Getting more bang for IT's buck

CIOs will have to operate with reduced IT budgets amidst heightened expectations to deliver more, while new purchases and investments will be scrutinized rigorously due to the troubling global economy, according to industry observers.

Despite the slowdown, IDC believes that in 2009, the Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region still presents opportunities as both emerging economies and emerging technologies continue to chart advancements.

Compared to the rest of the world, APEJ is still viewed as the bright spot with IT spending expected to reach US$196 billion by year-end, the analyst firm said last month.




Asia's market players identify key technology developments they will be watching out for in 2009, and discuss challenges they expect to face this year.

  • David Brett, Amadeus Asia-Pacific

    There is often a fear of change, as decision makers may be concerned that any major change in the company could disrupt business, unsettle employees, and lead to productivity loss and business output.

  • Patrick Chan, IDC Asia-Pacific

    New challenges will include leveraging emerging technologies like virtualization and cloud, and phasing them into existing operations to trim operational cost and create differentiation to business services.