There could soon be widespread change to the methods used to pay for IT services, experts have claimed.
SAP has suggested that resources that are provided over the internet will see firms being charged for usage rather than per computer.
However, not all companies will be happy to change to this method, and the business software provider believes that a variety of ways of payment need to remain possible.
David Keene, vice-president of large enterprises at SAP, said that the various "pieces need to float together in easier and easier patterns".
"Cloud application platforms will essentially battle with the on-premise platforms, [and they] will become available more and more as long as it manages solutions," he added.
"What you are likely to see is the way we pay for IT is going to change."
Data from Forrester Research revealed last month that one area of IT that is set for expansion in 2009 is software investment, which has been forecast to do "better than the average".
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