Consumer techs 'will help IT departments prosper'

End users should be given more control and responsibility over their computing needs so IT departments can focus on ways of improving how businesses can function, according to analyst house Gartner.

On average two-thirds of a company's IT budget is spent on operations and maintenance, leaving little money to invest in initiatives that could transform businesses, it said.

Gartner also stressed that end users are becoming frustrated with restrictions IT departments place on them. As a result, many turn to consumer tech and services to improve the way they work.

The analyst said consumer technologies - such as instant messaging, podcasting, Skype and wi-fi - have the potential to "radically increase" employee productivity. But he added too many IT organisations still try to control or prevent use of such technologies.

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Speaking at Gartner's Symposium in Cannes, senior Gartner VP, Peter Sondergaard explained that while many of the responsibilities of the IT organisation remains mission critical, it needs to "bend to the realities of and opportunities associated with consumer, internet and fast-emerging technologies".

He added Gartner "firmly believes these technologies, and the ones to follow, will power the future economy provided the IT organisation lets go".