This study provides a detailed analysis of IT spending drivers and trends in the manufacturing industry in Central Europe. The study leverages IDC's vertical expertise and a comprehensive survey of manufacturing companies in Central Europe to explore companies' IT and business challenges, short- and long-term IT objectives, IT spending by business and IT functions, and how these are expected to change over the forecast period. The study provides detailed IT spending data for nine technologies and four CE countries in the manufacturing sector in Central Europe over the 2008-2012 forecast period.

"Manufacturers have made it clear they will invest heavily in applications and services that meet their process- and industry-specific needs, and so it is crucial that vendors provide such solutions. At present, vendor verticalization tends to be at the marketing and sales level, but this must be extended to product development, service alignment, and value-based sales." - Arun Chandramohan, Senior Analyst, IDC CEMA