InfoTrends/CAP Ventures surveyed participants to explore current and future plans related to content-centric collaboration endeavors. The survey questions concerned business drivers, capability requirements, problem ownership and funding, as well as current and planned technology investments.

Just a few of the key findings of the study include:

• 65% of collaboration is currently done using e-mail, while 54% is performed through traditional methods such as meetings, phone, and printed documents. The reliance on both is expected to decrease as other technologies are deployed to meet the challenge.
• Strong growth is expected for the use of document/content management (36%) and collaboration-specific technologies (52%) to facilitate collaborative processes.
• The mean budget for collaboration projects in 2004 is $282,460, which includes software licenses, hosted or managed services, and external professional services.
• Companies budget less for external services than for software licenses, with nearly 40% utilizing services from the technology vendor, nearly 25% from local VARs or system integrators, and over 10% from large professional service providers such as Dell, IBM, and HP. 
• Fewer than 30% of participants would not consider a hosted/managed solution.
• The most critical capabilities necessary for collaboration included configurable security levels, context-sensitive search, integration with e-mail, and project status and reports.

“All types of organizations share a growing focus on improving collaborative processes. Our study will provide vendors and IT and Line-of-Business professionals with the knowledge of how organizations are approaching content-centric collaboration needs and utilizing solutions to meet their goals,” commented Michael Maziarka, a Director at InfoTrends/CAP Ventures. “The study will shed light on the requirements for content-centric collaboration, the types of capabilities needed, and the plans for which technologies will be deployed to facilitate.”

Research for the study was conducted via Web-based surveys among 209 IT, executive management, and Line-of-Business professionals as well as in-depth customer case studies. The case studies describe organizations that are using dynamic content solutions in innovative ways for content-centric collaboration needs.

The study’s data tables and charts are available immediately for purchase. Analysis for the study will be available in December 2004. To learn more about the report or to make a purchase, please contact Alison Hipp at , ext. 126 or via e-mail at .

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and document solutions industry. We provide research, analysis, forecasts, and advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to grow their businesses. Additional information about InfoTrends/CAP Ventures is available on the Web at www.infotrendsresearch.com.