Meta-Theme of "Convergence Now" Will Shape the $721 Billion Information Industry in 2014, Says Outsell, Inc.

-- Outlook Report Describes Human-Machine Ecosystem Shaped by Innovators like Amazon, Hearst and IBM

BURLINGAME, California and LONDON, Jan. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Outsell, Inc., the leading research and advisory firm focused on media, information and technology, today released its Information Industry Outlook 2014 report, with predictions and companies to watch for the coming year in this $721 billion industry. 

"In 2014, Outsell sees information and technology converging, with devices, humans, value chains, content, and workflows blending and become one human-machine ecosystem, bringing the concept of Techno Sapiens to a new level," said Leigh Watson Healy, Chief Analyst, Outsell. "It's a meta-theme we call 'Convergence Now!' that affects virtually every aspect of work and life, particularly in emerging areas such as health IT, educational technology, and marketing services/automation."

Convergence Now! also reflects the new normal in which industry leaders like Reed Elsevier, Wolters Kluwer, Thomson Reuters, McGraw Hill Financial, Pearson, Moody's, Verisk, and IHS are partnering and competing with the likes of Oracle, IBM, Deloitte, and SAP. Meanwhile, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Yahoo! and Twitter are the new "broadcast" media – until they, too, are unseated. The shift has led to unprecedented turnover in the corner office as companies race toward more technological innovation ahead of their competitors.

In areas where companies have already broken ground – such as platforms to support workflows – just "getting there" is far from enough. "Now we are seeing an accelerating ramp of content, plus software, plus community, plus commerce all coming together with multiple players. This trend is speeding up everywhere," said Anthea Stratigos, Co-Founder and CEO, Outsell.

The Outlook identifies other information industry trends that matter, from data-driven designer farms to the breakdown of marketing silos. Outsell also names 32 "Companies to Watch" who are shaping these trends, such as Arialytics, DeusM (a unit of UBM), Digital First Media, Hearst Business Media, Hypothes.is, Judicata, New York Times Company, SIPX, Smart Patients, and Vision Critical.

Outsell's analysis is based on its tracking of 15 information industry segments and over 7,000 firms, along with their customers and advertisers. For a complimentary copy, go to: http://www.outsellinc.com/store/products/1213.  To interview Leigh Watson Healy, contact Derek Beckwith at derek@warnerpr.com or +1.978.922.0818.

About Outsell, Inc.
Outsell, Inc. is the world's only research and advisory firm focused solely on media, information, and technology. We use a time-tested, quality-proven, top-secret blend of data, brains, community, and pizzazz to produce extraordinary value for our clients. Elite information industry executives from all over the world look to Outsell for trusted advice, bold insights, and confidential access to exclusive intelligence and decision support. Outsell has your back. You'll stay more focused, save time, grow revenue in a fast-changing global digital environment, and sleep better at night. Guaranteed.