Information access software market in for bumpy ride

The information access software market is in for a bumpy ride in 2006, IDC predicted today.

The sector, which includes business intelligence, search and retrieval, text mining, content management, compliance, and data warehousing software, will experience "swift change" and growth in 2006, according to the analyst firm.

IDC expects consolidation and convergence across several markets, and believes that acquisitions will "run rampant" while partnerships are made and broken as major vendors attempt to dominate the markets.

Large software vendors will enter the information access markets to take advantage of services opportunities and to maintain their customer relationships.

"IDC believes that the next two years will be a time of ferment, change and growth in the information access software and solutions markets," said Susan Feldman, research vice president for content technologies at IDC.

"Business intelligence vendors have the edge right now because of their size, but large software vendors, hardware vendors and even software integrators are entering the converged market with a variety of platforms that combine some of the elements of the enterprise workplace.

"Each of these will seek to dominate the information access market by first selling to its installed base and then moving outward as it gains traction."