This IDC update discusses technology investments in general and spending for IT consolidation initiatives in particular often playing an important role in the transformation of core enterprise business strategies in today's IT market. Over the past few years, IT spending has evolved as end-user organizations have shifted their investment focus, with the goal of growing their core businesses. In the world of IT consolidation, IT savings are often reported to be the top goal for the consolidation program. Conversely, the upfront cost of the consolidation initiative itself is also reported to be a top barrier for consolidation. Interestingly, these top- and bottom-line goals are at odds with one another, particularly when one considers the that many end users are increasingly focused on customer satisfaction as part of their strategy to grow their core businesses. Nonetheless, IDC believes that IT consolidation often plays a more important role in future business initiatives as end users target: