There was an interesting event earlier this week at The Recanati Alumni of Tel Aviv University, under the title of Web 2.0: Dream or Nightmare for Executives.
The panel included some heavyweights of the local IT arena, led by Meir Brand, CEO Google Israel, Guy Rolnik, co-Founder of TheMarker.com and Ranit Zexer, CTO, Matrix.
My friend Sagi Chemetz from BlinkIT moderated the panel.
The overall conclusion from the event is that most businesses are still facing difficulties in building a suitable web presence, and already are hammered by Web 2.0 services, that are coming mainly from the bottom up.
Although I was unable to attend, I totally agree with the above conclusion, and here’s why:
Many businesses I visit are still facing some very Web 1.0 problems, such as building up a proper website, maintaining an updated content, connecting employees/customers/partners to that content – all while reducing costs and increasing revenue of course. When I tell them IBM has Web 2.0 tools and services they can utilize today – it’s just too much.
They are in the 2nd or 3rd floor, while the IT arena is at 5th and even 6th floor. Most companies want to advance in little steps, and that’s understandable, but the current environment is changing, fast. Change in inevitable, and in order to survive in this competitive global market, you must stay ahead of the group.
You must initiate, not re-act. You have to embrace innovation (I know it’s such an ‘old’ buzz word, but I have to use it) if you want to stay in the race. You have to increase collaboration in your business, both inside and out, in order to leverage innovation.
Web 2.0 tools/technologies/services may be frightening to some, but they are actually catalysts for growth. Real time collaboration, such as Lotus Sametime, allows one to be more effective in ones work. It allows you to communicate faster, and get the answer you need now – not later.
Team work is also an important attribute, and a business must provide its employees with powerful tools for effective team collaboration. Lotus Quickr does just that, with an eye-catching user interface and the ability for every employee to create virtual places, in 3 steps.
These are only 2 examples, but there are plenty others.
I can understand executives who are taking a step back and shaking their head sideways upon hearing Web 2.0, effective collaboration or increased team work. But, at the same time, I try to explain the past, present and future of this industry – collaboration and social software already dominate the consumer side – it’s time to leverage these tools into the corporate world as well. Not next year – now, today, right now.
Photo under license from iStockphoto.com
