TrendAlert: IT Research Firms Embracing Single-Service Models

With the IT research industry suffering through its first-ever prolonged slump, shifts in how analyst firms package and price content have been dotting the landscape. This by itself is news, since the basic IT advisory model has been generally static for two decades. Current market conditions and increasingly fierce competition, however, are finally compelling analyst firms to be more creative in how they serve clients. Among the more interesting shifts that are occurring is the increasing adoption by IT advisories of seat-based pricing, or 'single-service' models. While the concept itself is not new-Giga Information Group introduced the model back in 1996--the widespread acceptance of its validity is. In this Trend Alert, we examine the background and industry dynamics behind this shift, compare various single-service flavors, and discuss the implications for analyst firms and their clients.