As the economy goes, so goes IT spending. This year, it’s good news for IT solution providers.
By Jessica Mattison
New year, new spending priorities. That’s the takeaway from CDW’s fourth annual Year-in-Review survey, in which 46 percent of IT decision makers say IT investment is at the head of their organizations’ spending lists this year. That’s a steep increase over the 36 percent of IT decision makers who expected technology improvements to be a business priority for 2010.
Of the respondents investing in IT, 55 percent say they will now purchase new computers, which were sidelined during the economic downturn. Mobility (34 percent) and virtualization (32 percent) solutions are ranked high on the investment list as well, primarily for their efficiency benefits.
“After seeing a delay in refresh cycles during the recession, IT decision makers across the board are evaluating current technologies and planning to invest in areas that will bring value to their organization,” says Thomas E. Richards, president and COO, CDW. “Solutions like virtualization, which reduces operational costs and helps to eliminate downtime, also will play a stronger role in demonstrating the growing business value of IT.”
Notably, 56 percent of respondents say IT investment will always be a high priority; 32 percent indicate it will rank at the top of the priority list for a least five years, and 9 percent say the time period will be less than five years.
IT Decision Makers’ Forecast for IT Investment 2011
46% – Expect IT investment to be a top priority in 2011
56% – Believe IT investment will always be a top priority
32% – Believe IT investment will be a top priority for at least five years, and then be less
† 9% – Expect IT investment will be a top priority for less than five years
SOURCE: CDW YEAR-IN-REVIEW SURVEY OF 1,079 IT DECISION MAKERS CONDUCTED OCTOBER 1 TO OCTOBER 8, 2010
