UK tech market set to top £50bn

Britain has become a nation of gadget buyers

The increasing consumerisation of IT looks set to get another major boost in the coming year, according to research, presenting IT managers with new opportunities and challenges.

A new report out today from market research firm Mintel estimates that the booming consumer technology and communications market could be worth over £50bn by the end of 2010, despite the recession.

Sales of hi-tech equipment rose 13 per cent to reach £49bn between 2004 and 2008, driven by innovation and the economic boom. But the market is forecast to grow to £60bn by the end of 2014, as consumers forgo other luxuries to fund their "technophilia".

The report found that 38 per cent of consumers would be willing to give up on a night out in order to buy an electronic device such as an iPod or high-definition TV, for example.

Report author Jim Clark explained that the influx of consumer devices in the corporate sphere could offer IT managers an opportunity to improve worker productivity at no cost to the company.

"Businesses are always behind the times in terms of technology," he said. " It could be a cheaper way for a business to enhance productivity if they allowed staff to use the full capabilities of their iPhones. Often businesses don't have the money, so they might as well harness the upsurge in consumer demand for these devices."

However, Clark predicted that many IT managers could be forced to block the use of such consumer tools in the corporate sphere over fears of security and non-compliance.