Operators in the Online Computer Software Sales industry sell and distribute software for local installation and execution to customers via the internet.

Companies in this industry may also handle digital rights management for that software.

The broad array of available computer software programs used today enables a range of different retail channels to provide industry products to consumers and businesses alike.

Industry sales include unique download and subscription software sales, in addition to the sale of industry software in combination with computer hardware or accessories.

The Online Payment Processing Software Developers industry has experienced rapid growth over the five years to 2019, primarily due to consumers’ retail preferences shifting from traditional brick-and-mortar stores to online retail outlets.

This shift in demand has been facilitated by the boom in the number of mobile internet connections during the current five-year period.

The ever-increasing percentage of services conducted online has bolstered demand for industry services, as online payment processing is directly tied to the use of online retail and auction sites.

Furthermore, growing per capita disposable income is expected to induce consumers to spend more online, spurring demand for industry services.

Overall, industry revenue is expected to increase an annualized 8.4% to $23.3 billion over the five years to 2019, including growth of 6.0% this year alone.

The Online Survey Software industry develops software for use in market research, product testing and a variety of other customizable uses such as employee satisfaction or consumer preferences.

Industry operators offer clients a product that is less costly to run but also more time efficient, interactive and can be easily integrated with data analytics platforms.

As a result, many companies have reduced their use of traditional market research activities, which rely on physical results collection and often generate lower response rates as well as lower operational efficiency.

Instead, users are increasingly opting to extract feedback using services provided by online survey software companies, at a fraction of the cost.

Operators in the Operating Systems and Productivity Software Publishing industry develop and publish operating systems and productivity software products that are necessary for computer usability.

Industry software often comes preinstalled on new computers and similar devices, so industry revenue correlates with new device sales.

As technology has become more intertwined with daily life over the five years to 2021, industry demand has grown.

Total revenue expanded as sales to both consumers and businesses increased during the period, driven by higher disposable income levels and extensive private investment in computers and software.

Altogether, industry revenue increased at an annualized rate of 9.5% to $130.2 billion over the five years to 2021.

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic affected key upstream industries and consumers in 2020 and 2021.

Consumer spending and private investment levels dropped last year, culminating in reduced industry revenue growth of 6.4% and 3.9% in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

The Business Analytics and Enterprise Software Publishing industry has expanded on the back of positive demand conditions over most of the five years to 2021, caused by high private investment in computers and software.

Industry revenue has grown at an annualized rate of 13.5% to $115.2 billion over the five years to 2021, driven by the increasing technological complexity of businesses and an eagerness to adopt efficiency-enhancing software.

Many industry products, such as customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, have become basic tools in the corporate operations and management.

Despite the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, revenue growth soared in 2020 alongside profit, as businesses rapidly shifted operations online.

Operators encountered higher demand from customers seeking to expand their online presence.

Overall, industry revenue is expected to grow 5.4% in 2021 alone, having increased 16.5% in 2020.

Although demand for computers and software has grown strongly over the past five years, operators in the Computer and Packaged Software Wholesaling industry have struggled with price erosion and direct sales by software publishers.

While private investment in computers and software has increased, the price of computers and peripheral equipment has decreased substantially during the same period.

Industry operators have had to pass these lower costs downstream, which has suppressed profitability.

In 2020, however, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic increased demand for computers from businesses.

As social-distancing policies spread across the country, businesses adapted by having employees work remotely.

As a result, computer sales increased, bolstering demand for industry products.

Consequently, over the five years to 2021, industry revenue is expected to increase at an annualized 2.6% to $301.6 billion, including 0.2% in 2021.

The Database, Storage and Backup Software Publishing industry comprises operators that develop and distribute database management, storage and remote-backup software systems.

Database software serves a key purpose within a company’s information technology infrastructure, enabling operational data analysis to supplement well-informed decisions.

The industry performed well over the five years to 2021, as surging private investment in computers and software stimulated demand.

Consumers have also become more alert to the benefits of industry products.

The industry’s primary product segment has gradually become a necessity for many core markets over the past five years.

Altogether, industry revenue has grown at an annualized rate of 5.8% to $60.1 billion over the five years to 2021, including growth of 10.9% in 2020 despite lower private investment and consumer confidence due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Revenue is expected to rise 2.6% in 2021.

The Design, Editing and Rendering Software Publishing industry comprises companies that create software programs for professionals in the fields of graphic design, architecture and video game production, among other applications.

Industry revenue is expected to increase at an annualized rate of 4.6% to $12.3 billion over the five years to 2020.

The adoption of new technology, such as 3D printers, by larger manufacturers and niche hobbyists has spurred demand for computer-aided design (CAD) software during the period.

Furthermore, rapidly increasing private investment in software has benefited industry operators over the past five years.

However, industry revenue is expected to decline 1.9% in 2020, due to constrained private investment in computers and software amid the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic this year.

The e-Discovery Software Publishing industry designs software to assist legal firms and corporations in producing evidence from electronically stored information (ESI), which includes e-mails, text documents, databases, audio and video files, social media and websites.

Over the five years to 2021, increasing regulations regarding the retention, modification and deletion of ESI have prompted many companies to seek e-discovery software to assure legal compliance and to provide the ability to produce electronic evidence when called upon.

Moreover, a steady expansion in the complexity and volume of data has bolstered demand for e-discovery software products, which sift through ESI to identify, collect and produce relevant information.

Due to these factors, the industry prospered for much of the period, despite a decline in 2020 due to the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Over the five years to 2021, revenue is estimated to increase at an annualized rate of 4.5% to $1.9 billion, including a 1.9% increase in 2021.

Strong profitability over the current five-year period also encouraged new companies to enter the market and expand workforces.