Monday, December 29, 2008

2009 Predictions - this year is easy to predict!

Some of my 2009 prediction are picked up here...

A Perfect Storm for Cloud Computing and other IT Weather Predictions for 2009

The truth is, and we all know it, 2009 will be about survival and cost savings. The number one factor we are already seeing is that if you cannot show a quick ROI, forget it. Whereas for the last 5 or 6 years, ROI has often funded new architecture changes (even when the ROI is unproven), in 2009 the must-have-identifiable savings will go to the bottom line to show shareholders you have costs under control. Businesses that do not spend quickly, when the spend will save money, will have their shareholders and employees to answer to.

I know this will sound biased but OpenSpan has consistently shown, that automating user desktops can reap savings in months. And large $ savings at that.

Enterprise desktops are awash with too many unintegrated applications bringing back the long forgotten integration phrase known as "Swivel Chair Syndrome"

If your in IT, grab a coffee or cup of tea and watch over the shoulder of one of your enterprise users. Tell me, they wouldn't benefit, BIG TIME from desktop automation?

2009 will be the year of desktop optimization and automation - this year, my 2009 prediction is easy!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Desktop Optimization leads the way for cost savings!

I am also pleased to be blogging over at TMCnet on the subject of Desktop Productivity, something very close to my heart as you all know. You can find the link here http://blog.tmcnet.com/desktop-productivity/

But for now, I'll post the text here as well, just for y'all :)

There are 3 Priorities for IT and Business in 2009 for immediate and dramtic cost savings!

Optimize what your users already have and do
Optimize what your users already have and do
Optimize what your users already have and do

OK, a little tongue in cheek but it's TRUE.... Have you ever looked at a real user lately in your company? Really looked at their desktop and what they do with it? Please, stop what you are doing and go and look. This is really the only place you can see with your own eyes the results of your organizations labors for SOA, Integration, BPM, BAM, Mash-ups, Web 2.0 and what ever other technology you've been working on for the last 5 years! Your users are your consumers!

What do you think you your users will be looking at or doing on their desktops? I am not a mind reader but I'd be surprised if it isn't at least 4 of the 5 below;

Viewing more than 5 applications daily, possibly 10 or more. This will include completely different UI models such as Windows GUI apps, Web Apps, Java Apps, Mainframe apps and maybe even some DOS apps.
Entering common keystrokes 1000's of times a day to integrate the above applications which will include ALT-C, ALT-TAB, ALT-V and mouse clicks, Focus, double-click, right click, copy, Focus, right click, paste. Also typing in the same text twice (SSN, Phone etc.,)
Executing laborious repetitive workflows, like looking up in two or more systems to see if the customer exists in two or more of the systems, copying data out of spreadsheets to do a trade and moving the data back to another system
Logging in with user name and passwords repetitively to at least one of the applications, maybe all of them, even SAAS applications or ones you wrote a few years ago
Writing text on a notepad or post-it-note to be used later (to enter data back into a spreadsheet or notes log).

I could go on, but you get the point. Enterprise has spent a fortune on the server integration technologies but rarely do they focus on what business is demanding. That is, the optimization what our users already have and do. If you deliver your users yet another application, make sure it doesn't just sit there and add to the desktop conundrum of too many un-integrated applications. It kills desktop productivity and adds to your enterprise costs. Fact.

Optimizing the desktop allows enterprises to save hundreds of millions of dollars by automating even the simplest of workflows on their user's desktops. Think of the time wasted daily by your users and what you would save through automation. I have seen desktop automation be implemented in less than 4 weeks that saves over $500k a year by automating the tasks of less than 20 users. I've also seen companies save over $20m a year by pushing out just one small automation across 20,000 users.

The time has come. There are products out there today that can be rapidly implemented to integrate, automate and ultimately optimize all of the applications your users have on their desktops. IT can be trained in days and massive savings to the bottom line can be seen in weeks!

With automation and desktop productivity improvements comes better monitoring, compliance, less errors and elimination of duplication. 2009 - will be the year of desktop integration and dramatic productivity increases. Remember, I said it here first.

My company, OpenSpan has one such product and I encourage you to look at a demonstration that you can view on line. Do your own math? What would just 2% increase in user productivity mean to your CFO in 2009?