Despite Softening Macroeconomic Environment, APAC Tech Spend Will Grow By 5.8% in 2023

• Forrester: Despite Softening Macroeconomic Environment, APAC Tech Spend Will Remain Robust And Grow By 5.8% in 2023

• Tech spend will continue to increase over the next five years, with the highest growth concentrated in India and the rest of Southeast Asia

According to Forrester’s (Nasdaq: FORR) Asia Pacific Tech Market Forecast, 2022 To 2027, technology spend in Asia Pacific (APAC) will grow 5.8% to reach US$732 billion in 2023. Seventy-four percent of growth will come from software and services as cloud adoption in the region increases. Additionally, software spending will continue to rise at a compound annual growth rate of 10.3% through 2027.

In spite of challenges including fragile post-pandemic supply chains; a shortage of science, technology, and engineering workers; and questions around how quickly China can restart its economy, APAC tech spend will continue to grow by 6.8% to 7.3% per year from 2024 to 2027. In 2023, Forrester projects regional tech spend growth to be:

• 3% in Australia. In 2023, tech spending in Australia will rise to nearly A$70 billion. Renewed sustainability efforts and the local services economy will strongly influence Australia’s 2023 tech spend and digital growth.

• 4% in China. Forrester estimates that tech spending in China will grow 7.4% to hit ¥1.7 trillion in 2023. Technology innovation will play a key role in industrial modernization, and generative AI will catalyze tech investments in all major industries.

• 1% in India. Tech spending growth in India will be the highest in the region and is expected to reach ₹3.9 trillion in 2023. Strong government support for ongoing digitalization efforts will continue to impact investments in building a national digital infrastructure.

• 6% in Singapore. In 2023, tech spending in Singapore will hit S$22.17 billion. “The Silicon Valley of Asia” continues to be a stable regional hub for technology talent and innovation, with the government allocating high-level budgets toward innovation initiatives.

• 9% in the rest of Southeast Asia. In 2023, tech spending in the five major Southeast Asian economies (Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia) will approach US$47 billion, with Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines having the highest growth rates of 9.3%, 9.3%, and 8.1%, respectively.

“Asia Pacific currently accounts for 75% of global GDP growth,” said Leslie Joseph, principal analyst at Forrester. “While we anticipate APAC tech spend growth to increase even further, it’s crucial that countries and businesses invest in the right technologies to continue to benefit from growing digital and cloud infrastructure.”

Forrester’s latest research report uncovers key insights into the ebbs and flows of the region’s tech economy. In 2023, APAC’s technology spend is forecasted to accelerate by 5.8%, reaching USD$732 billion. This surge is fueled by several compelling forces:

• Software expansion. With a projected growth of 9.4%, software is emerging as the digital backbone of APAC’s technological transformation. This sector is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.3% by 2027, eventually becoming the largest tech category in the region. This growth is significant because, as our study shows, there is a direct correlation between domestic software spend and levels of national innovation.

• IT services evolution. Despite a slight slowdown to 7.0% growth in 2023, tech consulting and systems integration services continue to play a critical role. Cost optimization efforts amid recession fears are giving tailwinds to tech outsourcing, projected to grow faster at 8.3% in 2023.

• Communications equipment adaptation. The growth in this sector is predicted to fall below pre-pandemic levels, but new 5G markets such as India offer some solace. As Chinese enterprise spending on cloud infrastructure remains high, this sector will see 3.0% growth.

• Computer equipment resilience. Although global PC shipments are experiencing a downturn, the APAC market defies the trend, with commercial demand for PCs in China driving growth. This sector will see a modest 3.5% growth in 2023.