IDC releases its 2015 IT predictions

TORONTO – International Data Corporation Canada (IDC) has released its findings regarding the top information and communications technology predictions for 2015. The number one issue is expected to be IT security, with IDC forecasting that 4 million personal records will be exposed in Canada next year.

2015 Canadian ICT Predictions: Accelerating Innovation on the 3rd Platform was presented during IDC’s 2015 Canadian ICT Predictions webcast on December 11th, and provides business decision makers and technology vendors with insight and perspective on the top developments that will affect the Canadian market in the year to come.

• Apple Watch: A Landmark for Wearables: The launch of Apple Watch will invigorate consumer interest in wearables, helping increase overall consumer category shipments approximately 70% year-over-year to about 1.2 million by the end of 2015.
• Chinese Vendors Steal Significant Share in the Canadian Mobile Phone Market: Chinese Smartphone shipments grew over 50% in 2014, and will see double digit growth again in 2015.
• Enterprise Adopters of Mobile Apps Achieve Escape Velocity: Companies that invest heavily in developing internal mobile enterprise applications will edge out competitors by becoming more productive and collaborative.
• Ultra-Portability Expands Desktop Market: Small form factor computers make up 15% of the Canadian desktop market. By 2016 this will grow to 28% with CAGR of 17%.
• IT Pros Face Transformation, Turmoil and Career Choices: By 2020 IDC Canada expects up to half of IT jobs will look different than they do today.
• Security Becomes the Top IT Priority: Over 4 million records of personal information of Canadians will be exposed in 2015.
• Canadian Retailers Embrace the Internet of Things (IoT): IDC Canada expects IoT spending to reach close to $25 billion across all industries by the end of 2018.
• IoT Catalyze Smart Cities Investments: In 2015 leading Canadian smart cities like Vancouver, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal and Toronto will leverage IoT to catalyze their SmartCity investments.
• Mobile Banking Becomes the Dominant Digital Channel for Bank Clients: Mobile banking will fundamentally change how banks interface with their clients. It will also be the growth channel for client interactions. Mobile innovation will become the top digital banking priority in 2015.
• Big Data & Analytics will be the Most Important Ingredient to “Get IoT Right”: Growth rate for IoT Analytics will be three times the growth of traditional analytics over the next 3-5 years in Canada.
• Line of Business Will be Directly Involved in 50% of New IT Investments: The rise of the IT engaged line-of-business executive is driving new influence and spending beyond the IT department within Canadian enterprises.

“2015 is expected to be a pivotal year on a number of fronts in the Canadian ICT sector,” says Tony Olvet (pictured), Group Vice President of Research Domains at IDC Canada. “Growth in the market will be primarily driven by mobile technologies and applications, including wearables, cloud services, and big data.

“Built upon these third platform technologies are industry-specific Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, which we will see become more prominent as an emerging trend in the marketplace,” he says. “Moreover, an increasingly important element being addressed in the third platform era is security, which will become the top priority for IT in Canada.”

“2014 was indeed the year of the breach,” says David Senf, Vice President, Infrastructure Solutions. “As Canada gets set to add mandatory breach notification in 2015 through the Digital Privacy Act, CEOs will open up to IT requests for additional security budget and leadership. The disparity in security practices and prowess between heavily regulated industries such as finance and health, versus business services and manufacturing, should narrow somewhat, and consumers will need to learn more “how to” security basics and training.”

About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,100 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. For more than 50 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @idccanada.