IMS Research

What IMS Research does

IMS Research was founded in 1969 as an independent market intelligence firm specializing in electronics and semiconductor markets. In 2012 it was acquired by IHS Markit, and in 2018 Informa PLC acquired IHS Markit's media and research divisions. In 2019 the combined research operations were rebranded as Omdia, effectively absorbing the legacy IMS Research brand. Today, Omdia operates as a division within Informa TechTarget, the technology-focused subsidiary of London-listed Informa PLC (LSE: INF), delivering B2B technology market research and advisory services to enterprise clients globally.

Omdia's core product is a subscription-based research platform covering AI, semiconductors, telecommunications, consumer electronics, and enterprise IT. The firm runs an extensive primary research operation — over 80,000 respondents and more than 200 million data points annually — supported by a team of 350+ analysts and consultants. It produces 4,000+ deliverables covering 3,000+ topics and tracks 12,000+ companies across 180+ client countries. Beyond subscriptions, Omdia monetizes through strategic consulting engagements, go-to-market insights and advisory, an "Ask An Analyst" on-demand expert service, vendor selection support, and proprietary events including the Canalys Forums and the Display Japan Forum.

The go-to-market model combines enterprise field sales for subscription and consulting deals with a digital marketing engine spanning SEO, email, webinars, YouTube-hosted analyst video, and an analyst directory. Distribution is supported by a 100+ account and customer success team and is amplified through Informa TechTarget's broader media network (Dark Reading, Data Center Knowledge, Information Week, Light Reading). Pricing is quote-based with no publicly disclosed tiers, consistent with enterprise contract structures.

Name

IMS Research

Legal name

IMS Research (operational entity, now part of Informa TechTarget as Omdia)

Website

https://imsresearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

IMS Research now operates as Omdia, a B2B technology market intelligence and advisory firm within Informa TechTarget, serving enterprise technology vendors and operators globally with subscription research, consulting, and analyst access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Market Research

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Management Consulting Services (54161), Marketing Consulting Services (541613)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

Keywords

• Technology market research
• Market intelligence reports
• Strategic consulting services
• Industry advisory services
• Semiconductor research

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellingborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription Research Services: Omdia generates revenue primarily through subscription-based access to its research platform, market intelligence reports, and analyst services. Clients pay for ongoing access to research deliverables, market data, and advisory services.
2. Strategic Consulting: The company offers strategic consulting engagements where clients receive personalized advisory services, market analysis, and strategic recommendations for their specific business needs.
3. Go-to-Market Insights and Advisory: Omdia provides go-to-market insights and advisory services to help clients amplify their market presence and develop effective market strategies.
4. Events and Conferences: The company organizes and hosts events including the Display Japan Forum and Canalys Forums, generating revenue through attendee registration and sponsorship opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IMS Research (now operating as Omdia) provides subscription-based technology market intelligence, syndicated research reports, and primary research products covering 3,000+ topics across consumer electronics, enterprise IT, semiconductors, telecoms, and integrated technology markets. The firm complements its research subscriptions with strategic consulting engagements, go-to-market advisory, analyst-on-demand services, vendor selection support, and industry events such as Canalys Forums.

Product overview

Omdia provides technology research and market intelligence services through multiple offerings: Market Intelligence (delivering 4,000+ reports annually, tracking 12,000+ companies, covering 3,000+ topics, backed by 80,000+ respondents and 200m+ data points), Strategic Consulting, GTM Insights and Advisory, Ask An Analyst (direct expert access), Vendor Selection, and Events (including Canalys Forums and the 51st Display Japan Forum). The company operates across 180+ client countries with 350+ analysts and consultants. The source data does not reference an 'IMS Research' branded product or service; IMS Research appears to have been subsumed into or rebranded under the Omdia brand, which is part of Informa TechTarget's portfolio of technology research properties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Market Intelligence / Research Subscriptions

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CanalyscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOmdia partners with Canalys to co-host Canalys Forums, bringing together technology channel partners and vendors for annual conferences across multiple regions. The forums serve as a platform for market analysis, networking, and strategic discussions within the technology channel ecosystem.
• Informa TechTargetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOmdia is part of Informa TechTarget, a division of Informa, a global events, scholarly publishing, and intelligence company. This parent organization provides infrastructure, distribution, and cross-selling opportunities across a network of technology-focused properties including Dark Reading, Data Center Knowledge, Information Week, and Light Reading.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Frost & Sullivan: Frost & Sullivan is a global research and consulting firm providing market intelligence and growth advisory services across multiple technology and industrial verticals, with a comparable subscription and custom research model to Omdia, particularly in semiconductors, automotive, and industrial technology.
• Forrester Research: Forrester is a leading global research and advisory firm focused on business and technology, offering syndicated research, advisory, consulting, and events with overlapping customer segments in enterprise technology, digital transformation, and consumer technology — directly competing with Omdia's research and advisory services.
• International Data Corporation (IDC): IDC is a premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory, and events for the IT, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets, with a similar subscription and analyst-advisory model and overlapping coverage in semiconductors, enterprise IT, and telecom — making it one of Omdia's closest direct competitors.
• Gartner: Gartner is the largest global technology research and advisory firm, offering syndicated research, advisory, consulting, and conferences to enterprise IT and technology buyers — directly comparable to Omdia's subscription research and strategic advisory model across overlapping enterprise technology coverage areas.
• ABI Research: ABI Research is a technology intelligence firm providing research and advisory services focused on transformative technologies including IoT, AI, semiconductors, and connected devices — directly comparable to Omdia's integrated technology coverage.

Broad incumbents

• S&P Global Market Intelligence: S&P Global Market Intelligence provides research, data, and analytics across financial markets, technology, and commodities following the acquisition of 451 Research and IHS Markit; it overlaps with Omdia in technology and telecom research and operates as a much larger, broader incumbent.
• McKinsey & Company: McKinsey is a premier global management consulting firm with a broad technology, media, and telecom practice that competes with Omdia's strategic consulting engagements, particularly for large enterprise transformation and technology strategy mandates.
• Bain & Company: Bain & Company is a major global management consulting firm that competes with Omdia's strategic consulting and advisory offerings for enterprise technology clients, while operating at significantly larger scale across all industries.

Others

• Kantar: Kantar is a global data, insights, and consulting company providing market research and consumer intelligence across media, technology, and consumer goods — partially overlapping with Omdia's consumer technology and market intelligence offerings, particularly in media and entertainment.

Emerging players

• Counterpoint Research: Counterpoint Research is a global technology research firm specializing in the technology, media, and telecom sectors, with particularly strong coverage of smartphones, IoT, and emerging technologies — overlapping with Omdia's consumer technology and integrated technology research areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@omdiahq8895
• Xx.com/IMSresearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IMS Research