Worldwide Small and Medium-Sized Business 2010-2014 Forecast: Recovery and Change in SMB IT Spending by Category and Region

This IDC study examines the global small and medium-sized business (SMB) market for advanced technology products and services. Total IT spending is presented for 2010-2014, along with the baseline year of 2009. Detail on spending totals is provided for hardware, software, and services technology areas: PCs and peripherals, systems and storage, network communications equipment, applications software, and IT services.

"Technology will be playing an increasingly important role in keeping SMBs competitive on a global basis," said IDC vice president of SMB Research Raymond Boggs. While business expansion, especially in developed regions, will not always be associated with new hiring, increasing investment in technology will allow firms to grow revenue without necessarily growing headcount. "Technology spending will continue to vary by company size, geography, and IT category, with PCs and servers setting the stage for advanced solutions across regions." Boggs also noted that SMB IT spending will top $629.3 billion in 2014.