When it comes to technology, everyone wants the latest and greatest. In fact, we bet your employees have been plotting for months on how to justify an iPad for their jobs. At the very least, there are necessary software upgrades and a good chance someone’s hard drive will need replaced. Someone will spill coffee on a keyboard or a monitor will fade to black.

While most companies do their best to keep IT costs in check, a survey of more than 300 top IT execs reveal that 54 percent plan to grow their budgets this year – quite a jump from May 2009 when only 14 percent planned a budget bump.

According to this survey, mobile devices and applications will be the recipients of these funds, in large part as a way to improve employee productivity and efficiency.

Rick Peltz, CIO of brokerage firm Marcus and Millichap, says mobility is crucial to the work of his company’s 1,200 brokers. “Any type of mobile device is a big benefit to them and it leverages their ability to foster relationships away from the office.”

Are you planning to spend more on IT this year? How will you allocate the money? What’s the best value for your spending this year?