IT spending expected to spiral upward quickly!
by Mary Scott Nabers
CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
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DIR ran $1.13 billion in IT sales through its cooperative contracts division in 2008. That total is up 14% over the previous year. But, it is important to remember that DIR is only one contracting source. The total sales number would be considerably higher if it included other purchasing entities.
But IT isn't all computers and laptops. Less than half of last year's IT contracts was allocated for computers. Another 17 percent was spent on networking equipment, 12 percent was spent on software and 10 percent on services.
Twelve percent may not sound like much - unless it's 12 percent of $1.13 billion or more. That translates to $135.6 million (at a bare minimum) in public sector software contracts last year. The 10 percent for computer services totals $113 million and the 17 percent for networking equipment totals $192.1 million. Computer sales at 47 percent of the total IT spending is a hefty $531.1 million.
IT spending in Texas government provides a smorgasbord of contracting opportunities - and there is room at this table for vendors of all sizes, for historically underutilized businesses (HUBs) and for technology-related vendors selling everything from computers and laptops to equipment repair and cabling.
Government IT is a growing marketplace, and in Texas it's about to get $400 million bigger.
