?

In this article, we explore the benefits of ITIL Version 5 for businesses and service providers, detailing how this update can transform operational efficiency and your customers’ perception of value.

Read also: The Definitive Guide to ITIL 5

What’s Changing in ITIL Version 5?

The first major shift is focus. While previous versions treated service management and product management as separate silos, ITIL Version 5 integrates these disciplines. It recognizes that in the digital world, a product (like a banking app) and the service it delivers (the financial transaction) are inseparable.

Another critical update lies in the nomenclature of central components. What we previously knew as the Service Value System (SVS) and Service Value Chain (SVC) are now simply the Value System and Value Chain.

This simplification isn’t just aesthetic: it reinforces that the ultimate goal is value, whether it comes from a pure service, a digital product, or a combination of both through an integrated value chain.

The Benefits of ITIL Version 5 for Businesses

For companies that use technology as the primary engine of their business model, adopting ITIL Version 5 practices brings immediate competitive advantages. Here is how it impacts daily corporate operations:

• Sustainable Digital Strategy: The framework helps define and implement a digital strategy that is effective and adaptable to rapid market changes.
• Total Focus on Value: All IT activities are now directly connected to the outcomes expected by the organization and stakeholders, eliminating waste.
• Clear Return on Investment (ROI): With leaner, result-oriented processes, technology investments become traceable and justifiable.
• Safe AI Adoption: ITIL Version 5 provides guidelines to balance technological innovation (such as Generative AI) with the governance necessary to mitigate risks.
• Safe and Collaborative Culture: It promotes a work environment based on psychological safety and respect, where teams are encouraged to innovate without fear of punitive failure.

In practice, this means a retail company doesn’t just “install an e-commerce system,” but manages the entire lifecycle of that digital product to ensure the end customer has a frictionless shopping experience.

Advantages for Managed Service Providers (MSPs)

Managed Service Providers (MSPs) face the constant challenge of proving their value in increasingly complex IT environments. For these professionals and firms, the benefits of ITIL Version 5 are vital for client retention:

• Clear Value Articulation: Facilitates communication of the real benefit of services offered, transforming “tech support” into a “strategic partnership.”
• Workflow Compatibility: Since MSPs usually work integrated with the client’s management system, the use of a common language and compatible processes reduces noise and delays.
• Reliable Operations in Complex Environments: The framework teaches how to deal with unpredictability, allowing the provider to remain resilient even during technological crises.
• Holistic Lifecycle Management: Defines clear roles and responsibilities, ensuring the MSP knows exactly where their scope begins and ends within the client’s Value System.

The Importance of the Value Chain

One of the pillars for achieving these benefits is understanding the Value Chain. In ITIL Version 5, it is seen as a set of activities—such as Discover, Design, Build, and Support—that function as “stepping stones.”

These activities do not need to follow a rigid linear order. The secret lies in mapping specific Value Streams for each situation. If your company needs to launch a new AI feature, the value stream will guide the team from the discovery of the need to the secure operation of that tool.

This agility is what separates companies that merely “survive” from those leading the digital transformation in their sectors.

How to Apply ITIL Version 5 to Your Career?

Understanding the benefits of ITIL Version 5 is the first step toward becoming an indispensable professional. Whether you are an IT manager, a process analyst, or a consultant, mastering the Value System and new AI governance practices will put you at the forefront of the market.

The market no longer seeks those who only know how to configure servers, but those who understand how technology co-creates value for the business.

Want to become a certified specialist and master these transformations?
Explore PMG Academy courses and prepare for official ITIL certifications. Transform your technical knowledge into strategic authority!