According to new research conducted by South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation ( IDC) indicates that as Information Technology (IT) channel providers search for opportunities amid volatile credit and capital markets, the gap between customer IT financing requirements and channel partner capabilities continues to widen.

The study, conducted during February 2009, also produced a series of research findings that reinforced preconceived notions of how market volatility affects channel providers, as well as some research findings that IDC analysts said were surprising.