Companies will spend more on cloud-based services in the next few years, but the growth for one of the biggest technologies to greet the workplace in recent years is expected to slow down, according to research firm Analysys Mason.
It predicted that the global market for such services will grow from US$18.3 billion in 2012 to US$31.9 billion in 2017. However, the 17 per cent year-on-year growth rate it expects for 2013 is likely to be lower in the next five years, even as the market expands.
In the report shared with the media last week, principal analyst Steve Hilton said the slower growth is down to difficult economic conditions worldwide and the slow-than-expected adoption of technology by both large and small enterprises.
Developed countries are expected to see revenue from enterprise cloud-based services rise from US$17 billion in 2012 to US$28.7 billion in 2017. Revenue in emerging markets will remain far smaller – from US$1.2 billion in 2012 to US$3.2 billion in 2017, little more than 10 per cent of total worldwide revenue.
Analysys Mason’s report also sees communications service providers (CSPs) accounting for 18 per cent of total worldwide enterprise cloud services revenue by 2017, as they are expected to grab a larger chunk of the market.
SMEs will spend on cloud services, accounting for 49 per cent of total revenue by 2017, especially as CSPs target more cloud services at them and as their awareness of the technology grows.
