This IDC study makes 10 predictions for the information access, analysis, and management software markets, which include business intelligence, data warehousing, search, text analytics, database, and content management software. As enterprises move from transaction-based to information-based platforms, the need to unify access to multiple information silos, enabling sharing and analysis across formats and repositories, has become critical.

"As information access, analysis, and management software markets continue to adapt to changes in demand, IDC believes that these technologies will be increasingly deployed in the context of specific business processes," says Brian McDonough, IDC's research manager for Business Analytics. "Making information actionable, rather than just accessible, is paramount to successfully competing in these markets in 2009."