Cost optimisation will begin to focus on restructuring business processes, potentially through IT outsourcing.

Data analyst Gartner predicts this trend will increase as the economic uncertainty passes and companies will begin to focus on long-term improvements.

Kurt Potter, a research director at the firm, claims the needs of groups change in relation to alterations to the macroeconomic climate.

He states: “As organisations focus on the higher-level cost optimisation areas, they will recognise and communicate higher levels of business benefit aside from cost cutting.”

Mr Potter says the emphasis on these reductions will be at higher levels of the business and could result in IT outsourcing opportunities.

Changes will also be visible in the procurement sector, departmental cutbacks and savings made across both business and IT divisions.

A recent study by IDC reveals there may be an increase in storage virtualisation due to the credit crunch.

Eric Sheppard, the programme manager for its Europe, Middle East and Africa storage research, claims server advances are leading to changes in company IT infrastructure.