Deloitte Emerging Technologies

The clothing industry wants the shirt off your back

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:12:14 +0530

Some passengers balked when airports first installed body scanners. Since then, the novelty has worn off, and most of us view the devices as just another obstacle to hurdle as we race to our destinations.

Now, similar scanners and other technologies are cropping up in the retail clothing industry, intending to provide garments that fit ... without visiting a fitting room, or relying on inconsistent sizing.

But they’re also raising questions about how much we’re willing to give in order to get something we want. To get a more comfortable fit, we may have to confront some uncomfortable truths.

The digital divide: Generation gap or a chasm?

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:12:05 +0530

The Greatest Generation. The Silent Generation. Baby Boomers. Gen X. Millennials. This brief history of U.S. culture now has a new demographic to add to its list: The Post-Internet Generation.

Instead of being born with silver spoons in their mouths, they were raised with mobile devices in their chubby toddler hands. They don’t know a world without laptops, tablets and cell phones.

ERP reconsidered: Is public cloud the only option?

Mon, 6 May 2013 21:43:49 +0530

Everyone knows only public clouds can deliver the system flexibility and scalability a business needs at a price point it can afford. Right? Not so fast. Recent technological improvements have revved up computing power and driven down operating costs. Is it time to take a second look at in-house ERP?

The drumbeat for cloud adoption has become deafening in recent years. Internal sourcing is inefficient, unaffordable and, well, unnecessary ̶ or so the conventional wisdom goes. Increasingly, however, the cloud-only drumbeat is not the only sound CIOs hear.

Hardware vendors have dialed up computing power by turbocharging CPU, memory technologies and solid state storage. In doing so, they have made it possible for many IT organizations to run their current workloads, internally, with a lot less gear. Such improvements have breathed new life into the idea of running internal ERP systems ̶ and led some to question if public clouds and external sourcing are, in fact, the only game in town.

Is it time to take a second look at in-house ERP? Read the debate and join the conversation. www.deloitte.com/us/debates/ERPEngine.

How the Internet is changing higher education

Mon, 6 May 2013 21:42:36 +0530

Revolution. Innovation. Disruption. Transformation. These are some of the words that showed up automatically to complete the phrase "online higher education" when I typed it into a search engine. Clearly, the Internet is shaking up higher ed, if even a search engine’s auto-complete algorithm can sense it.

Read the latest blog post by JR Reagan, Federal chief innovation officer and principal, Deloitte & Touche LLP?

The postdigital grapevine: Social media and the role of internal audit

Mon, 6 May 2013 21:41:33 +0530

No longer confined to areas of entertainment and life management, social media and social software have become an integral part of the postdigital business landscape. With more and more users linking, liking, friending and following, how can internal audit (IA) help assess and mitigate risks associated with social business?

Tech Trend #8: Reinventing the ERP engine

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:37:49 +0530

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is no stranger to reinvention, overhauling itself time and again to remain relevant through disruptive waves of client/server and the Web. Its formula for success? Expanding the very definition of ERP, from financials to manufacturing to supply chain management to CRM to HR and more. Beyond new functional capabilities, it has also expanded into information - business intelligence, reporting and analytics allow organizations to build predictive models. For a while, the focus was extensibility through integration platforms, application servers and orchestration suites. Today’s momentum is around ubiquity. Organizations are striving to make ERP accessible in many ways - on your mobile device, in your collaboration suite or in your social streams. The engine of ERP is being reinvented.

What can this mean for you and your business? We invite you to visit www.deloitte.com/us/techtrends2013_chapter8 to learn more about reinventing the ERP engine and the other trends selected this year, watch our library of videos and download your copy of the report.

Tech Trend #9: No such thing as hacker-proof

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:40:13 +0530

Many organizations may have a false sense of security, perhaps even complacency, resulting from their investments in non-agile security tools and processes they have relied on for years. Yet firewalls, antivirus, intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) are increasingly less effective as attackers leverage encryption and other innovative techniques to evade them. Many companies are failing to detect long-dwell cybercrimes in their IT environments and misallocating limited resources to lesser, more generic threats. Basic security blocking and tackling is valuable, but is in no way sufficient.

Organizations across many industries need to up their games. That can require changing the lens through which they view cyber risk - not relying upon traditional security controls revealing tell-tale signs of an effective attack - but leveraging intelligence and advanced techniques to identify the coming threat and proactively respond.

What steps can you take toward having a more proactive cyber-threat defense? We invite you to visit www.deloitte.com/us/techtrends2013_chapter9 to learn more about "No such thing as hacker-proof" and the other trends selected this year, watch our library of videos and download your copy of the report.

Internet protocol version 6: Is the sky finally falling?

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 17:20:08 +0530

As connected computing becomes more ubiquitous in our personal and professional lives, unique Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for these devices are becoming a scarce resource. The current IP version 4 is expected to soon run out of unique addresses, and organizations with external communications requirements are being urged to migrate to the next version - IPv6. But where should you start, how and when? We’ll discuss:

- Implications of migration to IPv6

- Steps that organizations can take to prepare

- Examples of early adopters that have made the transition to IPv6

With a looming - but uncertain - deadline, learn how you can prepare now for the inevitable advent of IPv6. Register for the Dbriefs webcast today at 2:00 PM ET.

The face of innovation: What does an innovator look like?

Mon, 1 Apr 2013 19:43:01 +0530

If I ask you to picture an innovator, what’s the first image that comes to mind? A mad scientist in a Frankenstein-like lab? An aspiring entrepreneur in his college dorm room?

A passion to innovate can be found in laboratories, in corporate boardrooms and at elite universities. It’s found among geniuses and savants, in executives and college professors.

The next generation of problem solving

Mon, 1 Apr 2013 19:41:59 +0530

There aren’t quick fixes for many of the problems we face today. But there are platforms for change and innovation that are working to address them, platforms that solicit input from customers and citizens alike.

IPv6: Is it finally time to migrate?

Mon, 1 Apr 2013 19:40:54 +0530

CIOs have been hearing about the importance of adopting Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) for so long that some have become desensitized to the issue. Yet, with some parts of the world already running out of available IP addresses, can they continue to put off the migration to IPv6?

For over a decade we’ve heard warnings about how the world is using up the addressable space provided in Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4). Unless users adopt IPv6 - the replacement for IPv4 that can support billions of new addresses - they could eventually find themselves unable to communicate with the outside world via the Internet.

To date many organizations have built quick workarounds or ignored the warnings altogether, and the sky hasn’t fallen. Today IPv4 continues to support the vast majority of global Internet traffic. Yet, the warnings persist and are, in fact, becoming increasingly dire. Why? We’re now approaching the much-heralded breaking point, fueled by growth of mobile adoption, increased pace of public cloud adoption and the proliferation of new end points with Internet connectivity - "The Internet of things" - via embedded sensors in physical objects like cars, home appliances, watches, vending machines and elevators, to name a few. Asia and Europe are already running out of available IP addresses, a phenomenon that is expected to occur in the Americas within three years.

With this in mind, can organizations in the Americas - particularly those that are customer-facing - continue to ignore the calls to migrate to IPv6?

The scientific information landscape and applications to translational research

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:44:02 +0530

This paper describes specific execution measures involving strategy formulation, careful planning, multithreaded execution and an ongoing change management as a means of translating ideas to action, thereby increasing a TRI solution’s usage and making it an invaluable collaborative resource.

Tech Trend #5: IPv6 (and this time we mean it)

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:41:59 +0530

Internet Protocol (IP) is how we connect to anyone and anything on the Internet. Every participating device, application or service has a distinct address - a way to identify itself and communicate with other devices, applications and services. Today’s IP standard, IPv4, dates back to the 1970s. It allowed for 4.3 billion unique IP addresses, which was more than sufficient to meet the computing demands of the time.

But we’re approaching a breaking point, fueled by growth of mobile adoption, increased pace of public cloud adoption and the explosion of new end points with Internet connectivity via embedded sensors on physical objects. This will likely force enterprises that work with customers and business partners via the public Internet to move to version 6 as their primary communication method in the next two or three years.

This is a daunting task for which action should not be deferred much longer. IPv4’s sunset is no longer a question of if, but of how soon. Telecommunications, hardware and systems software providers, and content providers have been leading the way - ahead of customer and enterprise demand. Organizations should follow suit promptly. This time, we really mean it.

What impact could the move to IPv6 have on you and your business? We invite you to visit www.deloitte.com/us/techtrends2013_chapter5 to learn more about IPv6 and the other trends selected this year, watch our library of videos and download your copy of the report.

The mobile revolution: Is your IT department up to the challenge?

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:54:53 +0530

Until recently, many CIOs and their development teams have been trying to meet user expectations around mobile by layering mobile functionality on top of existing systems - the "veneering" of PC-era solutions deployed to mobile devices, delivered by their traditional development teams using established methodologies. But, as increasingly advanced mobile technologies, sophisticated user expectations and innovative usages continue to emerge, could utilizing traditional IT approaches - and skill sets - cause companies to miss out on the mobile revolution?

Many organizations are struggling for break-through wins that leverage the potential of today’s smartphones and tablets. Especially for enterprise-facing initiatives, "good enough" user experiences built around incremental use cases have often led to departmental experimentation, perpetual pilots and visions anchored closer to email, calendaring and conference room scheduling than positively disrupting operating and business models. Not to mention, the mobile revolution is about far more than touch screens and tablets. Soon, the word "mobile" may likely be synonymous with ambient devices, wearable computers and highly tuned sensors, among other futuristic tools.

As they try to harness the potential of existing mobile technologies and prepare for what’s next, many CIOs find themselves at a crossroads: Should they continue to focus on mobile enablement of existing systems, and treat mobile as just another deployment channel? Or should they follow a risky and largely unproven path, which could require them to abandon traditional strategies and hire talent with the kind of mobile experience needed to create an agile, mobile-centric IT environment?

Dbriefs webcast: Beyond mobile - the revolution lives on

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 15:19:02 +0530

Many companies are focused on apps for smartphones and tablets, but the potential of mobile technology can be far greater. How can technology executives reach beyond a mobile first approach for competitive advantage? We'll discuss:

- What it means to shift from a mobile first to a mobile only approach, even beyond the smartphone and tablet

- Interacting with stakeholders and rethinking business models using down market and up market approaches

- Types of investments companies are making to realize even greater benefits of mobile

Register for the Dbriefs webcast to learn ways to unleash the power of mobile for your organization and uncover opportunities to reshape markets and potentially entire industries.

Advanced cyber threats: What’s the impact of the new executive order?

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:46:04 +0530

After his recent State of the Union address, President Obama issued an executive order to improve the security of the nation's critical infrastructure, underscoring the growing threat of cyberterrorism to national and economic security. What may be the true state of our critical infrastructure security, and what can this executive order mean for your enterprise? Our upcoming webcast will discuss:

- The changing nature of the threats to America's critical infrastructure, including telecommunications, water, chemical, electricity and transportation systems

- Leading practices and standards in infrastructure security

- What critical infrastructure organizations can do now to prepare

Register for this special edition Dbriefs webcast today to gain new insights on cyber terrorism and learn about potential impacts of the executive order on your enterprise.

Going mobile: A series on the future of mobile government

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:43:04 +0530

Just as web 2.0 (the social web) supplanted web 1.0 (the read-only web) as the driving force in technology over the last decade, the mobile Internet will likely be the driving force in the next decade. The world will, once again, have to assimilate the change. This series will explore how the public sector can extract productivity gains, re-invent how it does business and meet the demands of an increasingly untethered populace by embracing the disruption wrought by mobile technology.

Deloitte research finds mobile technology adoption key in boosting public sector productivity

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:42:04 +0530

New Deloitte research shows that mobile technology could help close the widening productivity gap between the private and public sectors. The research report, "Gov. on the go: Boosting public-sector productivity by going mobile," argues that mobility presents the government with an opportunity to hit the reset button and drive efficiency and productivity from technology.

Tech Trend #2: Mobile only (and beyond)

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:40:14 +0530

The explosion of smartphone and tablet adoption in the consumer world cannot be denied. And enterprises have taken note. Mobile initiatives have popped up in almost every corner of the business - looking to untether the workforce, engage customers more effectively and reshape business-as-usual.

The mobile ecosystem is moving at lightning speed. Pattern recognition and contextual analysis, ambient access and connectivity, and mass adoption of natural user interfaces - voice, gesture and beyond - are creating new modes for user engagement. The opportunity goes well beyond using mobile apps to do what you’ve always done differently. It’s about doing fundamentally different things. We’re entering an era of mobile only, with outcomes that would be impossible without today’s mix of persistent connectivity, artisanal solutions that blend creativity and UX and next-generation engineering with devices.

Hitting back at hackers: Do two wrongs make a right?

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:34:35 +0530

When companies are hit by cyber attacks, some may feel - with good reason - that they have no recourse other than to strike back. Law enforcement’s response can be lumbering and, currently, there are few options for collaborating with others on cyber-security challenges. Yet, before you try to take out a perpetrator’s servers, consider the risks. Increasingly, attacks are launched from within IT environments of legitimate organizations that may have no idea they’ve been breached. Striking back may help stop an attack in progress, but it also could have unintended consequences.

Given these considerations, are there times when hitting back at hackers is the more effective response?

If you build it, they will come - and try to hack it

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 18:31:26 +0530

Dbriefs webcast - February 7, 2 p.m. ET

With the growing number of mobile devices connected to corporate networks and the increasingly connected social business environment, securing channels and devices may not be enough. How can your organization defend against security breaches while anticipating and responding when they do occur? We'll discuss:

- The evolving nature and sophistication of security breaches, and the limitations of today's defense philosophies

- The far-reaching security issues and areas of concern in an open source, mobile and social environment

- Examples of companies that have effectively employed a wide-ranging, proactive cyber threat approach

Learn ways to defend against cyber threats in a world where there is no such thing as hacker-proof. Register for the 2/7 Dbriefs webcast today.

Tech Trends 2013

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:53:46 +0530

The wait is over!

Deloitte’s annual Tech Trends report examines the ever-evolving landscape of technology put to practical business use. Once again, we’ve selected 10 trends that we believe have the opportunity to impact business over the next 18 to 24 months.

This year’s theme, ""Elements of postdigital,"" looks more deeply into the five forces of postdigital enterprise that we introduced last year: analytics, mobile, social, cloud and cyber. As we have worked more deeply with these elements of postdigital, we’ve discovered that the formulae of these combined elements are likely to have the most significant impact on business.

We invite you to visit www.deloitte.com/us/techtrends2013 to learn more about the trends selected this year, watch our library of videos and download your copy of the report.

mHealth in an mWorld

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:06:55 +0530

Mobile apps only scratch the surface of possibilities offered by mHealth. Improvement opportunities exist along the value chain, from engaging patients to maximizing provider productivity to controlling costs.

The postdigital era: Bridging to a new basis of performance and competition

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:37:00 +0530

December 12, 2 p.m. EDT

Five major technology-based forces are impacting most businesses in the market today - mobile, analytics, social media, cloud and cyber intelligence. With each being relatively new and all rapidly evolving, how can technology executives deal with their potential for positive disruption in both business and IT? We'll discuss:

- The five forces and their evolving paths to become the major factors they represent today

- How these forces could transform operating models, business models and industries

- Examples of companies that have realized business advantage at the intersection of these forces

Learn how the convergence of these postdigital forces presents an opportunity for IT to help elevate business performance.

Is user empowerment worth the disruption?

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:10:50 +0530

Employees are expecting access to ever-more-sophisticated technologies in the workplace. Empowering users with such tools can generate value, but is there a point where CIOs should put the brakes on continual technology disruption?

Join the debate.

Annual holiday survey: Smartphone shoppers help make retailers’ registers jingle this season

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:12:38 +0530

Online and mobile shopping gets consumers in the spirit; in-store service may seal the deal. Smartphones may be among retailers’ strongest allies this holiday season, according to Deloitte’s annual holiday survey of consumer spending intentions and trends.

Tech Trends 2013 - Subscribe to the future

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:11:38 +0530

Subscribe to be among the first to receive the next installment of Tech Trends - Deloitte Consulting LLP's annual review of the leading technology trends impacting business today and into the future.

Every year, based on insight from our technology subject matter specialists, input from some of our largest clients and discussions with industry analysts and alliance members, we identify the 10 trends that we anticipate will have an impact for the CIO in the coming year and beyond. For 2013, the trends will include big data, social engineering, proactive cyber defense and mobility beyond smartphones and tablets.

MIT survey invitation

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:33:24 +0530

Deloitte and MIT Sloan Management Review (SMR) are collaborating on a global research effort to investigate the implications of the rapidly evolving world of social business.

We want to hear how social business is evolving within your organization. Take the survey now.

The state of the cybersecurity workforce

Tue, 6 Nov 2012 19:20:39 +0530

Cybersecurity affects every agency, program and employee, and has become an even greater challenge to manage as global networks become more susceptible to risk. Learn how agency CIOs can develop cyber strategies and support the desired goals to recruit, retain and develop the cyber workforce amidst the growing talent gap.

Subscribe to the future - Tech Trends 2013

Tue, 6 Nov 2012 19:19:41 +0530

Is outside-in architecture right for your company?

Tue, 6 Nov 2012 19:18:21 +0530

Outside-in architecture connects partners, suppliers and other external parties to a company’s ecosystem. While this design is growing in popularity, does the ability to share information with third parties justify the cost of replacing your current centralized architecture?

Recently, increased competition has led some companies to embrace an emerging IT architecture model that supports information sharing among internal and external parties. Advocates of this "outside-in architecture" approach argue it will soon become an essential element of business results. Yet this notion meets with resistance from companies that have invested heavily over the years in creating and maintaining a traditional, centralized IT architecture. Their reaction is understandable, and it raises the question of whether companies should divert resources toward a new architectural model that has yet to mature and demonstrate its longer-term value to the enterprise.

User empowerment: envisioning the digital future

Thu, 1 Nov 2012 20:39:14 +0530

Dbriefs webcast - November 1, 2 p.m. EDT

As users adopt more intuitive, innovative technologies in their personal lives, their expectations of how technology works in the workplace have changed irreversibly, too. Users are unlikely to accept anything less in their professional lives than they have at home. How can technology executives use this movement to their advantage? We’ll discuss:

- What user empowerment is and the implications of consumerization and democratization of IT

- Types of investments companies are making in design-led solutions today

- Examples of companies empowering technology in the hands of their users

Hear how user empowerment can help stoke and harness the power of your workforce, customers and trading partners.

Subscribe to the future - Tech Trends 2013

Thu, 1 Nov 2012 14:58:03 +0530

2012 Deloitte-NASCIO cybersecurity study: State governments at risk

Thu, 1 Nov 2012 14:46:47 +0530

The second biennial Deloitte-National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Cybersecurity Study, conducted in the summer of 2012, assessed the security of state digital data and cyber assets administered by state chief information security officers (CISOs).

CISOs from 48 states and two U.S. territories participated in the survey, and 63 business official stakeholders from a broad cross-section of states responded to a parallel survey. The study highlights the challenges states and CIOs/CISOs face in protecting states’ critically important systems and data. The survey results call for a greater collaboration among state CIOs/CISOs and business/program leadership of the executive branch agencies and elected officials.

Hybrid cloud: An idea whose time has come?

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:32:50 +0530

The hybrid cloud - a catalog of cloud services created and provisioned both inside and outside the enterprise - is a model growing in popularity among large companies. But how solid is the business case? And can companies effectively integrate data from multiple cloud sources? Join the debate.

Cloud computing: Does IT really matter?

Mon, 8 Oct 2012 16:30:36 +0530

October 4, 2 p.m. EDT

As cloud computing mainstreams, technology executives may need to procure cloud-based services to meet changing business demands. But how do you deal with cloud-based IT services that are growing increasingly decentralized and more integrated with core IT functions? We’ll discuss:

- What hyper-hybrid cloud means, and why it is projected to become increasingly important

- The value of defining business processes and technology components as services to be ready for cloud operating models

- Practical examples of how enterprises are leveraging service models and cloud architectures for business advantage

Learn how emerging cloud services are likely to impact technology and business models moving forward.

Financial and administrative management solutions

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:47:29 +0530

Deloitte has the experience and knowledge to assist state and local governments in using technology as an enabler to achieve finance, procurement and human resource transformation.

Tax information reporting: The growing need for compliance technology

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:43:51 +0530

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is expanding information reporting and withholding requirements, including an increased focus on U.S. source income for foreign persons - now a Tier 1 tax examination issue. How can technology support the increasingly complex compliance process?

This report discusses the evolving tax information and reporting landscape, current compliance environment and common compliance issues. It also shares practical tips for addressing these issues and reviews processes and technologies that exist to help manage compliance.

Emerging technologies: Going geek

Mon, 3 Sep 2012 18:39:32 +0530

Leaders in every function need to look beyond the hype and understand both the opportunities and risks associated with new technologies ─ and that means going geek. Explore our latest resources to learn more.

Is social media too risky for your company?

Mon, 3 Sep 2012 18:38:05 +0530

An inadvertent social media post containing sensitive information can land a company in hot water with regulators and inflict considerable damage on the business. Given this exposure, is it possible for organizations to govern social media in ways that effectively manage risk?

If an account manager inadvertently includes sensitive firm information in an update to his own profile on a professional or personal social networking site, will regulators find out? If they do, will they really care?

The answer to both questions is yes. For all of its potential value, social media exposes regulated companies to increased risk. Some may argue this increased risk is manageable. Others, however, feel the potential risks are just too great - the damage that regulatory non-compliance could inflict far outweighs social media’s value to the enterprise. Join the debate.

Social business and regulatory compliance: What new challenges could you face?

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 18:01:23 +0530

The information on corporate social media sites may be subject to similar regulatory requirements as traditional content, but social-sphere activity may create situations not covered by traditional rules and risk frameworks. How can technology executives help their organization effectively govern the social business? We'll discuss:

- How social business has changed the dynamics of the regulatory environment

- Steps companies can take to develop an overall governance strategy for social media

- Case studies of organizations that have met the challenges associated with social media regulatory compliance

Tech trend #10: Outside-in architecture

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:59:40 +0530

For decades, businesses typically have been rewarded for consolidation around standard processes and stockpiling assets through people, technology and goods. Companies are discovering they need a new kind of leverage - capability leverage - to mobilize third parties that can add value.

Outside-in architecture requires an organization to think about its operations and processes as a collection of business capabilities or services. Each individual service can then be examined to determine how it can be most effectively fulfilled - either by strategically standardizing on existing package solutions or custom technology investments; or by sourcing through platform, software or business services available through the cloud. This architectural transition requires new skills from the CIO and the IT organization. CIOs who anticipate and understand the opportunity are likely to become much more effective business partners with other executive leaders.

What can this trend mean for you and your business? Read more in Tech Trends 2012: Elevate IT for digital business.

What is your data trying to tell you?

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:35:57 +0530

Business analytics uses data to drive business strategy and performance. It includes a range of capabilities - from looking backward to evaluate what happened in the past, to forward-looking approaches like scenario planning and predictive modeling. Explore our latest resources to learn how analytics can deliver uncommon insights and breakout value.

Business and technology: Trending the trends

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 16:39:54 +0530

Individually, technology trends such as mobility, cloud computing, analytics and gamification are making organizations more efficient. When these capabilities collide, however, they can potentially reshape operating models, business models - and even industries and markets. Watch this episode of Deloitte Insights to learn more.

Driving change

Mon, 6 Aug 2012 19:08:34 +0530

Increased globalization and rapid advancements in technology are creating new market opportunities for organizations that can understand and anticipate their impact - and headaches for those that are struggling to keep up. A focus on scale efficiencies may fall short. Transformative change requires companies to rethink even the primary objective of why they exist and drastically shift their management mindset. Explore our latest insights to learn more.

Smart government: IT as a force multiplier

Mon, 6 Aug 2012 19:06:56 +0530

Government leaders can allow the budget crunch to be a crisis, or an opportunity to be more cost effective and re-think how business is done. Learn how IT transformation has the potential to be a catalyst for "smart government" and serve as a force multiplier for future mission success.

Guarding against cyber threats

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:10:58 +0530

In this issue of CFO Insights, we examine how to take a more risk intelligent view of cyber threats and outline steps companies can take toward more effective cyber threat risk governance.

Tech trend #5: Hyper-hybrid cloud

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 16:50:05 +0530

The hype curve for cloud computing is at an all-time high, for pretty good reasons. The convergence of Internet technologies, virtualization and large-scale data centers has created a powerful new way to deliver services, with many companies already putting clouds to work. Cloud computing can help increase agility, decrease costs and improve service delivery capabilities - and it can happen fast.

Today, hyper-hybrid clouds are an advanced form of cloud services in the early stages of adoption, but the approach is rapidly becoming the norm for cloud services architecture. A hybrid cloud is a cloud that works across different environments where you have services from vendor clouds working directly with clouds inside of an organization, thus forming a hybrid cloud. Hyper-hybrid clouds are the multiplication of numerous hybrid clouds working together to serve an organization. Whether you’re just getting started with your cloud strategy, or looking for smart ways to expand current initiatives, we can help in your efforts. Our strong independence philosophy means you’ll get objective advice and implementation-related services driven by your needs instead of our sales targets. And because we work on the front lines virtually every day with a tremendous range of cloud service providers, we have current knowledge to help you evaluate competing technologies and find a fit. In addition, we have access to virtually unmatched global capabilities across technology and business consulting, financial advisory services, tax and risk management - which allows us to provide an integrated approach to more effectively help you in your efforts to implement a cloud solution to address your important business challenges - not just the next new thing in technology.

What can this trend mean for you and your business? Read more in Tech Trends 2012: Elevate IT for digital business.

The gamification of business: It’s not child’s play

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 21:51:54 +0530

Gamification applies principles that inspire people to play games - achievements, status and rewards - to radically change the way companies do business. How can technology executives use gamification to drive deeper engagement, increase alignment with corporate goals and improve performance? We’ll discuss:

- What gamification is and how it differs from serious gaming and simulations - The types of investments that companies are making in gamification today - Real-world examples of how companies are applying game mechanics for business advantage to drive unprecedented engagement with customers, employees and stakeholders

Register for the 7/12 Dbriefs webcast to hear how gamification could transform the incentives, behavior, engagement and performance of your workforce and customers.

Smartphones will influence $689 billion in retail store sales by 2016: Deloitte study

Tue, 3 Jul 2012 14:07:57 +0530

Mobile phones currently influence 5.1 percent of annual retail store sales, translating into $159 billion in forecasted sales for 2012, according to new Deloitte research. For the first time in the industry, the in-depth study measures the "mobile influence factor," or impact of mobile devices on in-stores sales.

Gamification: Should business take games seriously?

Tue, 3 Jul 2012 14:06:00 +0530

Many companies are applying the essence of games - fun, play and passion - to real-world business situations as a way to influence behaviors in everything from back-office tasks and training, to sales management and career counselling. Using game attributes that resonate with their target audiences, companies can often achieve higher performance.

That’s all well and good for employee and even customer engagement, but can businesses apply gaming principles to solve more serious challenges - like strategy development and innovation? Read the Debate and join the conversation.

Deloitte Insights: Viva la mobile revolution

Tue, 3 Jul 2012 14:03:16 +0530

As many companies realize their customers and employees spend a lot more time with their mobile devices than their laptops or desktops, "mobile first" is replacing "mobile friendly," triggering disruption and innovation across industries.

Take a quick look: Cloud adoption across the enterprise

Tue, 3 Jul 2012 14:02:09 +0530

Cloud adoption is rising at an astounding rate. Companies with the most success are those that understand business leaders across the enterprise must be involved in the transition. This brief, web-format series addresses how companies can increase the chances of a successful transition - across organizations - by pursuing a holistic cloud adoption strategy.

Tech Trend #10: Outside-in architecture

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 22:52:26 +0530

For decades, businesses typically have been rewarded for consolidation around standard processes and stockpiling assets through people, technology and goods. Operations were assumed to be confined within organizational boundaries, with transactions viewed as short-lived events following well-defined steps. Systems were built primarily to enhance execution within their own self-contained scope of control.

Conventional wisdom about these principles is changing, and it’s changing fast. Companies are discovering they need a new kind of leverage - capability leverage - to mobilize third parties that can add value. Outside-in architecture requires an organization to think about its operations and processes as a collection of business capabilities or services. Each individual service can then be examined to determine how it can be most effectively fulfilled - either by strategically standardizing on existing package solutions or custom technology investments; or by sourcing through platform, software or business services available through the cloud.

As outside-in becomes the new normal, standards will emerge and platforms will likely evolve to decrease the cost of provisioning, managing and controlling each step in long-running processes. In the short-term, however, this architectural transition requires new skills from the CIO and the IT organization. CIOs who anticipate and understand the opportunity are likely to become much more effective business partners with other executive leaders.

What can this trend mean for you and your business? Read more in "Tech Trends 2012: Elevate IT for digital business."

Deloitte and BlackLine Systems finalize strategic alliance

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:30:54 +0530

After years of working together on finance transformation projects assisting large companies in the successful implementation of BlackLine software, Deloitte, one of the largest professional services organizations in the United States, and BlackLine Systems, one of the world’s leading financial technology solutions companies, have formalized a strategic business alliance.

Social business innovation hub: What enterprises are really thinking and doing

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:29:00 +0530

Webcast - June 7, 2 p.m. EDT Achieving results from social business has been elusive for many organizations, as it may require them to orchestrate people, ideas and information flow in new ways. How is it leading organizations to rethink their fundamental approach to the market? We’ll discuss: Complexities organizations face in crafting and implementing social business strategies How social business can create value in different types of enterprises Investments that organizations are making today to leverage the power of social business Hear results of a year-long Deloitte LLP and MIT Sloan Management Review study and gain fresh insights into leading social business practices. Register today for the 6/7 Dbriefs webcast.

Social business: Should leaders stand back or jump in?

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:27:37 +0530

Deloitte and MIT Sloan Management Review surveyed more than 3,400 enterprise leaders and managers around the globe to learn whether social networking and software are transforming their businesses. We found that many respondents use social technologies to better understand and connect with their customers. Others use social business tools to push employee interests, ideas and knowledge across the enterprise. While 52 percent of the survey respondents said social business is at least somewhat important to their enterprises today, many leaders of organizations have not joined the trend. Are they wise to hold back? Or should they get started now? Join the debate today.

Scaling Edges: A Pragmatic Pathway to broad internal change

Mon, 4 Jun 2012 16:32:37 +0530

Walk the Pragmatic Pathway for major change initiatives. Pragmatic Pathways is a three-pronged framework for executives who are looking to implement big changes without creating huge financial or political backlash. First, by focusing on edges rather than the core of a company, change agents can better identify projects which align with Big Shift forces, and therefore, are most likely to achieve significant and sustainable returns Second, by leveraging external resources rather than internal support to scale, these edges can circumvent the scrutiny and organizational resistance that change initiatives are typically met with Finally, by accelerating learning rather than focusing solely on short-term outcomes, edges can become conduits of transformation, helping the companies of today achieve institutional innovation and tap into the opportunities of tomorrow Learn how executives can maximize upside potential, minimize investment required, and reach maximum impact as quickly as possible for major change initiatives.

Social Business: What Are Companies Really Doing?

Mon, 4 Jun 2012 16:26:20 +0530

Findings from the 2012 Global Executive Study and Research Project The proliferation of technology-based social networking has transformed politics and social norms on a global scale over the past decade. Will social networking and social software have a similarly transformative effect on business? Is it already doing so? What kinds of enterprises are benefiting the most? And how are they benefiting? To answer these questions, Deloitte and MIT Sloan Management Review (SMR) collaborated on a global research effort to investigate the management implications of the rapidly evolving world of social business. Gathered through surveys and interviews, the research results provide executives insight into the social business landscape today and a framework to help realize value from social business investments. Summary of findings: An evolving mindset: While 52% of the respondents believe social business is important or somewhat important to their organization today, 86% of respondents said that it will be important or somewhat important in three years.
Size matters: The largest organizations (those with over 100,000 employees), and the smallest organizations (those with less than 1,000 employees), tend to appreciate the value of social business today more than mid-sized organizations.
Business value: Respondents saw the most value in social software in the areas of "managing customer relationships" and "innovating for competitive differentiation." Download your copy of the report findings today, and discover what significant opportunities can exist for leading companies to stay ahead of the competition by building a social strategy backed by strong metrics for social initiatives.

Tech Trend #1: Social Business

Wed, 30 May 2012 16:26:57 +0530

The rise of social computing has positioned many enterprises at a tipping point, where social technologies, platforms, strategies and programs have the ability to drive business decisions, actions and outcomes across an enterprise’s entire ecosystem. Social Business is a concept that goes beyond the buzz of social media networks; it’s a practice that can enable more efficient, effective and net-new connections inside and outside your organization to drive performance.

Some organizations have essentially ignored social media because they don’t see a path to value. Others have only scratched the surface, establishing a social networking presence with the hope that this will gain more customers or build brand equity. But an effective Social Business effort should be rooted in a strategy that effectively addresses the changing landscape of increased transparency, user-generated content and continual information sharing in a holistic way. The organizations that discover value are doing so with a layered approach that crosses organizational boundaries, functions and services. While this may be alarming for many executives, the new world of transparency, knowledge flows and democratized opinion-making is rife with opportunities.

What can this trend mean for you and your business? Read more in Tech Trends 2012: Elevate IT for digital business.

Tech Trend #8: Digital Identities

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:21:52 +0530

The digital expression of identity grows increasingly complex every day. Not long ago, an employee’s entire digital presence belonged almost exclusively to the employer, a practice that culminated in the mainframe ID. As enterprise technology expanded to include new tools and platforms, the number of digital identities grew. Today, many workers must manage a dozen or more user names and passwords across different roles on different systems to do their jobs.

Outside their workplaces, users established personal credentials on banking portals, consumer products sites, loyalty and reward programs, e-commerce retailers, local government services, home insurance policies and even remote access to cable TV. Along the way, these personal digital identities have continued to blend into the digital enterprise.

Organizations see the power in providing this identity - a logical, single, overall digital identity with a unified view, brokered across several different systems and security profiles. Today, industry groups and government bodies are pushing broader efforts that may become the backbone of a more substantial digital identity.

Does this trend lead to a universal digital identity, seamlessly crossing between professional, private and social lives? Enterprises today have a mandate to more seamlessly manage and enable digital identities for the personas of their employees, customers and partners, within and across enterprises; all of which lays the groundwork for shaping and creating a truly universal digital identity.

What can this trend mean for you and your business? Read more in Tech Trends 2012: Elevate IT for digital business.

Emerging technologies: Digital disruption

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:20:38 +0530

Digital integration has gone from nicety to necessity. Organizations have unprecedented opportunity to engage customers, empower employees, drive business and build brand awareness across billions of devices. Business as usual has been disrupted - don’t get left behind.

Deloitte Digital debuts to help clients provoke and harvest the value of digital disruption

Sun, 20 May 2012 20:16:00 +0530

Back in January, we announced the acquisition of Übermind, a mobile-focused digital agency. Since then, we’ve been working on a bigger initiative that has evolved into Deloitte Digital.

This week, we’re excited to introduce you to Deloitte Digital - a global service line focused on helping clients harness digital technologies to transform their business. Deloitte Digital’s offerings include strategy, mobile, social, web, digital content and digital ERP. In addition to studios across the U.S., Deloitte Digital will also have a presence in Australia and the U.K.

"The launch of Deloitte Digital combines the strengths of a creative agency, a leading IT consultancy and an industry-centric business strategy provider in one company and allows Deloitte to help clients unleash the business value of these emerging technologies," said John Kerr, managing director, global consulting, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

Learn more about Deloitte Digital by checking out our slick new responsive website: http://deloittedigital.com.

Tech Trend #7: Geospatial visualization

Wed, 9 May 2012 21:02:58 +0530

The human brain is naturally wired to process visual images by recognizing patterns, inferring relationships and discerning features. Analytic visualization connects these perceptual and cognitive strengths with modern statistical computing capabilities and can enable decision makers to pull significant results quickly out of tremendous volumes of complex and diverse data.

Geospatial visualization marries the broad insights available through visualization with specific types of analysis that can be performed on location-related data. Geospatial visualization can enable the human mind to process and detect patterns hidden among huge volumes of information. Its power comes from exploring both quantitative and qualitative spatial relationships within large data sets of structured and unstructured content represented geographically.

Organizations that combine the explosion of location-aware data with the power of geospatial analysis and wide accessibility of geospatial visualization can provide game-changing support for business decision making at levels never considered before.

What can this trend mean for you and your business? Read more in "Tech Trends 2012: Elevate IT for digital business."

Should big data drive big decisions?

Wed, 9 May 2012 21:01:55 +0530

This year, many companies are taking on big data - ramping up tools and technologies to find signals and insight in unstructured, often external, and generally messy data.

Big data analytics can open a window into an intricate world of customers, employees and operations that hasn’t been easily accessible before. While leaders can gain fresh insights that are immediate and real, should they use big data to drive far-reaching business decisions? Join the debate today.

Unlock the potential in your data

Wed, 9 May 2012 21:00:54 +0530

Tech Trend #6: Big data goes to work

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:59:02 +0530

Just as businesses start to appreciate information as a strategic asset, they are overwhelmed with big data - from growing volumes and increasing complexity to the proliferation of unstructured data sources and a surge in external data streams. Big data is an evolution of long-standing information disciplines. It expands the range of data sources, the amount of data that can be processed and the speed with which answers can be derived.

The explosion of big data was likely inevitable. What once was the stuff of science fiction has become an everyday occurrence. Exabytes. Zettabytes. Yottabytes. Sensors, asset intelligence, mobile devices and constant streams of unstructured communications have created digital exhaust that can capture who we are and how we live, work and play. Powerful new insights can be gleaned, with the most value realized by those who learn to detect signals from the noise, derive meaning from the signals and turn meaning into action. A small percentage of external unstructured data may drive huge insights. The trick is figuring out where to focus.

What can this trend mean for you and your business? Read more in "Tech Trends 2012: Elevate IT for digital business."

CIO Journal featuring insights from Deloitte

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:25:35 +0530

Published by the Wall Street Journal, CIO Journal offers a premium news and information service for chief information officers and senior business executives interested in technology. Every weekday, CIO Journal will provide coverage of real-time news, and Deloitte will contribute insights to ongoing topics that are highly relevant for senior business technology executives.

CIO Journal is available via subscription online and is designed for access via most smartphone devices. Subscribers will receive full access to WSJ.com and a daily morning newsletter providing the most up-to-date and relevant information and analysis.

Deloitte LLP has entered into an exclusive arrangement to sponsor a regular stream of CIO-centric content and timely features, including research, topical digests, perspectives and insights and technical analyses available to CIO Journal subscribers. CIOs are challenged by ever-increasing demands as their role expands and as technology evolves. Deloitte’s content is designed to help CIOs manage the complexities of their roles, drive more value in their organizations and adapt to strategic shifts in the market.

To learn more about the CIO Journal online publication from The Wall Street Journal, contact CIOJeditor@deloitte.com.

Technology Fast 500 call for nomination

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 21:07:04 +0530

Submit your nomination for Deloitte's 2012 Technology Fast 500, a list of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in the U.S. and Canada.

Deadline to submit: June 29, 2012.

When it comes to enterprise mobility, can ‘slow and steady’ win the race?

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 21:05:43 +0530

In many organizations, mobile initiatives are popping up in almost every business unit, department and region. Some are pushing existing solutions and processes from the Web and desktop to mobile devices. Others are reimagining their business without location constraints. Both have the potential to improve efficiencies and effectiveness, but which is likely to have the more significant payback? Read the debate and cast your vote.

The mobile revolution: Enterprise mobility unleashed

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 21:02:55 +0530

As mobile technology adoption explodes within enterprises, it presents tremendous opportunities to improve customer, employee and partner interaction. But how are companies addressing the responsibilities that come with these opportunities? Our upcoming webcast will discuss:

How enterprises today are adopting mobile technologies for business advantage
Common challenges of implementing mobile technologies, including securing, integrating, managing and supporting the full lifecycle of mobile assets, and strategies to overcome them
Emerging trends for mobile enterprise solutions

Learn about approaches organizations are using to leverage the power of mobility today and benefits that can be achieved. Register today for the 4/5 Dbriefs webcast.

Tech Trend #3: Enterprise mobility unleashed

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:13:09 +0530

Chances are, virtually every leader in your organization is eyeing a mobile application that could change the way they do business. Whether you are looking to do what you've always done differently by putting a mobile veneer on existing apps, or looking to do different things and innovate your business, mobility can deliver productivity - very quickly in some cases. But in the rush to take advantage of these new opportunities and pursue near-term goals, organizations may later realize they overlooked fundamental strategic issues in implementing mobile solutions, effectively locking themselves out of the full value they could have gained from their mobility investments. As a result, their approach may become obsolete in a relatively short amount of time. Even worse, it may under-deliver intended benefits.

It doesn’t have to be this way. When it comes time to design, develop and implement your enterprise mobility strategy, we can help. And we also know how to connect the dots between your mobility strategy and business strategy. That’s an approach that can make the difference when you have a lot on the line, but not a lot of time.

What can this trend mean for you and your business? Read more in "Tech Trends 2012: Elevate IT for digital business."

Deloitte leverages eCommerce knowledge to improve website management on Adobe.com

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:50:06 +0530

Deloitte has implemented a new eCommerce solution at Adobe Systems Incorporated designed to enhance the management and customer experience of Adobe.com with significant and effective business results.

Tech Trend #4: User empowerment

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:48:11 +0530

User empowerment is the latest incarnation of the effect of consumerization on enterprise IT. In their personal lives, business users are enjoying a technology renaissance that continues to deliver simple, elegant and often innovative technology products. And they come to work expecting the same experience. Now that the bar has been reset, users are unlikely to accept a stark drop-off in experience from their personal to professional lives.

CIOs can use this movement to their advantage, although it may require some uncomfortable change. But embracing user empowerment does not require a wholesale scuttling of corporate IT. If done well, it should be a framing force that permeates the entire IT delivery model, positively redefining the brand of IT in the business. With the rapid pace of technology change today, it’s more important than ever for CIOs to guide the business through the inevitable disruption of technology innovations, and to be seen as co-conspirators by their empowered users, enabling - and accelerating - the upward journey.

What can this trend mean for you and your business? Read more in Tech Trends 2012: Elevate IT for digital business.

Tech Trends 2012: Video segments now available

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:48:04 +0530

The wait is over. Tech Trends 2012 - Elevate IT for digital business is now available in video format. Each of the ten chapters is summarized in a three-minute video so you can hit the highlights quickly. Links to the authors and more information are also offered if you'd like to learn more.
Access the videos on Deloitte.com or download the free Deloitte On Technology app for your iPad, Kindle Fire or Android device.
Each of these 2012 trends is relevant today. Each has significant momentum and potential to make an impact. Each warrants timely consideration. Forward-thinking organizations should consider developing an explicit strategy in each area - even if that strategy is to wait and see. But whatever you do, step up. Use the digital forces to your advantage. Don't get caught unaware or unprepared.

Health plans look to the clouds

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:46:58 +0530

In the health information technology arena, cloud computing is a game changer. Health plans could benefit from the advantages that cloud computing provides.

What's next for the Internet, technology and the enterprise?

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:29:46 +0530

Tune into this week’s Deloitte Insights video podcast to hear Suketu Gandhi and Stephen Redwood, both principals in Deloitte Consulting LLP, discuss what’s next for the Internet, technology and the enterprise. What is the postdigital age? What is a postdigital enterprise? How is the intersection of mobility, social business, cloud computing, analytics and cyber transforming organizations?

Watch this video podcast to hear these answers and more, and to gain insight into how a company can embed postdigital thinking into their organization.

Measured innovation: The culture, disciplines and mechanics for institutionalizing innovation

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 14:46:42 +0530

Dbriefs Webcast - March 1, 2 p.m. EST

With the rapid pace of change in technology, it is more important than ever for CIOs to effectively manage innovation within their enterprise. But with current heavy demands on the IT function, how can CIOs get in front of emerging trends and guide potentially disruptive technology innovations? We’ll discuss:

How to distinguish technology innovations from technology distractions
The importance of culture, discipline and supporting mechanics in the management of innovation
Staying ahead of the innovation curve and purposefully driving new technology investments across your enterprise

Discover new insights on how to effectively manage innovation for competitive advantage.

The CIO’s role in business innovation: Sustain or disrupt?

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 14:42:26 +0530

We’re at an unusual time in industry: five major forces affecting businesses are all technology-based. These forces - mobility, analytics, social, cloud computing and cyber intelligence - are being combined in new ways, opening the door for sustaining innovations that can improve productivity and drive down costs. These forces can also be used to disrupt "business as usual" to create totally new ways of generating value.

What’s next? Perspectives of health technology officers

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 14:41:24 +0530

Deloitte interviewed health system chief information officers (CIOs), chief medical information officers (CMIOs) and other informatics leaders from hospitals and health systems on their activities and attitudes about IT and data management. Findings indicate they are cautiously optimistic about successful implementation of their IT strategies; however, questions and concerns remain.

Engaging health care consumers through information technologies

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 14:40:12 +0530

Effective use of information technologies represents both an unmet need and an opportunity for the health care system to better engage consumers. This Issue Brief shares findings from Deloitte’s 2011 Survey of Health Care Consumers, examining consumer interest in and use of health care IT.

Tech Trend no. 5: Hyper-hybrid Cloud

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:05:24 +0530

The hype curve for cloud computing is at an all-time high, for pretty good reasons. The convergence of Internet technologies, virtualization and large-scale data centers has created a powerful new way to deliver services, with many companies already putting clouds to work. Cloud computing can help increase agility, decrease costs and improve service delivery capabilities - and it can happen fast.

Today, hyper-hybrid clouds are an advanced form of cloud services in the early stages of adoption, but the approach is rapidly becoming the norm for cloud services architecture. A hybrid cloud is a cloud that works across different environments where you have services from vendor clouds working directly with clouds inside of an organization, thus forming a hybrid cloud. Hyper-hybrid clouds are the multiplication of numerous hybrid clouds working together to serve an organization.

Whether you’re just getting started with your cloud strategy, or looking for smart ways to expand current initiatives, we can help in your efforts. Our strong independence philosophy means you’ll get objective advice and implementation-related services driven by your needs instead of our sales targets. And because we work on the front lines virtually every day with a tremendous range of cloud service providers, we have current knowledge to help you evaluate competing technologies and find a fit. In addition, we have access to virtually unmatched global capabilities across technology and business consulting, financial advisory services, tax and risk management - which allows us to provide an integrated approach to more effectively help you in your efforts to implement a cloud solution to address your important business challenges - not just the next new thing in technology.

What can this trend mean for you and your business? Read more in "Tech Trends 2012: Elevate IT for digital business."

Deloitte On Technology blog

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:59:16 +0530

Every day, our technology leaders help some of the world’s biggest companies understand the "art of the possible" when it comes to leveraging technology to address tomorrow’s business needs today. We want to share their experiences, their vision, in their own voice, with you.

Enter the Deloitte On Technology blog. Get direct line of sight into what’s moving and shaking in technology and learn what business and technology challenges others are facing - and more importantly, the potential solutions to overcome these challenges.

Recent posts:

The user in the digital enterprise: User empowerment
Tech Trends 2012: Elevate IT for digital business
Idle chatter no more: Capturing the business value of social media in the user experience
Stuff we (well, the Deputy CTO Bill Briggs) think is interesting: Crowdsourcing
Lessons from the CTO frontlines: Technology trends to watch

Emerging technologies: Explore our latest resources

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:33:43 +0530

The convergence of digital forces such as analytics, mobility, social and cloud is transforming business, offering a new set of tools and opening the door to a new set of rules for operations, performance and competition. This is an opportunity for information technology (IT) to truly help elevate business performance. What opportunities can new technologies - and their intersections - unlock for your enterprise?

Deloitte announces salesforce.com global alliance

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:17:16 +0530

Deloitte is entering into a global alliance with salesforce.com, the enterprise cloud computing company, to provide multinational and international companies with the software, mobile and open cloud computing technologies for the social enterprise.

Smarter phones, smarter shoppers and strategies for a new consumer perspective

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:15:55 +0530

Never in the history of commerce has it been possible to acquire as much data or participate so extensively in the process of connecting with consumers. Consumer product companies that systematically fine-tune these connections as well as their marketing strategies can be well positioned with regard to creating mobile-enabled paths in sync with evolving consumer needs.

At the court of King Henry: A conversation with Henry Chesbrough

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:15:15 +0530

This Deloitte Review article discusses all things Open Innovation and the challenges of sustaining the Open Business.

The mobile elite: Meeting the growth challenge in the 4G era

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:14:03 +0530

Mobility is everywhere. But with this growing ubiquity comes a set of unique challenges for companies riding the wireless wave of opportunity. Throw the impending arrival of the broadband 4G era into the mix and uncertainty levels are set to spike as the scramble for competitive advantage reaches fever pitch.

Tech Trends 2012

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:16:44 +0530

Available now. Deloitte’s annual Technology Trends report examines technology put to practical business use. This year’s theme, "Elevate IT for digital business," examines the broad impacts of five technology forces that have influenced our reports over the past several years - analytics, mobility, social, cloud and cyber security. Our 2012 trends are grouped into two categories:

Disruptors are technologies that can create sustainable positive disruption in IT capabilities, business operations and sometimes even business models.
Enablers are technologies in which many CIOs have already invested time and effort, but which warrant another look this year because of new developments. Enablers may be more evolutionary than revolutionary, but the potential is there to elevate the business game with technology.

It’s an uncommon, and perhaps even unique, time to have so many emerging forces - all rapidly evolving, technology-centric and each already impacting business so strongly. Whether or not you have previously thought of your business as inherently digital, the convergence of these forces offers a new set of tools, opening the door to a new set of rules for operations, performance and competition. This is an opportunity for IT to truly help elevate business performance. Each of these 2012 trends is relevant today. Each has significant momentum and potential to make an impact. Each warrants timely consideration. Forward-thinking organizations should consider developing an explicit strategy in each area - even if that strategy is to wait and see. But whatever you do, step up. Use the digital forces to your advantage. Don’t get caught unaware or unprepared.

Deconstruct your data

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:15:50 +0530

Explore our latest resources to learn how business analytics can deliver uncommon insights and breakout value.

When crafting corporate strategy, should social business be bolted on or baked in?

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:14:33 +0530

Many companies recognize that social business offers new tools and rules for competing in the marketplace. But should social strategy be integrated into the overall corporate strategy? Or should it stand alone?

Social business: Putting social media, networks and software to work

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:08:50 +0530

Going beyond the buzz of social media and social networks, social business is a practice that can enable more efficient, effective and net-new connections inside and outside an organization to help drive business performance. How can organizations embrace social business for competitive advantage? We’ll discuss:

What social business is and some of its business risks and benefits
The emergence of social business tools and analytical methods that help businesses find new ways to engage and interact with customers
How social business supports enterprise collaboration and development

Learn ways that you can leverage social technologies, platforms and strategies to drive business decisions, actions and outcomes.

The next evolution: Store 3.0

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:07:30 +0530

With increased demand for technology dollars across the organization, retailers will need to carefully prioritize investments for in-store and customer-facing technologies that will support their overall strategy and vision.

Deloitte acquires Übermind; Establishes lead in the mobile revolution

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 19:30:00 +0530

We are excited to announce that Deloitte has recently acquired Übermind, a leading agency in the mobile and digital space. Übermind will join the Deloitte Consulting LLP Technology practice, and will bring its insights in mobile application development, strategy, creative and Web to Deloitte.