European firms 'looking to IT process automation'

New research has revealed that a significant number of European firms intend to look into IT process automation as a way of cutting costs during the recession.

Carried out by IDC, the survey of more than 500 companies found that nearly 50 per cent saw process automation as a key way of reducing costs within their IT operations.

Companies considering reducing headcount or centralising IT resources as an important tactic during the downturn were found to be the most likely to look to IT process automation.

"European organisations of all sizes are now more seriously considering investments in IT process automation than was previously the case. IT organisational change is fuelling interest in process automation," remarked Martin Canning, vice-president of software and services research at IDC Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Last week, a report from Microsoft indicated that small businesses around the world are expected to invest more in IT to help their operations during the downturn.

The study suggested that usage of software-as-a-service technology, which may include web hosting, will see spending rise by 20 per cent among small businesses in 2009.

Written by Tim Dunton