The IT sector is firmly in the doldrums and this year
will mark its nadir but e-business continues to show signs of
relative health, if not spend, according to the Ovum Holway Market
Trends report 2003.
The report shows that, despite cost cutting and rationalisation
drives, IT chiefs continue to push ahead with e-business projects.
In a survey of 15 European chief information officers, pursuing
e-business projects was the top priority on their agendas.
However, the report raises concerns that the three main areas -
customer relationship management, business intelligence and portals
- are all well-established application areas.
"That is the rather depressing thing for the future of the IT
industry: there is no big thing on the horizon," said chief Ovum
analyst Julian Hewett.
The attraction of business intelligence, CRM and portal projects,
he said, is that they "offer ways of spending little money to get
short-term benefits from existing systems".
However, this activity should not be confused with positive spend.
"CIOs are really into pursuing these projects but if possible
without spending any money. Doing more with less is today's
drumbeat. I am convinced we will never get back to the double-digit
growth of in the IT industry," said Hewett.
He believes that, while some large companies are pursuing
e-business projects to improve relationships with consumers, a lot
of the current activity involves finishing projects started two to
three years ago.
The trend of customers expecting more for less from IT investment
shows no sign of abating, says Ovum Holway. However, a lot of the
easier projects have already been done and IT chiefs will have to
carry out "second generation" cuts.
Grim news in Ovum Holway report
- 2002 worst year on record for IT spend as market shrank by just
over 4% excluding inflation to £21.7bn
- 2003 will be the "nadir" but the market will shrink
year-on-year in real terms until at least 2006
- Poor growth to continue for lack of "next big thing" on the
horizon
- 2003's theme: customers wanting more for less.