Worldwide Enterprise Communities Applications Forecast, 2024-2028: Engagements, AI, and Trust

This IDC study discusses the forecast growth of the worldwide enterprise communities applications market for 2024-2028. More than three-quarters (77%) of workers now use external communities, up 13% from the previous year. This is far less than the one-third of companies that offer these platforms to connect customers, partners, and/or employees. These platforms are crucial, creating a sense of belonging and identity - and trust. As marketers shift from traditional web tracking cookies, communities offer rich first-party data. There is a significant opportunity to engage fans, prospects, and customers. Companies without well-moderated communities risk losing customer data and influence over their product lines. The enterprise communities software market is forecast to reach nearly $9 billion by 2028, driven by evolving user behavior, AI enhancements to engagement, the need to meet with peers, and a company's need for more real-time first-party data to ground AI and remain compliant."Companies without a well-moderated community will find their communities hiding in plain sight on various platforms and will have no opportunity for engagement or first-party data," according to Wayne Kurtzman, research vice president, Social, Communities, and Collaboration, IDC. "The enterprise communities applications market will continue double-digit growth over the forecast period. These communities are where brands can grow fans and increase lifetime value and advocacy. AI will enhance what is possible, including creating new and valuable analytics that tie to customer outcomes."