Over 50% Indian SMEs expect to increase IT budgets for 2009: IBM

Over half of Indian small and medium entreprises surveyed expect their information technology budgets to increase in 2009, said a global study released by IBM.

The majority cited supply chain management (SCM), information management and security management as critical business priorities for improving business performance and efficiency.

The study is based on a study of about 1,879 business and IT executives at companies with between 100 and 1,000 employees across industries and in 17 countries, including India, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, China etc. “Midsize companies in India are constantly innovating, while deploying resources to create sustainable business value. They are investing in the future – making changes and taking risks to survive, compete and thrive,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, Director, General Business, IBM India/South Asia.

Globally, the study shows that despite the current economic environment, a large percentage of organisations are rethinking, not reducing, when it comes to budget. A total of 64 per cent report that their IT budgets remain the same or are actually increasing for the coming fiscal year, with nearly 40 per cent stating their priorities have shifted.