The technology analyst firms strategy teams read.
At a Glance
| Publisher | Gartner and Forrester Research (two firms, grouped here as the analyst-research category) |
| Coverage | analyst research, market forecasts, and vendor evaluations across IT and technology markets — Gartner’s Magic Quadrant, Forrester’s Wave, and extensive advisory reports |
| Access | premium subscription and advisory retainers |
| Free alternative | vendor-published excerpts and press summaries of individual reports |
| Regional | global, enterprise-technology focused. |
Our Take
Gartner and Forrester shape how enterprises buy technology — their vendor evaluations (Magic Quadrant, the Forrester Wave) and market forecasts are reference points in procurement and strategy, and being placed well in one measurably moves a market. For a research analyst, the value is synthesized expert judgment and market sizing; the caveat is that this is analyst opinion and methodology, not raw data, and vendors often cite the flattering excerpt. Use them for enterprise-technology market views and vendor landscapes; read the methodology, and pair with primary evidence when the stakes are high.
Power Tips
- Treat Magic Quadrant / Wave placements as one analyst view — read the underlying methodology and criteria, not just the picture
- corroborate a Gartner/Forrester market forecast with independent data (funding, patents, adoption signals) before building a decision on it.
Alternatives & Complements
CB Insights · IDC · Bloomberg Terminal · Statista.
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