collaboration

Social computing goes enterprise mainstream

Imagine holding an Olympic high diving event where there wasn’t a drop of water to be found. Or, a professional baseball game with no bases, bats or (gasp!) cold beer! That is a little what it’s like today at the Enterprise 2.0 conference and social networking gathering taking place this week at the four-star Westin Boston Hotel, adjacent to the sprawling Boston Convention Center.

As vendors, users and Twitterati experts talked about the latest developments and trends in social networking and collaborative software, attendees in the audience had to deal with little or no WiFi access and signal strength that was as bashful as a freshman at a senior dance. WiFi signal were bouncing all over the hotel lobby (where I am writing this blog), but couldn’t seem to penetrate the meeting rooms where people Twittered and tweeted in vain.

This didn’t stop speakers at the event from expounding about the benefits of social computing to the enterprise – a claim that was backed up with a lot of concrete examples from heavyweight companies like Allstate Insurance, the Humana health services organization, and JetBlue airlines. Many companies are pretty early into social computing, with most involved in pilot projects and efforts that are happening outside the sphere of IT and the corporate network. But, nearly every company making a presentation at Enterprise 2.0 agreed the technology will have a profound impact on the corporate technology structure and strategies over the next five to ten years.
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Networking and IT vendors prepare for the changing face of customers

Now that the last WAN appliance has been packed away and that forgotten computer charger tucked into a drawer, never to be reunited with its owner, Interop 2009 is just a memory. 

However, one question may be lingering long after collected business cards are reviewed and sales prospects investigated: Who are the customers of tomorrow and how will their personal and business makeup impact the way communications products are bought, sold and marketed to the masses?

The answer to this question will have a huge impact on the long-term strategies of such leading networking vendors as Cisco, which believes newly empowered employees, borderless collaborative computing and green initiatives will play a significant role in the psychology and demographics of next-generation buyers, said Tom Wesselman, senior manager of software development at Interop.

The newer generation of enterprise executives and those who will make key purchase decisions over the next decade are very motivated by such things as who has control within a network, universal tele-presence, and consumer-driven technology options, he explained, noting the impact of such devices as Apple’s iPhone on their personal and work habits.

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