4.5 trillion dollars. A record figure that will mean global spending on software and IT services in 2023 according to the consulting firm Gartner. This will be 2.4% above the expenditure made in 2022.
A positive number, yes, but below the estimated growth of 5.1% before the end of the year. Above all, due to the rise in the drop in sales of hardware devices and a rebound for this new year that will be less strong than expected.
According to Gartner’s latest forecast, business spending on software and IT services is also expected to rise by 9.3% and 5.5% respectively. While the spending on data center systems and communications services They will do so at a lower rate, 0.7% and 0.1%.
These are all fickle numbers in the middle of an economy changeable and unpredictable with the Russian invasion of the Ukraine and high inflation marking the global agenda.
Gartner expected a decline in device spending by citizens, but this is taking longer than expected. Situation that, from the company, they affirm, could be maintained throughout 2023 and 2024.
and what could change this trend regardless of the global geopolitical situation? In the case of devices, for example, that they offer new features or compelling reasons to update. Otherwise, the current pace of sales could remain stable for a long time.
What about business spending on the cloud?
It should be noted that much of the Spend from a business standpoint is a fixed and recurring expense, especially in managed services, cloud, SaaS, PaaS, and telecommunications. From Gartner they affirm: “All these things are locked in a long-term contract (…) even servers, networks or equipment storage.”
What will grow in 2023 beyond any doubt is the security spendingas companies reorganize their strategy and opt for greater protection of the environment.
Also the market for IT services will grow. Above all, as companies want attract external IT staff for implementation and support. Gartner expects consulting spending to reach $264.9 billion in 2023, or 6.7% more than in 2022.
And it is that, despite the latest layoffs among technology companies that have marked the second half of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, many of these cuts have not involved non-technical personnel.
It is important to mention an investigation carried out by Skillsoft in November 2021, where it was reported that around three quarters of IT decision makers worldwide were already having problems hiring technical staff.
According to Gartner skilled IT workers are migrating from the enterprise to technology and service providers who can keep up with increasing salary requirements, development opportunities and career prospects.
