Trendspotting
What's up, what's down in IT.
 |
|
|
|
Optimize
March 2007,
Issue
65
|
| Nucleus Research offers these insights . . . |
|
Global Content Not Lost In Translation
As the Earth becomes flatter, it will be easier to see who's consistent in their communications, and who isn't. Although many companies have gotten a handle on content management in one language, distributing consistent content to a global audience—whether it's branded material or product documentation—can be daunting. A standard process and library of terms that can be translated once will ensure consistency while lowering costs.
Standard components—for example, a style and branding taxonomy that's agreed upon once—can help speed translation and development of new product materials, much as componentized architectures can accelerate software development. One vendor, SDL International, provides both translation tools and processes to streamline translation costs and ensure consistent brand messaging across borders. |
|
|
Software Buying, Chinese-Menu Style
Kudos to vendors like Oracle that are letting customers cherry-pick the components they want to buy and pricing them accordingly. It builds better sales relationships and reduces shelfware.
Traditionally, enterprise deployments have involved purchasing a large number of applications, not all of which are needed or wanted. ERP vendors often bundle in applications for business intelligence or CRM that weren't part of the initial deployment and sometimes never get used. Buyers who don't want "free" software and expect to go best-of-breed in areas such as BI and CRM should expect more flexibility and customization from their vendors.
Oracle is already there. Its pricing model lets customers, especially small and midsize businesses, reduce up-front cost by allowing them to choose from a list of applications, many of which are pre-built for specific verticals or departments.
|
|
The Microsoft Gravy Train
With Microsoft pushing users to upgrade to Vista and Office 2007, we're wondering why we have to pass the hat again when Redmond hasn't shown us compelling business benefits. Should this be the last version of the software maker's operating system? |
|
|
Virtualization Happens
Whether in the call center or across the development floor, innovators are starting to use virtualization to drive down software-licensing costs while streamlining IT provisioning.
As virtualization moves from buzzword to reality, Nucleus Research sees some companies gaining significant benefits. Among these are reduced software-license costs; avoidance of expenses associated with data centers, networks, cable, power, and cooling; reduced provisioning time; and greater agility in responding to short-term requests.
The challenge? Helping end users—be they developers or call-center agents—understand how the virtual desktop is different. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
