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In this IDC Tech Talk Bob Parker, Group Vice President, Manufacturing & Retail Insights, discusses IT Productivity in the Manufacturing and Retail Industry. Reviews of IT spending data collected over the last 10 years make it look like IT spending has been taking cuts, but as Bob points out it's really only that IT spending has not been growing as fast as revenue because IT departments can now do more with less. What investments in IT allowed for that increase in productivity? The big three are, virtualization, business intelligence, and longer refresh rates on hardware. What does the future look like? Bob thinks more IT productivity is yet to be gained with cloud computing, integrated decision environments, and smart devices (mobility). For a look at all 6 factors that drove IT productivity over the last 10 years, and the 6 factors could drive more IT productivity over the next years, check out the IT Cost Challenge for the Coming Decade.