Worldwide IT spending is predicted to reach $3.4 trillion during 2010, a 5.3 per cent increase on 2009 figures. The IT industry is expected to show continued steady growth, with 2011 spending projected to surpass $3.5 trillion, an increase of 4.2 per cent from 2010, according to Gartner.

The IT services industry is forecast to rise 5.7 per cent from 2009 with spending estimated to hit $821 billion in 2010. This and 2009’s reported growth in outsourcing revenue, comes as an encouraging sign for outsourcing service providers, something which Gartner analysts believe will extend to consulting and system integration in 2010.

Joanne Correia, managing vice president at Gartner, said, "Cost optimisation, and the shifts in spending form mega suites to the automation of processes will continue to benefit alternative software acquisition models as organisations will look for ways to shift spending from capital expenditures to operating expenditures. Because of this, vendors offering software as a service (SaaS), IT asset management, virtualisation capabilities and that have a good open-source strategy will continue to benefit. We also see mobile-device support or applications, as well as cloud services driving new opportunities."