Fuelled by recent market trends and new technologies (such as Instant Messaging, Wikis etc.) numerous new E-Collaboration systems emerged in the marketplace. Hence today, the market for E-Collaboration systems presents itself increasingly complex and fragmented. The market offers an abundance of systems that often support a wide range of features.

In order to shed light on the market the aim of this market study was to structure the range of available for E-Collaboration systems into meaningful classes. For doing so a large number of systems were characterised and classified using a catalogue of criteria that describes the systems in terms of features and functions for collaborative group work. Cluster analysis was then applied to identify stable clusters of systems.

The market study was conducted two years in a row - in 2005 a sample of 66 e-Collaboration systems were examined; in 2006 it was a total of 94 systems. Application of a cluster analysis led to the identification of four (2005) resp. five system classes (in 2006) and a range of sub classes. The resulting system classes were then described in more detail. By comparing the two studies trends of integration and market convergence could be identified.

The results of the studies, being a reflection of the existing market complexity, should be equally helpful for researchers who deal with E-Collaboration systems as their objects of interest, as well as for business executives, who need a market overview to support buying decisions.