The Italian digital market it was affected by the outbreak of the pandemic as well as the entire economic system. However, the close of the year was better than expected and close to zero (-0.6%). However, this is not the only good news in the sector: the forecasts for the next three years are decidedly rosy and, implementation of the National recovery and resilience plan (Pnnr) permitting, growth could hit record rates, bringing the sector closer to quota 100 billion euros in 2024.
To deal with the digital market is the latest edition of the annual report “Digital in Italy 2021” Vol. 1, made by Anitec-Assinform in partnership with NetConsulting cube. The performance of the sector was better than that recorded by the Italian economy as a whole: spending on digital goods and services, analysts estimate, recorded a decline of 0.6%, for an overall value of 71.5 billion euros. The most significant decrease concerned the more traditional components of the market, such as network services (-6,4%) and the software component (-2,3%). In contrast, spending on devices and systems (+1,3%), the market for ICT services (+3,3%) and the tandem consisting of content and digital advertising (+3,6). On the other hand, the two-speed dynamics already observed in recent years are confirmed: on the one hand, the decline in the traditional component of the ICT market (-1,9%), and on the other, the race of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, the cloud and all the other so-called digital enablers (+7,1%).
The real positive points, however, are hidden in the forecasts for the years to come. The latter, underline the editors of the report, are naturally influenced by the implementation of the Italian plan to revive the post-pandemic economy. Not surprisingly, the study outlines four scenarios based on the share of use of the funds allocated for the digitization. The best hypothesis, that of the total use of the funds allocated for the 2021 over the course of this year, it could ensure additional market growth of 3.6 billion euros, which by doing so would reach a volume of 77.6 billion euros against the 74 billion of physiological growth. In percentage terms, we would be in the presence of an increase of over 8 percentage points (precisely 8,5%), that is 5 points more compared to the estimate without contribution of Pnrr. If the pace of the best-case scenario were to go up and running over the next few years, the market would even get close to 100 billion euros in a few years, reaching altitude 95 billion in 2024.
The sectors that could have the greatest impact from the use of the funds provided for by the Italian digital plan are Public administration, health, industry, telecommunications, tourism, transport, energy and the utility. “Now we need to proceed swiftly along the path traced by the PNRR – he comments Marco Gay, president of Anitec-Assinform -. Digital is the most effective tool for reducing the productivity and efficiency gaps in our economic system, improving the services provided by the public administration, supporting the birth of new entrepreneurship. The objectives that await us will require the commitment and collaboration of all public and private actors, in a logic of mutual respect for roles and skills. We have a duty to look to the future and to the new generations by building a stronger Italy that stands on solid and competitive foundations ”.
.