Technology Link to Business Success Grows Stronger for Middle Eastern Companies, New CompTIA Study Finds

LONDON, May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The role of information technology (IT) in setting strategic priorities and achieving business success is growing for companies in the Middle East and around the world, according to new research released today by CompTIA, the non-profit association for the IT industry.

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More than 90 percent of Middle Eastern businesses surveyed say technology is important or very important to their success; 86 percent plan increases in IT spending this year; and 62 percent have expectations of hiring new IT staff in 2013.

CompTIA's International Technology Adoption & Workforce Issues study is based on a survey of more than 1,250 business and IT executives in countries around the world, including Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

A full 69 percent of Middle Eastern executives expect business conditions to improve in 2013. They also say they will rely on technology to help them achieve key strategic business priorities, including reaching new customers; improving staff productivity and capabilities; and innovating more efficiently. Top technology priorities include:

• Cybersecurity
• Updating aging computers and software
• Automating business processes
• Data analytics, big data and business intelligence
• Network infrastructure

"Emerging technologies such as cloud computing continue to see adoption gains as well," noted Tim Herbert, vice president, research, CompTIA. "Just over 60 percent of responding companies in the Middle East say they are either experimenting with or fully using cloud computing solutions."

Greater reliance on technology may prompt many businesses to increase their IT staff over the next 12 months. Yet IT skills gaps remain a challenge, as 85 percent of Middle Eastern executives indicate at least some degree of gaps in IT skills in their organization.

"In many cases skills gaps are a natural part of the IT industry due to the speed of innovation," said John McGlinchey, vice president, Europe and Middle East, CompTIA. "The demand for new technologies can get ahead of the supply of workers who are well trained and credentialed in those areas."

Workers and companies are responding to the need for more skills, as 94 percent of Middle Eastern businesses engaged in some type of IT training during the past 12 months.

CompTIA is the voice of the world's IT industry. To learn more, visit http://www.comptia.org/global/ar/home.aspx.