Gartner has unveiled the top global 100 vendors in IT in 2016 based on their revenue across IT (excluding communication services) and component market segments.
In the “Gartner Global Top 100: IT” vendors, Apple was the largest vendor with more than $218-billion in IT revenue — approximately $79-billion larger than the number two vendor, Samsung Vendor Group.
The top five vendors, according to Gartner, are: Apple ($218,1-billion), Samsung ($139,1-billion), Google ($90,1-billion), Microsoft ($85,7-billion) and IBM ($77,8-billion).
Gartner believes the top three vendors can attribute much of their size to their solid alignment with the Nexus of Forces.
Microsoft was a large and influential company when the Nexus of Forces began, having grown to market leadership during the web and e-business phase, and has managed to pivot to remain relevant.
IBM gained its size and market dominance in the very earliest IT markets when servers, storage and consulting services dominated.
The need for these devices and services, along with mobile phones and PCs will remain — cloud will underpin all digital business initiatives — but they will become more commoditised and less of a driver for new projects and spending.
As organisations increasingly digitalise their products and services, digital giants (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent) can become involved in, or even take over, the digital experience.
Gartner predicts that by 2021, 20% of all activities an individual engages in will involve at least one of the top seven digital giants.
The focus of the digital giants has mainly been in the consumer, citizen and employee world. Because the digital giants have not yet been as focused on business to business (B2B), there is opportunity for other companies to take the lead.