Global IT spending to grow 2.9% in 2017

Worldwide IT spending is on track to decline a slight 0.3% this year to US$3.4 trillion ($4.43 trillion) but pick up in 2017 with a projected 2.9% growth to US$3.5 trillion, according to Gartner.

Next year’s growth will be driven by the software segment, which is on track to swell 7.2%, as well as IT services, which is in line for 4.8% growth.

Gartner senior vice president and global head of research Peter Sondergaard said software and IT services will both be key to the development of what Gartner calls the “civilisation infrastructure”, which will be the most important trend in IT over the next decade.

“Civilisation infrastructure will forever change the way people engage socially, digitally and physically through connected sensors and digital intelligence,” he said.

“CIOs will participate in the building of a new digital platform with intelligence at the centre. That platform will enable ecosystems, connecting businesses and collapsing industries. It will change society itself and the way people live.”

Sondergaard said civilisation infrastructure will be a digital platform that extends beyond traditional IT infrastructure. The platform consists of five domains — traditional IT systems, customer experience, the Internet of Things, intelligence and the ecosystem foundation.

“Each of these domains are interconnected and interdependent. All have a role and all are required. Your new digital platform will allow you to participate in the evolving world of business, government and consumer ecosystems, because ecosystems are the next evolution for digital. It’s how you compete at scale.”