More than ever, retailers that strategically use information technology have the opportunity to turn technological advantage into real long term market gains. We find most retailers have abandoned the practice of internally developing their systems.

Having said that, evaluating IT’s ability to drive value to the business seems an elusive goal for retailers. The largest retailers in particular have lost their ability to regularly and consistently scorecard IT’s value delivery.

This study explores the challenges retailers face in overcoming their legacy of homegrown, outdated application portfolios and shifting to drive real business value. The report, with benchmark data captured from February and March 2009, provides recommendations on how to improve IT value delivery, even in an economic downturn.