PricewaterhouseCoopers launches Technology Forecast and companion website

NEW DELHI, 1 September, 2008 – PricewaterhouseCoopers has released Technology Forecast, an in-depth analysis of the technology trends that are redefining the way business is conducted. Originally published annually between 1996 and 2003, Technology Forecast is now a quarterly journal.

The inaugural edition analyses the challenge of integrating IT and non-IT processes and how an organisation runs them as a single cohesive system. This integration represents a significant change in operations and a redefinition of business models, strategies, products and approaches in order to create a process-oriented enterprise.

The Technology Forecast also talks of some key concepts such us Agile IT management infrastructure, intelligence business performance platforms and ability to manage change in an organisation happening due to IT projects. These are key adoption elements for organisations in India and for those with global ambitions.

The journal discusses three emerging themes in technology: IT complexity management; Emergence and use of Enterprise Web 2.0; and Convergence of business intelligence, business process management and business rules management into one software suite.

“As organisations and IT departments are asked to do more with less, greater efficiency is more than a goal – it’s a requirement. Investments in key technologies can pay enormous dividends and boost the value of various systems “, said Debdas Sen, executive director in the Performance Improvement practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers. He adds, “Business managers and others on the front lines must act – and react – without delay. Management itself must be agile and the entire workforce must be allowed to think quickly and assertively. Information technology makes its presence felt as a means to an end for this enterprise transformation. “

The highlights of the three themes that will help companies make more efficient business decisions in a changing environment include:

IT Complexity Management

An intelligent business platform is dependent on efficient IT systems that create opportunities. Emerging strategies such as server and storage virtualisation, consolidation, and service oriented architectures (SOAs) that build on reusable software components are at the heart of a more streamlined IT department – and a more robust and responsive enterprise. These technologies allow IT managers and administrators to reduce, and sometimes eliminate, rote tasks while boosting their strategic value. Although IT management has never been a simple proposition, the challenges of the last few years, including tight budgets, mergers and acquisitions, and employing new tools ranging from wireless to remote IT deployments have ratcheted up the stakes. The key for enterprises is to move from a position of IT complexity remediation to ongoing complexity management.


Enterprise Web 2.0

Web 2.0 enables agile enterprise management and spurs the development of new business models, organisational designs and competitive responses. No technology trend has had such a great impact on the informal business organisation as Web 2.0. Blogs, wikis, social networking, tagging, mashups and folksonomies have dramatically changed the face of human interaction – and the nature of business. These tools facilitate cultural change by enabling more open, multiperson conversations across the enterprise and beyond. Ultimately, they help address two significant challenges: communicating with a large number of geographically dispersed business unit leaders; and creating a way for new ideas to bubble up within an organisation.

Building a Better Business Platform

In today’s dynamic business environment, companies need to discard the traditional top-heavy command-and-control management structure. The reason is clear and simple: There are so many factors in play that moving slowly extracts a huge price.

The challenges companies face include: Huge volumes of information to analyze; Countless pricing, positioning, and other product strategy decisions to make; and Swarms of competitors to understand and address.



Notes to Editor:

About PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers Pvt. Ltd. (www.pwc.com/India) provides industry - focused tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. PwC professionals work collaboratively using connected thinking to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice. Complementing our depth of industry expertise and breadth of skills is our sound knowledge of the local business environment in India. PricewaterhouseCoopers is committed to working with our clients to deliver the solutions that help them take on the challenges of the ever-changing business environment.

PwC has offices in Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune.

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