04/08-04   -   Pressmeddelande

IDCs European IT Forum 2004 to Focus on Enterprise Efficiency, Innovation and Utility Computing

Efficiency and innovation will be the main topics for discussion at IDC´s 14th European IT Forum, to be held in Paris on September 27 and
28. The forum will offer companies, economists and opinion leaders an opportunity to meet and discuss the needs and dynamics of the European IT market.

The ability to align core business with market evolution in real time is one of the most important strategic challenges facing enterprises, and with this in mind the forum
will offer an ideal opportunity for companies to see how they can enhance their competitive advantage by evolving from a rigid infrastructure to a flexible environment.

"The next generation of IT solutions - what IDC calls dynamic IT - is about to create a further improvement in business agility," said Frank Gens, IDC´s senior VP,
research. "Companies showing a far-sighted market vision are already pursuing dynamic IT transformation on two major and complementary paths: more rapid
business strategy enablement and increased IT operational efficiency."

During the forum, leading IDC analysts and market experts will share their thoughts on these topics and identify the requirements for a dynamic enterprise through
cost reduction and increased operational efficiency. They will also discuss key technology issues such as the utility computing model, which will enable companies
to simplify the use of IT. According to IDC, the supply of IT services on the basis of business needs is becoming a strategic element not only for company growth but
also for vertical-market evolution.

"IDC surveys suggest that vertical markets have adopted varying approaches when it comes to implementing on-demand computing strategies, and some have
been quicker to move than others. This is partly due to the fact that some verticals are better positioned than others, although they are not necessarily among the
front-runners in on-demand computing implementation," said Luisa Bordoni, vice president, Worldwide Vertical Markets, IDC. "Today, on-demand tends to be
evaluated as an instrument to optimise costs, but the impact of this philosophy will be much broader in encompassing new forms of competitive advantage and new
types of organisation."

For more information, contact:
Mathew Heath
+44 20 8987 7107
mheath@idc.com

Alexia O´Sullivan
+44 20 8987 7109
aosullivan@idc.com

About IDC
IDC is the premier global market intelligence and advisory firm in the information technology and telecommunications industries. We analyze and predict technology
trends so that our clients can make strategic, fact-based decisions on IT purchases and business strategy. Over 700 IDC analysts in 50 countries provide local
expertise and insights on technology markets. Business executives and IT managers have relied for 40 years on our advice to make decisions that contribute to the
success of their organizations.

IDC is a division of IDG, the world´s leading technology media, research, and events company. Additional information can be found at www.idc.com
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