This year might just have been one of the most unexpected, demanding and uncertain times (for everyone!) in recent memory. Indeed, the many surprises brought on by the ongoing global health crisis have introduced many challenges for businesses to navigate.
Unfortunately, some companies weren’t able to weather the storm brought on by global lockdowns and reduced economic activity. Those that survived didn’t come through unscathed either, with cost cutting measures and workforce reductions being common.
But thanks to the hard work of IT professionals and organizational flexibility, countless other companies were able to maintain business continuity during turbulent times. And the ongoing support of an increasingly remote workforce wouldn’t be possible without investments in technology.
To help provide clarity into IT spending and tech adoption shifts during the pandemic and beyond, we recently surveyed more than 1,000 B2B tech buyers for the annual State of IT. In the 2021 edition, we also examine how COVID-19 altered the IT landscape, including changes to how trillions of dollars spent annually on IT will be allocated across hardware, software, cloud, and managed services.
The 2021 State of IT covers:
- Long-term IT plans influenced by COVID-19
- Shifts in budget allocations, accelerated by the crisis
- Emerging technologies primed for growth
Spoiler alert: Even amid uncertainty, there will still be opportunities for tech brands as many businesses prioritize IT spending to support a remote workforce. To make the most of these opportunities, marketers should focus on three aspects of this report to better understand what businesses are facing going into 2021.
State of IT 2021 Animated Report
Get actionable insights into 2021 IT spending and tech adoption trends. Dive into data detailing how businesses will navigate uncharted territory amid uncertainty and change.
2021 State of IT findings all marketers need to know:
- COVID-19 is and will continue to be a catalyst for change. Because of the pandemic and the “remote work revolution,” 76% of businesses plan on making long-term IT changes, over half plan to keep flexible work policies in place, and 44% plan to accelerate digital transformation plans.
- These transformation plans drove tech spending in 2020 and will continue to do so: More than one-third of 2021 budget increases will be influenced by COVID-19. At the same time, traditional factors such as the need to upgrade outdated infrastructure and increased security concerns will also spur businesses to buy technology.
- While overall IT budgets are expected to decline slightly year-over-year in 2021, even amid economic uncertainty and stagnating corporate revenues, 80% of businesses anticipate tech spending to stay the same or increase.
- While still accounting for the largest portion of IT budgets, hardware spending in 2021 is expected to decline YoY, as businesses increase cloud and managed services spending — a trend likely influenced by the shift towards flexible work policies that will see fewer employees in central offices with on-premises infrastructure.
- With the exception of security solutions, plans to adopt emerging tech have slowed — dropping significantly YoY in 2021 — as IT buyers deprioritize cutting-edge features in favor of more pressing needs.
For tech marketers, the trends outlined in this report present opportunities to help businesses navigate change. As organizations alter their course and shift funding from one area into another, businesses will need help selecting solutions that fit their needs. And they will turn to their peers and trusted advisors to help lead the way.
For example, in the near future, many IT departments will be tasked with addressing new security concerns, enabling more seamless communications between physically distant coworkers, migrating workloads to the cloud, updating disaster recovery plans to account for new scenarios, and more.
Get additional insights into the big changes affecting IT in 2021 in the full 2021 State of IT report.
You’ll find more informative insights on:
- Primary factors driving businesses to invest in tech
- Changes to spending levels for dozens of technologies
- How trends will impact organizations depending on company size
- How to identify and target buyers in-market for your solutions
…and much more!Check out the 2021 State of IT