Eye Tea

Time to eat humble pie.  I met Sheldon Witney last week (link below) and he pointed out that cloud technology is ready right now and feasible for knowledge-based businesses such as consultancies. And he’s already done a full cloud set-up for several businesses, and I was introduced to the boss of one of them.

‘Course it’s ready for that kind of business, especially during its start up phase or in the first few years.  In my predictions for this year I was thinking of bigger businesses.  Sheldon’s got me thinking though – is it more feasible even for big organisations than I reckoned?  Need to have a few more chats with him I think … !

What we both agreed on though is this.  We come across lots of organisations that are happy to let the ICT Manager focus on purely technical objectives – a stable, secure system, maybe cheaper, greener.  We reckon you should ask more of your IT.  It should be on the hook to deliver core objectives: process more business, faster, with a better customer experience.

There’s a lot to gain from going into the cloud, and lots of businesses are talking about it.  The smart money starts with a business-focused IT strategy.  How do you know what to buy until you know what your business and people need?

Link: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=2949469&goback=.nmp_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1&trk=NUS_NCON-updtr

Isn’t there a lot of talk about cloud computing coming of age this year?  I think some sectors are keen and ready for it.  I wonder if functionality in the cloud has quite come of age so that internet-based software can genuinely support business needs.  Privacy issues can be addressed.  What about:

• Interfacing and integrating with your legacy systems which are not in the cloud.
• Different cloud services ‘working with each other’ and sharing data.
• Adaptability.  Are the graphical user interfaces for online business software as sophisticated and flexible as web 2.0 can do?

I predict that lightly regulated businesses will start moving into the cloud – the business case based on cost alone is hard to resist.  There are lots of barriers for larger or more heavily regulated businesses, such as getting the internal buy-in, and having the cash available to pay for the transition.

I expect 2011 to be the year when mash ups start having an impact on online business software and services.  The ability to syndicate content from all over the web, and do what you want with it for your business, offers some real benefits for business over any above what legacy software can offer.  Could that provide a competitive edge and make a transition to the cloud hard to resist?

Happy New Year and welcome to the first post on our blog. Ever!

You probably don’t remember Steve Taylor’s album, I Predict 1990. I’m not sure that I should, either, and I’m not recommending it. But it came to mind as we turn another decade and I fell to thinking about what’s on the way. Here’s what’s on my radar for the year.

• Remarkable things in IT For (s)he who seeks, I see the price of IT plummeting, and some impressive internet-based services.  On the internet I predict more sophisticated data sharing built on XML and mash-ups.  We also hope to see smarter IT procurement, through buying groups, and re-use of existing IT, both of which we have seen used to great effect particularly in the public sector in the noughties.  2010 will show us the way forward for business IT, just as we (hopefully) emerge from recession.
• Green goes commercial Kyoto comes to town this year when the UK’s carbon trading system gets going.  The Carbon Reduction Commitment will apply to big electricity users.  If that’s you, you should already be taking action.  I expect the risk of penalties will drive deeper investment in carbon-reducing measures like insulation, building management systems, and new sources of heat and power.
• Legal services on the move Within 2 years the first wave of supermarket law and outside investment in law firms will hit.  The sharpest law firms will shift on how they deliver legal services, and pricing.  2010 should see the beginning of significant change.
• Public sector IT gets smarter The public sector is grabbing the concept of cloud computing with both hands and I will be keeping a close eye on it this year.  Recent announcements suggest that using IT to make data accessible to Joe Public, and to improve data sharing between organisations.

What do you think?