ERM Apps Mkt To See Steady Growth Following An Extraordinary 2011

International Data Corporation (IDC) announced the latest results of its Worldwide Semiannual Enterprise Resource Management (ERM) Applications Tracker. The tracker monitors almost 370 ERM vendors in a total of 49 countries, providing biannual market size, vendor share, and forecast data for the eight functional markets that comprise the ERM market in IDC’s software taxonomy.

“The ERM applications market surpassed expectations reaching 11.9 percent year-over-year growth in 2011, with the first half of the year performing slightly better than the second half,” said Patrick Melgarejo, director, Worldwide Software Trackers. “In terms of functional markets, three out of eight performed better than the average ERM market; they are Human Capital Management, Financial Performance and Strategy Management, and Project & Portfolio Management. These markets are also expected to perform the best in the years to come.”

In 2012, the regions are forecast to grow at single-digit rates on average, starting a prolonged conservative yet positive period. Every region except Western Europe is forecast to grow at above-market rates. Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) and North America will perform the best as investments in ERM heighten in countries including China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and the United States. Latin America, unlike past years, is not expected to be among the top regions because of an anticipated drop in Mexico. Meanwhile CEMA and Japan are forecast to show steady positive growth.

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“In a global economy that continues to offer hopeful signs mixed with uncertainties and elevated downside risk, companies will continue to have a greater need for software and services that help drive down costs, manage risk, improve productivity, and identify new opportunities for growth,” said Scott Guinn, Research Director, Enterprise Applications. “There is also a heightened awareness of the consumer, and with that the need to integrate ERM more holistically with front-facing systems. Technology trends fueling the recovery in ERM include advances in architectural constructs, such as cloud computing, mobility, advanced analytics, and new social models and tools. This means more touch points, greater transparency, and more intelligent engagement with customers, employees, suppliers, and partners.”

As in the latest years, SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft hold almost one third of the overall ERM applications market and have slightly increased their collective position compared to 2010. However, when it comes to specific functional markets the competitive scenario varies substantially. IBM holds the number 1 position in the Enterprise Asset Management market. Infor and ABB Ltd. are the other top competitors in this market. Within the Project and Portfolio Management market, the top 5 ranking is completed by CA Technologies and Deltek Inc. IBM, Infor, and SAS are also top competitors in the Financial Performance and Strategy Management Applications market.

The competitive scenario changes again when analysed by region. While in Latin America TOTVS threatens the leading position with continuous growth of more than 30 percent year over year. In Western Europe vendors such as DATEV and Sage are in the mix for second place. In Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan), UFIDA and Kingdee displace some of the traditional world class leaders and in Japan, besides SAP and Oracle, Fujitsu, Works Applications, and OBIC Business Consultants control the top 5 ranking.