Johannesburg, 14 Dec 2011
Development in products and services for the mainstream consumer has in many respects uncovered the ageing models on which many enterprise systems are built, says Adapt IT Director Gavin Halse.
“When looking at 2011, it is clear that from a business software perspective, the move to a more Web-like interface, modelling those available on social networking sites, has begun in earnest and will set the scene for advancements in the new year.”
Development in ERP applications is one such example of this. Local and international brands alike are modernising their offerings to a more user-centric model more in line with the Web 2.0 experience. “Developments include a completely customisable ERP dashboard along the same lines as downloadable social applications like Tweetdeck, enabling users to define exactly which information is delivered and the order they would prefer to consume it,” says Halse.
The growth in power and availability of intelligent mobile devices has led to further empowerment of the end-user. Consumers expect that as they log off their social networking site, regardless of how they are accessing it, and log on to their business management software, the experience will be similar in nature and easy to operate. “The consumerisation of business applications has begun and will continue further into 2012.”
“In line with our growth strategy, Adapt IT is deliberately investing in all of our software products to take advantage of these changes, including new Web 2.0 interfaces and extension of mobile-based functionality. More importantly, we are working closely with our technology partners in this regard.”
As the rise of social networking affects application and software development, it has also placed a spotlight on the IT industry as a whole. “In many respects, the industry has been guilty of over-hyped marketing, exaggerated promises and unreliable products, says Halse. “Consumers of IT products and IT managers themselves have become accustomed to rebooting, upgrading, and the never-ending quest to find 'the latest version' in the hope that this will somehow solve their specific problem.”
Internet users now have access to forums and platforms to investigate these issues further, as well as various platforms on which they are able to question IT providers directly. “I would say that this is resulting in an overall improved service to the end-consumer as companies are less likely to delay addressing the issue when there is a ground-swell of online feedback available on their product or service.”
Given that social networking sites and Web accessibility is governing the likes of enterprise software, companies in 2012 will need to assess their presence on the Internet more closely than ever before, as consumers rely more and more on engagement with brands, both corporate and consumer focused, online.
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