Australian ICT spending set to be boosted by big data, cloud computing, mobile and social computing: IDC

Despite falls in spending on servers and desktop PCs, Australian business spending on ICT (information and communications technology) will continue to grow due to big data, cloud, mobile and social technologies, according to a leading market research firm.

According to IDC, one of the large shifts will be away from bring your own device (BYOD) policies for employee smartphones and tablets in businesses, in favour of choose your own device (CYOD).

Under a BYOD policy, businesses allow employees to access business files, emails and apps from an employee’s own device.

In contrast, under CYOD, employees are provided with a company smartphone or tablet, but get to choose from a range of devices.

IDC states the shift is being driven, in part, by the costs and complexity involved in supporting and securing a large number of devices owned by the end user employee.

“For IT, it will be more manageable to limit the number of devices, form factors and operating systems. The CYOD model will help enable them to mobilise their business processes and deliver tangible business value to the organisation.”

IDC predicts the shifting ICT landscape is also likely to lead to the creation of specialist roles within many organisations.

“As cloud, big data, mobility and social business become more strategic to organisations roles such as a ‘director of mobility’ to oversee all aspects of mobility strategy and a role such as ‘chief data scientist’ will arise within those organisations.”

IDC also predicts the “Internet of Things” will make a big impact in 2014.

“For companies, business models will be redesigned to deliver improved efficiencies and to change the customer experience. And for the vendors that will support this revolution, opportunities abound to create the new and innovative products and services that will change the world as we know it.”

Finally, according to IDC Australia research director Graham Barr, the national broadband network is unlikely to have a significant impact on most Australian businesses before 2015.

“Big Data, cloud, mobile, and social will really be the key growth drivers for 2014. Whilst the NBN may drive further consolidation in the telecom sector, any significant increases in service rollout will not start until 2015.”