by Brianna Crandall — May 29, 2013—New research by information technology (IT) research and advisory company Gartner Inc., shows that current trends in conducting business call for a change in the ways people make technology choices as well as in expectations for how technology will be used, going way beyond the data center.
According to Gartner, the converging and mutually reinforcing social, cultural and technological factors in the so-called “Nexus of Forces” (cloud, mobility, social and information) are driving a radical power shift away from the culture of the enterprise and toward that of the consumer. “Cool Vendors” are exploiting this nexus to challenge long-held assumptions and affect IT investment, according to Gartner. The company’s 2013 Cool Vendors research series identifies the innovative companies, products and services that will shape business and consumer strategies in the future.
This year Gartner has profiled more than 400 Cool Vendors, in 86 reports, which have the potential to alter competitive dynamics in the automotive, consumer goods, energy and utilities, healthcare, life sciences, media and retail industries. These Cool Vendors offer innovative products and services relating to data, cloud services brokerage, people-centered computing, software infrastructures, security, risk management, applications, consulting, outsourcing, green IT and telecom operations management, as well as other markets.
Retail, for example, represents a good place to cultivate change because customers’ expectations of how they will engage with retailers has changed from in-store to online, and businesses are now returning to techniques designed to bring customers back to the store. Engagement will become a key differentiator for businesses in 2013, as they look to improve their engagement models and the ways they engage customers, employees and partners.
By definition, Cool Vendors are small vendors that offer innovative products or services. The innovation may be in how the product works or in what can be accomplished by those using the product or service. Although the research is extensive, not every company that is making waves could be included, so Gartner’s analysts have chosen a selection of companies based on Gartner’s sense of how impactful these vendors can be today and in the near future.
More information is available in the Special Report “Cool Vendors 2013: Exploiting the Forces That Empower the Individual and Erode IT Control ,” which includes links to 86 reports, as well as video commentary. Mr. Plummer will provide additional analysis in the Gartner Webinar “Cool Vendors 2013: The Nexus Grows and Challenges Current IT Assumptions,” which will take place July 17 at 8 a.m. EDT and 11 a.m. EDT.
