# Increasingly Flexible working patterns drive up IT and technology SPEND across europe Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2018-05-08 Category: TECHNOLOGY Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology Meta Title: New Study: 76% of European Companies Increasing IT Budgets Meta Description: Discover how European businesses are investing more in IT and technology to support remote and frontline workers, with a focus on data security and cloud-based URL: https://financedigest.com/increasingly-flexible-working-patterns-drive-up-it-and-technology-spend-across-europehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/fd080518-2-1736842760526-compressed.jpg) - _76% of organisations across Europe have increased IT and technology budgets this year_ - _Increased spend is targeted on providing remote workers with the technology and security required to support remote and frontline workers_ - _Almost a quarter (24%) of 500+ employee organisations think smart glasses solutions will be implemented in the workplace within the next 12 months_ Toshiba [today reveals that IT and technology](https://www.financedigest.com/cfos-need-to-embrace-todays-technology-for-tomorrows-success.html "CFOs need to embrace today’s technology for tomorrow’s success ") budgets within European businesses will increase this year for more than three quarters (76%) of organisations. This rise in IT spend is directly linked to the number of remote workers within businesses, with those companies with higher numbers of remote workers indicating greater increases in their investment in new solutions and technologies. The study of more than 1,000 senior IT decision makers from medium and large organisations, which was conducted in partnership with Walnut Unlimited, demonstrated that priorities for this increased investment are focused on \`data [security](https://www.financedigest.com/cyber-security-data-re-assurance.html "Cyber Security: Data ‘Re’-Assurance") (62%), cloud-based solutions (58%) and improving productivity (54%). When compared to similar IT decision maker research conducted by Toshiba back in 2016, [data security has increased in terms of importance](https://www.financedigest.com/when-not-if-why-a-data-breach-response-plan-is-more-important-now-than-ever.html "When not if: why a data breach response plan is more important now than ever") (54% in 2016), as has investment in cloud-based solutions, with 58% of organisations considering it a top priority today compared to 52% in 2016. While all country [markets surveyed](https://www.financedigest.com/soccer-goalkeeper-gloves-market-surveys-opportunity-growth-and-forecast-by-end-use-industry-2021-2031.html "Soccer Goalkeeper Gloves Market Surveys, Opportunity, Growth and Forecast by End-use Industry 2021-2031") (UK, France, Germany, Spain and Benelux) saw an increase in IT spend, Spain demonstrated the most significant change, with 86% of organisations indicating an increased IT and technology budget for the next twelve months. Similarly, businesses in the transport and logistics sector were the most likely to have an increased budget (89%), while only 52% of [government and public sector organisations noted that there would be a larger spend](https://www.financedigest.com/growth-will-pay-for-uk-government-spending-plans-minister-says.html "Growth will pay for UK government spending plans, minister says") on IT and technology. **[Security concerns and evolving working](https://www.financedigest.com/the-importance-of-information-security-in-a-post-pandemic-hybrid-working-world.html "The importance of information security in a post-pandemic hybrid working world") patterns** Offering employees flexibility in their working patterns continues to be of paramount importance to organisations [across Europe](https://www.financedigest.com/demand-for-energy-efficient-and-advanced-fairway-mowers-to-be-witnessed-across-europe.html "Demand for Energy-efficient and Advanced Fairway Mowers to Be Witnessed across Europe").  The study reveals that 68% of respondents said they had at least a tenth of their employees [work](https://www.financedigest.com/why-employers-rocked-by-the-great-resignation-must-keep-working-mothers-on-board.html "Why employers rocked by the Great Resignation must keep working mothers on board ") primarily while travelling or in no fixed location. This increase in flexible working is a clear driver behind the [top three investment priorities being data](https://www.financedigest.com/top-5-data-analytics-trends-for-2023.html "Top 5 Data Analytics Trends for 2023") security, cloud-based solutions and improving productivity.  When asked about priorities for improving productivity for this increasingly mobile workforce, almost half (47%) of respondents indicated that better employee training was critical, with 43% of respondents stating that more [innovative use of digital](https://www.financedigest.com/the-cellular-imaging-market-to-show-an-inclination-towards-digitized-innovation.html "The Cellular Imaging Market to show an inclination towards digitized innovation") tools was a priority. **[Technology to support](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-launches-270-million-pound-fund-to-support-green-heating-technology.html "UK launches 270 million pound fund to support green heating technology") remote and frontline workers** To help ensure worker productivity, regardless of where employees are working from, there is a distinct shift in the solutions IT decisions makers are rolling out across their organisation. At present, 61% of respondents indicated that they provide laptops for their remote teams and 55% offer business-provided smartphones. However, when asked what devices will be used most over the [next three years](https://www.financedigest.com/global-crypto-regulation-body-likely-in-next-year-top-official-says.html "Global crypto regulation body likely in next year, top official says"), smartphones caught up with laptops (both at 38%) and businesses also indicated an appetite for newer technologies such as mobile edge computing devices (10%) and thin/zero client solutions (9%). Larger enterprises (500+ employees) are set to lead the way when it comes to rolling out wearables in the workplace, with 24% predicting that a smart glasses solution will be rolled out for employees within the [next 12 months](https://www.financedigest.com/prince-harry-and-meghan-to-visit-britain-next-month.html "Prince Harry and Meghan to visit Britain next month"). This is compared to just 16% of respondents from organisations with 100-499 employees. 82% overall predict that smart glasses will be used within their business in the [next three years](https://www.financedigest.com/german-engineering-firms-expect-hit-from-supply-chain-bottlenecks-next-year.html "German engineering firms expect hit from supply chain bottlenecks next year"). The drivers behind the uptake of enterprise smart glasses use include the arrival of 5G, as referenced by 40% of respondents. Furthermore, 59% of those working in the [manufacturing sector](https://www.financedigest.com/expansion-in-manufacturing-sector-has-increased-demand-for-industrial-cooling-system-market.html "Expansion In Manufacturing Sector Has Increased Demand For Industrial Cooling System Market") stated the hands-free functionality as a key benefit of rolling out smart glasses to employees. Maki Yamashita, Vice President, B2B PC, Toshiba Europe comments, “While the technologies available to employees are constantly evolving, it’s really interesting to see that the [key challenges](https://www.financedigest.com/refurbished-medical-imaging-equipment-market-comprehensive-study-with-key-trends-major-drivers-and-challenges-2018-2026.html "Refurbished Medical Imaging Equipment Market: Comprehensive Study with Key Trends, Major Drivers and Challenges 2018-2026") that IT decision makers are looking to address have remained relatively constant when compared to opinions in 2016. Organisations are continuing to balance how best to achieve the perfect blend of unhindered [mobile productivity](https://www.financedigest.com/rebound-in-the-oil-gas-exploration-and-production-activities-to-boost-mobile-servicing-rig-market-fact-mr-report.html "Rebound In the Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Activities to Boost Mobile Servicing Rig Market, Fact.MR Report"), while being protected by a robustly secure IT infrastructure. New solutions coming into the enterprise are helping to achieve this, but IT teams need to focus on the varying challenges and benefits for their individual sectors when determining how best to make these solutions [work](https://www.financedigest.com/are-businesses-using-cybersecurity-as-a-scapegoat-for-a-desperate-return-to-office-working.html "Are Businesses Using Cybersecurity As A Scapegoat For A Desperate Return To Office Working?") for their business.” Further results from the study and additional insight will feature in Toshiba research report, which is available for download here. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---