Cloud Computing

Growth in Software as a Service (SaaS) / Cloud Computing – A growing number of businesses of all sizes will adopt SaaS / Cloud Computing strategies. This trend to renting applications from third party providers over the internet will grow as businesses look to improve the functionality they can offer, increase flexibility and control costs.

Rise of E-Learning

Rise of E-Learning - The desire to maintain skills and motivation while containing costs and responding faster to business needs will see firms and training providers make greater investments in the use of e-learning. Increasing use will be made of virtual worlds to deliver simulation-based training in fields as diverse as healthcare, auditing and financial services.

Telecommuting Grows

Rapidly increasing worldwide broadband connections and real time technology connections now make it feasible to be fully effective from home. Globalised work teams also render the concept of ‘going into the office’ a pointless exercise if your team is on another continent. At the same time, the desire to reduce office space requirements and overheads, cut CO2 emissions, avoid gridlocked transport systems and retain happy talent will all drive the take up of telecommuting.

Travel Under Scrutiny

Travel Under Scrutiny - Cost pressures and nervousness about a double dip downturn will continue to impact corporate travel budgets. Despite the evidence about the value of face-to-face meetings, travel restrictions will be imposed, and investment will rise in electronic alternatives from teleconferencing to virtual events. This will drive the growth of alternatives to business travel, such as Telepresence and Halo rooms. Increasing political instability in various world regions may also have a restraining effect on travel plans.

Skills Shortage

Skills Shortage - Despite unemployment rates of up to 10% in the U.S. and across the E.U., many industries will face continuing shortages in key areas owing to a misalignment of skills required and available qualified talent.

The Listening Organisation

The Listening Organisation - We expect to see more Chief Listening Officers appointed to ensure companies are truly hearing and responding to customer needs, concerns and comments emerging from direct feedback and via the social media such as Twitter.

Responsible Investment

Responsible Investment - As the green credentials of company spending and investment increasingly come under the microscope, the need for a Director of Responsible / Sustainable Investment will manifest itself and become apparent in many organisations.

Sustainability Goes Mainstream

Sustainability Goes Mainstream - Google’s SmartMeter provides information on your Google home page on how you use electricity and how to be more efficient. The emergence of such applications, and the money they can help save, will appeal in a post recessionary world where sustainable products and services will be increasingly common. The challenge will be to demonstrate that products are truly sustainable in a clear and simple manner.

Leaner and Meaner

Businesses that emerge successfully from the recession should be fitter than before, raising the possibility both of increasingly competitive firms and of a jobless recovery.