This market analysis offers an overview of spending in packaged applications by vertical market in Western Europe and the five largest countries in the region. Five-year forecasts, derived from both demand-side and supply-side information, are provided together with an analysis of key drivers and inhibitors for packaged applications spending in each industry. This study is one in a series of IT market segmentation studies covering the IT marketplace in Western Europe. Spending data is provided for the 2010–2015 period, with details for France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the U.K., and the rest of Western Europe. Each regional and country forecast is segmented into the following 11 vertical markets: discrete manufacturing, process manufacturing, retail/wholesale, financial services, business services, transport, communications, utilities, government and education, healthcare, and other.

"The outlook through 2015 is positive overall, although a short-term slowdown is expected in 2012," said Serena Da Rold, program manager, IDC European Vertical Views. "Utilities will be by far the fastest-growing sector, business services and communications will also generate particularly strong growth through 2015."