Survey: midsize businesses investing heavily in analytics, cloud
A new IBM survey of 2,000 midsize companies from across 20 countries finds more than half are planning to increase their information technology budgets over the next 12 to 18 months, and they are investing in a wide range of priorities including analytics, cloud computing, collaboration, mobility and customer relationship solutions.
Data analytics is a particularly important initiative. The study found 70% of midsize companies are actively pursuing analytics technology to better understand their customers, make better decisions and become more efficient. The study also shows growing adoption of cloud computing among midsize firms, with two-thirds either planning or currently deploying cloud-based technologies to improve IT systems management while lowering costs.
This change is reflected in the increased adoption of analytics and predictive technologies that have become more affordable and widely available for midsize companies. The study finds that 53% of respondents expect their IT budgets to increase over the next 12 to 18 months, 31% expect they will remain unchanged and 16% think they will decrease or are unsure.
Top IT implementation projects among midsize companies include the following:
- IT infrastructure improvements 75%
- Business intelligence/analytics 70%
- Collaboration 70%
- Business performance management 70%
- Information management 69%
- Mobility/unified communication 68%
- Virtualization 67%
- Cloud computing 66%
The report can be downloaded from the IBM Website.
Comparisons between the current study and those from 2009 also reveal a shift from a predominant focus on cost control and efficiency to a greater emphasis on growth initiatives. Today, 21% characterize their strategic mindset as ‘efficiency and cost control’ — down from 53% in 2009. Priorities now on top of mind for midsize CEOs (79%) include customer focus, innovation and growth.