20th May 2010

Companies rethink IT strategies since recession

The recession has led many companies to re-evaluate their current IT strategies, an expert has claimed.

A large number of businesses put their pending IT projects on hold during the downturn, relying instead on the technology they already had at their disposal.

However, it has been noted that an increasing number of UK firms are now looking to embrace new IT delivery modes in the wake of recession.

IT contractors could be set to benefit from such developments, as companies appear more confident about outsourcing their IT, using offshore service providers and adopting technologies such as cloud computing.

Steve Ranger, editor of technology portal silicon.com, said the economic downturn had highlighted the benefits of re-investing in technology solutions, galvanising many companies into experimenting with new IT opportunities.

With what Mr Ranger referred to as a "do or die" attitude, many of these companies are willing to embrace online services which could dramatically improve productivity and their overall profitability.

A recent study by ReThink Recruitment revealed that the pay divide between IT contractors in the north and south of the UK is narrowing, with high-profile companies such as Fujitsu and IBM branching out in the north.