What SaaS Vendors Don

HCR Software to Host complimentary webinar on “SaaS secrets revealed” The webinar “What SaaS vendors don’t want you to know about Software as a Service” event on February 13 will discuss how organizations can successfully avoid hidden traps and costs associated with SaaS (Software as a Service).

Jacksonville, FL (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 — HCR Software, a leading provider of salary planning and compensation management software, today announced a free HR technology webinar. Titled “Hidden Traps in Software as a Service,” the complimentary event will take place on Wednesday, February 13; the keynote speaker is George C. Brady, III, Vice President Sales & Business Development for PDS Software.

Brady joined PDS in 1993 after previously serving on the company’s Board of Directors. He is responsible for managing the sales force and PDS’ business relationships with third parties. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross and Villanova Law School.

There is a great deal of buzz in the technology marketplace regarding software as a service, much of it well deserved. However there are often overlooked details which would-be-buyers would do well to learn about. There are hidden costs and other more meaningful traps for companies may fall into when selecting Software as a Service (SAAS). Providers of the services position themselves as ‘low cost’ and often ‘one size fits all’ solutions. Potential buyers may inadvertently overlook the differences between these offerings and traditional software vendors when it comes to licenses, ownership, configurability, and ultimately the capacity to truly meet their business needs. To register for this webinar select: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/214364609

Topics Include:

  • SaaS as a Vendor Valuation driven model (explicitly not customer driven)
  • Exploration of pricing models and hidden costs in SaaS offerings
  • How to determining if the solution actually fits your organization’s needs
  • How SaaS offerings affect both productivity and ROI

The event is the latest installment of HCR Software’s popular Wednesday Webinar Series, featuring topics related to employee retention, engagement, and HR technology.

About HCR Software
HCR Software is a leading provider of flexible and affordable compensation management software and performance management software. The Company prides itself on its patent-pending technology, its solid customer references, and its flexibility in meeting customer requirements with an approach that maximizes business impact and minimizes change management challenges. More information can be accessed at http://www.hcrss.com

Media Contact:
Casey Quinif

This press release was distributed through eMediawire by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.

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IT Industry Business Confidence Highest among Companies in China and India, says CompTIA

More sober outlook on future business climate from firms in Canada, UK and US

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., May 5, 2010 – Information technology (IT) companies in China and India are notably more bullish on prospects for business growth in the next six months than their counterparts in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, according to a new survey from CompTIA, the leading trade association for the global IT industry.

The CompTIA IT Industry International Business Confidence Index finds that business confidence trends are well above the global average among IT companies in China (77 on a 100-point scale) and India (76). Among other countries, Canadian sentiment falls roughly at the average (64), while business confidence among IT companies in the United States and United Kingdom lags slightly behind the global average.

Confirming the strengthening economies in many parts of the world, the overall index recorded a jump of nearly nine points in March 2010 since the previous reading in October 2009. Looking ahead, IT companies expect further improvements, reflected in their six-month confidence forecast of 68, up nearly 4 points over the March 2010 reading.

“The IT industry held up relatively well during the global economic downturn,” said Tim Herbert, vice president, research, CompTIA. “This research is another sign the IT industry is well positioned to out-perform many other industry sectors over the next year.”

The CompTIA IT Industry International Business Confidence Index also reveals that after a period of cutting or maintaining costs, a number of IT companies are looking to invest in their business.

“Nearly two-thirds expect to increase spending over the next six months on revenue-generating initiatives such as research and development; while 58 percent expect to increase spending on technology,” Herbert noted.

Though unemployment has been persistently high in many countries, the CompTIA survey data suggests hiring may start to pick up. Among all IT companies surveyed, 42 percent expect to increase hiring in the next six months, with companies in China and India having the highest expectations for staffing increases. But as a sign of the still fragile recovery, 13 percent of all respondents indicate they expect to cut staff in the next six months.

Global IT industry growth is forecast to range from flat under the most pessimistic scenario to an increase of 4.5 percent under the most optimistic scenario. Firms are slightly most bullish on IT services growth, followed by software and hardware. Firms in India see the most upside to global IT industry growth at 5.5 percent, while Canadian firms express the most concern.

Perceived threats to economic growth vary by country, the CompTIA survey indicates. U.S. IT companies are relatively more concerned about weak consumer demand, while firms in the UK voice concern about weak corporate demand. China is concerned about exports and India about domestic competition. Canadian companies believe a general lack of confidence could inhibit growth in their market.

The CompTIA IT Industry International Business Confidence Index is based on an online survey of more than 850 IT companies in more than 70 countries conducted in March. The full report is available at no cost to CompTIA members who can access the report at www.CompTIA.org or by contacting research@comptia.org.

About CompTIA
CompTIA is the voice of the world’s information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. For more information, visit www.comptia.org or follow CompTIA on Twitter at Http://www.Twitter.com/comptia.

OnForce Announces Q1 OnForce Services Marketplace Index

OnForce Services Marketplace Index for Q1 2010 Shows Promising Signs for Upcoming Year

Work Order Pricing in the Marketplace Continues to Stabilize Quarter over Quarter; Several Trends Persist in 2010

BOSTON– April 26, 2010 –OnForce, the trusted online services marketplace that matches service buyers with service professionals released the OnForce Services Marketplace Index (OSMI) for the first quarter of 2010. The OSMI provides a comprehensive analysis of trends in information technology (IT) and consumer electronic (CE) services, based on thousands of service events across the United States and Canada. Key findings show that average work order pricing continued to stabilize for the fourth sequential quarter within the OnForce marketplace. Additionally, as we have seen in recent quarters, companies continue to opt to repair infrastructure in lieu of implementing new technology projects.

“Several trends from 2009 continue to be at the forefront this year. Organizations of all sizes are still managing their service-related budgets tightly, which is evident as break-fix and warranty work dominated work orders in the OnForce marketplace during the first quarter,” said Peter Cannone, CEO of OnForce. “However, with unemployment leveling off, consumer confidence growing, and several industry analysts predicting expansion in various technology areas this year, we are optimistic that 2010 will improve for the services industry in the coming quarters.”

While break-fix and warranty service events were dominant in the OnForce marketplace, installation work remained steady and accounted for 32 percent of total work orders, which aligns with Q4 service event results.

“Although installation work saw minimal fluctuation this quarter, we are anticipating this will shift significantly in the coming months. As organizations delayed technology projects last year, there is now pent-up demand to deploy new infrastructure in order to stay competitive,” said Cannone.

Other key findings include:

  • The top four categories in Q1 2010 in terms of work order volume include:
    • PC Desktop: 29% (increase from 27% of total work order volume in Q4 2009.)
    • TV/Video: 16% (remained relatively flat compared to Q4.)
    • Network: 14% (decrease from 16% of total work order volume in Q4.)
    • Printer: 12% (increase from 9% of total work order volume in Q4.)
  • Printer had the largest percentage increase in work order volume for any IT or CE service category.
  • TV/Video had the lowest Hourly Rate Index (HRI) in any category, with an HRI of 0.44.
  • South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia were the least expensive states for on-site service in Q1, a shift from Q4 2009 when Oklahoma, Vermont, and South Dakota were the least expensive states.
  • Houston, New York, and Chicago saw the most on-site service volume in Q1 for the sixth quarter in a row.

“In this first quarter, there were some bright spots within the OnForce marketplace. Mostly we have seen several request for proposals, demonstrating that organizations are planning for larger technology implementations towards the latter half of the year,” noted Cannone. “We are also expecting Point of Sale (POS) work to increase as retailers are being more proactive and are planning to deploy ‘must-have’ product refreshes.”

The Q1 2010 report is available for download at: http://www.onforce.com/OSMI/q110.

About OnForce

OnForce is the leading outsourced services network that connects service buyers with thousands of highly skilled service professionals to fulfill on-site work. With more than one million work orders completed, OnForce is the trusted marketplace that enables service buyers to lower service costs, improve service-level agreement compliance, achieve high customer satisfaction, and generate new streams of revenue quickly. The OnForce community is comprised of IT and CE service buyers and service professionals, located across the U.S. and Canada, who specialize in a variety of categories, such as computers, printers, networking, VoIP, Point of Sale, and more. For additional information, please visit www.onforce.com.

New Study Shows High Anguish and Anxiety With Computer Tech Support

Digitally Dependent Consumers Stressed About Losing Days of Downtime

Palo Alto, CA (Vocus/PRWEB ) April 27, 2010 — Nearly two thirds (64 percent) of consumers say their computer has caused them anxiety due in large part to frequent slowdowns and lengthy boot-up times, and more than 40 percent who use an outside computer support service are not happy with it or feel it costs too much. Despite this widespread computer-related stress and frustration, 94 percent depend on their computer in their daily lives, and 78 percent consider themselves computer-savvy.

These are among a comprehensive set of findings in an executive report released today by the CMO Council’s Customer Experience Board, in partnership with iYogi, showing the disconnect between consumer’s perceptions of their ability to fix computer problems and the realities of unresolved issues that they grapple with. The report, entitled Combating Computer Stress Syndrome: Barriers and Best Practices in Computer Tech Support, analyzes the results of a poll of more than 1,000 consumers in North America on the forces and factors at work with the different approaches to solving an expanding set of computer complexities, viruses, and glitches as the devices proliferate to a wider, less computer educated audiences.

The report captures quantitative data on the experiences and attitudes of consumers as well as a snapshot of intimate conversations on challenges and best practices with support-related executives at popular communications service providers and computer device manufacturers.

The report shows that so-called Computer Stress Syndrome is prevalent and caused by many factors:

 
  • Top sources of frustration with the tech support experience are long wait times, inability to fix problems and the cost of the service
  • Seventy-five percent are experiencing hours or more of downtime per year, and 40 percent are experiencing days or more
  • Top five impacts of computer failure include increased stress levels, interrupted work or play time, valuable lost data, dropped connections, and difficult online purchasing

“The results of our quantitative and qualitative research clearly point to the fact that people are fed up and frustrated with the current ability of traditional tech support mechanisms to solve their problems,” said Donovan Neale-May, Executive Director of the Customer Experience Board and CMO Council. “What is needed is a ‘resolution revolution’ in which the various parties offering support alternatives are rethinking their approach and offering innovative models that address the growing proliferation and complexities of multiple service and device types in the market today.”

Consumers use a variety of factors in order to evaluate and rank outside support services. Top factors in their decision include the cost of the service (43 percent), the skill of support technicians (40 percent), time to issue resolution (31 percent), 24/7 staff availability (27 percent), and wait times for service calls or appointments (20 percent).

“Many of today’s computer users are caught between a heavy reliance upon the latest gadgets and accelerating support needs for those devices,” said Larry Gordon, president of global channels for iYogi, a remote computer support service company with over 100,000 customers in a market for support services to the estimated 270 million PCs in use in the U.S. alone. “The computer manufacturers, retailers, and service providers are equally challenged to deliver the kinds of always on, reliable, cost-effective tech support required to meet these needs and satisfy the customer experience. The result is a growing and vibrant market for providers who can get it right.”

In part, the problem of Computer Stress Syndrome may be exacerbated by the fact that many consumers are trying to cut costs by dealing with support issues by home-grown means. Almost two thirds are trying to fix problems themselves, asking a friend or family member, or doing nothing. And cost is the biggest consideration in evaluating alternatives.

Report Available for Download:
The Combating Computer Stress Syndrome: Barriers and Best Practices in Computer Tech Support report is available for download at http://www.customerexperienceboard.org/report-variance.php.

About the Customer Experience Board:
The Customer Experience Board, a CMO Council initiative, brings together a dedicated knowledge center and global think tank comprised of concerned marketers from leading service provider organizations and key industry experts who interact and engage to gather insight around improving global integrated customer experience management and promote best practice adoption in this critical area of business performance. The Customer Experience Board is focused on benchmark studies, audits and competency assessments, content aggregation, report publication and syndication, peer-to-peer interactions, best practice development, vertical industry analytics, and global models and frameworks for integrated customer experience management. For more information, visit http://www.customerexperienceboard.org.

About iYogi
iYogi is a global on-demand services company that provides personalized computer support for consumers and small businesses in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. iYogi’s unique model, including proprietary technology iMantra and highly qualified technicians, is designed to eliminate computer-related stress and keep millions of digitally dependent consumers and small businesses always protected and productive. Only iYogi — with its proven global expertise delivery model, intelligent customer insight systems, easy-to-use self-help tools and automated PC optimization and computer support services – offers users a simple yet comprehensive path to digital serenity. iYogi has perfected the remote technical support model to overcome the current limitations of in-store, on-site, or call center services to become the fastest growing provider of support in the industry. Major resellers and technology companies are increasingly turning to iYogi to improve customer satisfaction, reduce return rates, and deliver a compelling new-value added offering to customers. For more information on iYogi and a detailed list of technologies supported, visit http://www.iYogi.net.

New Site Offers Valuable Marketing Resources for Small Business Owners in One Place

Successful serial entrepreneur Jemila Williams recently launched AmericasMarketingMaven.com to give small business owners access to a wealth of marketing resources all in one location. Members can capitalize on resources from powerful marketing minds like Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki, as well as pose business-related questions directly to Williams.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) March 12, 2010 — Successful serial entrepreneur Jemila Williams recently launched AmericasMarketingMaven.com to give small business owners access to a wealth of marketing resources all in one location. Members can capitalize on resources from powerful marketing minds like Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki, as well as pose business-related questions directly to Williams.

News ImageSmall business owners now have a brand new tool to help them create powerful marketing materials for their company—AmericasMarketingMaven.com. The valuable Web site gives members access to more than $20,000 in marketing resources, tools, templates and techniques for almost every business type at pennies on the dollar.

 

“Small business owners will have an opportunity through the information provided to increase leads and conversions, elevate transaction volumes and profit margins and form joint ventures,” said Jemila Williams, who owns and operates the site.

AmericasMarketingMaven.com is an innovative resource that features high-end, uncut and uncensored video from some of the most powerful marketing minds, including Donald Trump, Steven Covey, Michael Gerber, Paul Hartunian, Joel Bauer and Robert Kiyosaki. “The Web site is unique because it gives small business owners an opportunity to access the same information used by big corporate marketing individuals, as well as high-end marketing coaching consultants—without having to pay thousands of dollars up front.”

In addition to offering business marketing information products, AmericasMarketingMaven.com presents a proven five-step process that business owners can apply today for quick results without the need to hire an expensive marketing consultant. Known as the “5-Step Proven Profit Formula,” the process shows businesses how to maximize:

 
  • profit margins by raising prices so no one notices, cutting costs and eliminating discounts
  • lead generation with techniques like free up-front offers, joint ventures and networking
  • conversions using emotional triggers, testimonials and powerful marketing material
  • transaction sizes with programs, packages, up sells and first-time buyer offers

Members of the Web site will also have unprecedented access to Williams, who has owned and operated three successful businesses. As a serial entrepreneur, Williams understands how essential marketing is in business. She will be available to answer any questions and concerns members may have about how to utilize the marketing materials presented on her site. “They will not be left alone to filter through the information,” she said. “When in doubt, they can contact me.”

Through her outstanding business acumen, Williams has generated profits in the areas of retail, hospitality and well care. Now, she is excited about combining her expertise with a credible and trustworthy resource like AmericasMarketingMaven.com to help budding entrepreneurs meet their business goals. “Small business owners now have a marketing resource that they can trust 24-7,” Williams said.

For more information about small business marketing resources, contact Jemila Williams at (713) 551-1842 or visit www.AmericasMarketingMaven.com.    

About Jemila Williams
Based in Houston, Texas, Jemila Williams is an experienced Internet marketer who operates a number of niche Web sites that include www.AmericasMarketingMaven.com, www.BpoLenderListings.com and www.E-BizUniversity.com. She is also an accomplished marketing coach with an arsenal of resources to help small businesses maximize their potential and profits. Offline, Williams is the owner of Jemstone International Inc., a cutting-edge marketing and technology consulting company. She is also the founder and president of Gemstone Realty Inc., a real estate sales and investment firm that focuses on residential real estate and real estate owned (REO) properties. In 2008, she had the distinction of becoming one of the youngest EXIT Realty franchise owners to establish an international franchise. Williams, a member of the National and Houston Association of Realtors, works with real estate clients and small business owners worldwide.

Recession-Proof Technology: Employment Trends in Computer Development

A big risk for businesses and software developers is backing and learning technologies that could quickly become obsolete. There is no crystal ball predicting what the future in computer development holds. But looking at current employment trends among computer developers can help shed some light on which technologies remain viable and valuable during these economic times.

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 1, 2010 — A big risk for businesses and software developers is backing and learning technologies that could quickly become obsolete. There is no crystal ball predicting what the future in computer development holds. But looking at current employment trends among computer developers can help shed some light on which technologies remain viable and valuable during these economic times.

In Apress’s latest book "Introducing .NET 4.0: With Visual Studio 2010," author and Microsoft C# MVP Alex Mackey consults with Jonathan Keen, Head of Search Practice at Cognitive Group, a UK-based recruitment agency. Together they offer their opinions on the major trends seen in .NET Development.

Mr. Keen provides these ten observations:

1.   “Generally, companies are cutting back on new projects, which have caused a drop in the number of development jobs available.”
2.   “There is more competition for jobs. This increased competition has placed more importance on developers’ need to distinguish themselves in forums such as conferences, user groups, and blogs.”
3.   “C#, ASP .NET, and SQL Server remain core skills companies seek.”
4.   “The most popular and highest paid skills include SharePoint, Dynamics AX, and Dynamics CRM.”
5.   “There are many roles focusing on integration with existing applications such as SharePoint and Dynamics suite.”
6.   “There is some interest in ‘Agile’ skills and SCRUM, but less in TDD.”
7.   “Increasingly, WCF and WPF skills are expected on a developer’s resume.”
8.   “Many public sector projects are still using .NET 1.1.”
9.   “There is an emphasis on web programming over desktop programming.”
10.   “Technologies such as BizTalk have drastically decreased in popularity.”

About "Introducing .NET 4.0: With Visual Studio 2010"
Microsoft is introducing a large number of changes to the way that the .NET Framework operates. "Introducing .NET 4.0: With Visual Studio 2010" by Alex Mackey provides a roadmap to these changes in the new .NET 4.0. The book serves as a no-nonsense primer that will help experienced .NET developers understand the impact of the new framework and its associated technologies.

About Alex Mackey:
Alex Mackey is an experienced ASP .NET/ SQL Server consultant who has been working with .NET since version 1.0. Alex started out programming when he was 12 on the Amiga with a hobbyist program called Amos. Most recently, Alex has led development on a number of complex health care applications and has been lucky enough to work around the world in the Middle East, America, and Ireland. He is a Microsoft C# MVP and active in the development community. He runs the .NET user group DevEvening.co.uk.

About Apress:                                                   
Apress, Inc., part of Springer Science+Business Media, is a technical publisher devoted to meeting the needs of IT professionals, software developers, and programmers, with more than 700 books in print and a continually expanding portfolio of publications. Apress provides high-quality, no-fluff content in print and electronic formats that help serious technology professionals build a comprehensive pathway to career success. For more information about Apress, visit www.apress.com.

OnForce Q4 2009 Report Shows Stabilization in IT and CE Services, CEO Offers Predictions for 2010

BOSTON – January 25, 2009 – OnForce, the trusted online services marketplace that empowers
businesses to find highly skilled local service technicians, today released the OnForce Services
Marketplace Index (OSMI) for both the fourth quarter of 2009 and the full 2009 Year End Report. The OSMI provides a comprehensive analysis of trends in information technology (IT) and consumer electronic (CE) services based on thousands of service events across North America. For the Year End report, OnForce measured data from more than $150 million of services transacted through the OnForce marketplace throughout 2009.

Last year, OnForce saw two major trends in the marketplace. Early in the year work order pricing was tested as the economy wavered; later in the year work order pricing stabilized for three consecutive quarters. The marketplace also saw an uptick of installation work order for the second half of the year. Both aspects provide some positive signs for technology service businesses in the coming months.

Highlights for 2009:

Over the course of 2009, several observed trends were in line with OnForce's year end prediction:

· “Fix not Buy” was the mantra as businesses opted to repair current equipment rather than
invest in new purchases.

o Overall, 62 percent of all work orders in 2009 were in the break-fix category.
o Nearly 86 percent of TV/Video work and 78 percent of PC Desktop work orders were breakfix.
· “Cheap Remained Chic” as customers turned to more affordable technologies such as VoIP.
o VoIP/Telephony work volume grew nearly 200 percent from Q1 2009 to Q4 2009.
o New installation work accounted for 73 percent of all VoIP/Telephony service events for
2009.
· Customers became price kings and strongly influenced the cost of equipment and services.
o In 2008, VoIP/Telephony was the highest revenue generating category at $500. In 2009,
work order values in this category declined to $150.
o Security and Wiring & Cabling service events were the most expensive work order
categories, each surpassing $200.

"Many of these trends will continue during 2010 as businesses continue to tightly manage their IT
spending," said Peter Cannone, CEO of OnForce. "We expect a moderate return to growth over the next few quarters as companies will continue to be cautious, and as many are still faced with an overstock of technology equipment."

"For VARs, 2010 is about getting closer to your customers; to be successful in this climate it is critical to listen to customers needs, become their partners, and offer a broad portfolio of software and services abilities. At OnForce, we believe that it is important to drive a new standard of service excellence by partnering with our service buyers and technicians," concluded Cannone.

Highlights from Q4 2009 OSMI:
In addition to work order pricing, OnForce saw continued stabilization of work order volume in the fourth quarter of 2009. The marketplace saw installation work increase by three percent, offsetting a slight decline in break-fix service events. Installation service events accounted for 35 percent of total service events while the break-fix category accounted for 59 percent. Additional key findings include:

· The top four categories this quarter in terms of work order volume include:
· PC Desktop: 27% (down 3% from Q3)
· TV/Video: 17% (relatively flat)
· Network: 16% (relatively flat)
· Printer: 10% (relatively flat)
· Oklahoma, Vermont, and South Dakota were the least expensive states for onsite services in Q4, a
shift from Q3 when Maine, New Hampshire, and Nevada were the least expensive states.
· Houston, New York, and Chicago saw the most onsite service volume in Q4 for the fifth quarter in a
row.

Looking Ahead:
Based on major industry-wide trends and the OnForce Marketplace, Cannone offered the following
predictions for the coming year:

VARs to Become Full Service Organizations
"Organizations today are seeking an integrated, single solution to meet all of their IT needs and VARs are poised to meet this demand. In the year ahead, the successful VAR should strive to become the full service organization that can offer a total solution for their clients. VARs that can offer a wide-range of abilities, from hardware to software to services, will be in high demand in the months to come. Increasing their breadth of capabilities allows VARs to become more entrenched with customers and move beyond vendor status to become their customers true partner. Those who made this transition last year are ahead of the game.

Slow and Steady
"Organizations will still look to closely manage their IT costs in 2010. While we have seen an uptick in installations across several technology categories in our marketplace, we expect the break-fix trend to continue into 2010."

Overstock Bottleneck Signals Asset Disposal Opportunity
"Many companies are faced with an overstock of technology equipment and will look to optimize current infrastructure or offload older, excess technology in an effort to be as economical as possible. Those companies who specialize in asset disposal are going to thrive in the next 12 months."

Pipeline to Prosperity Paved With New Technology
"While 2009 was the year of cost-cutting, 2010 is going to be the year for revenue generation. Companies of all sizes can gain a key competitive edge by embrace new technologies, such as mobile devices, that will enable them to work smarter and more efficiently."

Outsourcing Becomes Valuable Business Tool in the New Decade
"While outsourcing was once thought to be negative, things have changed. As companies are continuing to downsize, work still needs to be completed. When they cannot add the capacity internally needed to complete IT services, organizations will look to augment their staff by outsourcing work to qualified, temporary staff."

The Year End 2009 and OSMI Q4 2009 reports are available for download at:
http://www.onforce.com/OSMI/2009
http://www.onforce.com/OSMI/q409

About OnForce
OnForce is service made simple. The company provides access to a trusted national network of more than 13,000 onsite service technicians connecting service demand with local supply through an online marketplace — easily, efficiently, and profitably. With more than one million completed service orders, is a proven leader in helping technology service businesses increase profits, gain a competitive advantage, and contain service costs. The OnForce community is made up of 5,000+ IT and CE customers and more than 13,000 service technicians who work in a number of technology categories, including computers, printers, networking, VoIP, point of sale, and consumer electronics. For more information, visit www.onforce.com.

2010 IT Industry Economic Outlook is Brightening, CompTIA Business Confidence Index Finds

With renewed optimism and strengthening balance sheets, IT execs see opportunities in security, healthcare, green IT and virtualization

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. (Vocus/PRWEB ) January 25, 2010 — The CompTIA IT Industry Business Confidence Index experienced its largest jump ever in December 2009, reflecting renewed optimism and strengthening balance sheets among information technology (IT) companies.

CompTIAThe December rating jumped 6.3 points to 56.6, marking the first time net positive opinions exceeded net negative opinions. The December results come on the heels of a relatively stagnant confidence reading for most of 2009.

Over the next six months IT industry executives expect further strengthening of the U.S. economy, the IT industry and their company. The group forecasts an additional 6.5 point increase in confidence, moving the rating into a solidly positive range on the 100-point scale.

“Many macro-economic indicators have improved over the past six months, lending factual support to the positive perceptions of IT executives,” said Tim Herbert, vice president, research, CompTIA. “Yet some big unknowns still loom, such as unemployment, the impact of public sector debt and the tight lending and credit market. Until these factors start to turn around, exuberance about an economic recovery will rightfully be tempered.”

The impact on the IT industry will be evident as executives perform the delicate balancing act of investing in the future, through research and development and new business investments, while at the same time maintaining cutting costs, Herbert said.

Among other positive findings from the December survey, 34 percent of IT executives said they intend to increase capital expenditures in the next six months, compared to 24 percent in September. On the employment front, 31 percent of IT executives plan to increase staffing, up from 24 percent in the September survey.

IT industry executives predict the global IT spending growth rate will be in the 2-4 percent range in 2010, with the U.S. market trailing slightly. Executives are most bullish on IT services, which they predict will grow 2.5 – 5.5 percent in 2010. When asked about 2010 market opportunities, IT executives are most interested in:

 

 
  • Security products and services
  • Healthcare IT market
  • Green IT opportunities
  • Virtualization products and services

Executives surveyed for CompTIA’s IT Industry Business Confidence Index also identified several macro level trends to watch in 2010:

 

 
  • 75 percent of executives think the trend of consumer technologies exerting influence on the enterprise will continue to accelerate.
  • 80 percent said businesses will accelerate their use of alternative business applications via a software-as-a service model.
  • 78 percent believe reliance on mobility, telework and virtual offices will grow this year.

CompTIA’s IT Industry Business Confidence Index is an aggregation of three metrics: opinions of the U.S. economy, opinions of the IT industry and opinions of one’s company. The survey was conducted in mid-December among a sample of more than 300 U.S.-based IT companies, including IT solution providers, value-added resellers, hardware and software firms and others. The full report is available at no cost to CompTIA members at www.CompTIA.org.

About CompTIA
CompTIA is the voice of the world’s information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. For more information, please visit www.comptia.org.

Contact:
Steven Ostrowski
Director, Corporate Communications
CompTIA
630-678-8468
sostrowski(at)comptia(dot)org