ABS is expecting growth in 2002 Companies not expected to go for large-scale IT projects. by Philippine Daily Inquirer Jan 2002 January 10, 2002 COMPANIES will not go for large scale projects this year as information technology spending by companies will be kept at a minimum, according to Rob O'Malley of Active Business Solutions Inc. (ABS), a Filipino IT solutions development company. "Companies assumed a wait-and-see attitude last year. This year, they will be spending but will rather go for smaller projects that can be scaled up," Malley added. Malley noted that companies also expect quicker return-on-investments on information technology this year, thus will go for solutions that can be implemented in 3 months or less. He said that companies that have postponed IT projects last year will likely implement them in 2002. Independent market research firm International Data Corp. said early this month that the technology industry will make a recovery in the middle of 2002. Growth will come from push for security software and services, and China's entry into the World Trade Organization. IDC said that IT spending would increase slightly in the US (4 to 6 percent), Western Europe (6 to 7percent), and Asia Pacific region (10 to 12 percent). Malley shares the same prediction, saying that ABS is expecting growth in 2002 as the demand for CRM solutions pick up in middle of the year. He said that insurance industry will represent 80 percent of its revenues from CRM solutions in 2002. Malley also said that the demand for a service called "CRM audit" has also grown over the last few months. A CRM audit involves looking into the gaps in existing CRM systems of a certain company, and recommend the vital technology required. ABS is a company under the Yapster e-Conglomerate Inc., a group of companies owned by the Yap family. It is also a partner of software company Oracle Corp.