IDC Insights Reports 25% Worldwide Revenue Growth in 2008

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IDC's Industry Insights companies, a series of industry-specific research and advisory business units, today announced significant growth over the past year across the six business units worldwide. Despite the current economic downturn, IDC Insights achieved a 25% increase in worldwide revenue this year.

Today, nearly half the IDC Insights business comes from outside the United States, underscoring the business units' expanding global footprint. Over the course of the year, IDC Insights has expanded its service offerings globally, across the Insights businesses, to provide customers all over the world with comprehensive coverage of the most pressing issues affecting IT executives today. As a result, IDC Insights has experienced a major increase in its worldwide client base of technology buyers and specialty technology vendors, particularly in the financial services, manufacturing, and government markets.

Expanded Services in 2008 include:

• IDC Insights provided comprehensive sustainability coverage to look at how each industry is using IT to reduce their carbon footprint outside of the IT organization. The IDC Green Business Web site enables users to understand what’s beyond “green” IT and explore the latest IT tools and services needed to support a company’s overall green initiative.
• Financial Insights launched FinSights Advisor, which provides original, immediate, and pointed reviews of the current financial crisis as well as the other pressing technology and business challenges facing the financial services industry today.
• Health Industry Insights expanded coverage to Health 2.0, looking at how the healthcare industry is incorporating Web 2.0 technology in their businesses. Topics and trends include coverage of Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault news.
• Energy Insights is expanding coverage of the Water Market to assist users in the role technology will play in addressing the scarcity of access to clean water.
• Manufacturing Insights is expanding coverage of Plant Floor and Sales & Marketing trends this year.

Key Appointments include:

• David Potterton appointed as Global Vice President of Research, Financial Insights
• Ivano Ortis appointed EMEA Research Director, Global Retail Insights

Geographical Expansion includes:

• Expansion of Health Industry Insights in Asia/Pacific
• Global Retail Insights launch in EMEA
• Strong investment in research across the Asia/Pacific region - specifically in high growth countries like China and India

In 2009, IDC Insights plans to continue its global expansion by adding research coverage in ASEAN and North Asian markets and hiring key analysts in China, Malaysia, and Singapore. IDC Insights will also expand its presence in all major European countries and plans to hire additional analysts with EMEA Government Insights and EMEA Manufacturing Insights. In addition, new executive roundtable events across all industries will be held in eight Asia/Pacific countries and new deep-dive benchmarking products that capture over 70 data points for manufacturing and financial services companies will be added. Finally, IDC Insights will launch a new research program in EMEA with a global scope for Manufacturing Insights and Global Retail Insights.

“Our growth is testament to the caliber of analysts on our team and their high quality advice on the most important IT issues affecting today’s decision makers, across industries and around the world,” said Kirk Campbell, President and CEO of IDC. “We are grateful to our customers for their ongoing support and remain committed to providing comprehensive research and advisory services to help buyers and users navigate the technology market and drive revenue growth.”

About IDC's Industry Insights Companies

IDC's Industry Insights companies provide industry executives with research-based advisory and consulting services that enable information technology (IT) and business executives to maximize the business value of their technology investments. Industry Insights cover the industry value chain for energy, financial services, government, health, retail and manufacturing. Staffed by senior analysts with extensive experience in these industries, Industry Insights provide a portfolio of offerings that are relevant to both IT and business needs.

IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology and telecommunications industries. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. For more information about IDC and its Industry Insights Companies, please go to www.idc.com.