Global IT spending to pick up in 2014, reach $3.77 trillion: Gartner

Global IT spending is expected to pick up pace this year and grow 3.1 per cent to touch USD 3.77 trillion on the back of higher enterprise software and device sales, according to research firm Gartner.

In 2013, the market grew 0.4 per cent over 2012. The total spending in 2013 is estimated at about USD 3.66 trillion, Gartner said in a statement today.

Enterprise software spending growth is expected to be the strongest at 6.8 per cent to touch USD 320 billion by 2014-end from USD 300 billion last year.

Spending on devices such as PCs, ultramobiles, mobile phones and tablets, which contracted 1.2 per cent in 2013, is expected to increase 4.3 per cent to USD 697 billion.

Convergence of the PC, ultramobiles (including tablets) and mobile phone segments, as well as erosion of margins, will take place as differentiation will soon be based primarily on price instead of the task-orientation of devices, Gartner said.

Spending on IT services is expected to grow 4.5 per cent to USD 963 billion, while on data centre systems, it is projected to touch USD 143 billion, up 2.6 per cent.

Spending on telecom services is estimated to expand 1.2 per cent to USD 1.63 trillion in 2014.