Joey, thank you for taking the time to sharing your 2011 business insights. What do you see as the dominant business trend in the coming years?

Joey Benadretti: Better use of technology and information will continue to be a key driver for businesses of all sizes. Perhaps a positive outcome of the current recession is that it forces companies to examine every facet of their business, to find ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Many companies now realize that the way to achieve these goals is to make better use of technology. Companies are looking to take technology to the next level.

What technologies in the software industry are driving this trend?

Joey Benadretti: The use of mobile technologies in business will continue to explode. Mobile devices, such as smart phones and portable computers, are driving companies toward ubiquitous instant information access for timely decision making. Mobile communications will facilitate better intra-company communications, as well as with trading partners and customers. For example, the ability to trace orders and shipments remotely greatly elevates levels of customer service.

Do you see data becoming an increasingly critical business asset?

Joey Benadretti: Maximizing data availability to produce relevant information is power in business, and organizations will continue to become increasingly sophisticated in the way all levels of management can access such information. Dashboards are no longer just for top executives, staff at all levels will access dynamic business views. We're seeing an increasing reliance on real-time data for effective and expedient decision making.

What types of software do you expect to play a more prominent role?

Joey Benadretti: The recession enveloping world economies for the past several years is driving even small manufacturers and distributors to abandon their spreadsheet-based business tools and simple accounting systems. They are compelled to deploy solutions to enhance their agility to adjust to current conditions and prepare for future downturns and upturns.

Manufacturers and distributors of all sizes will turn to sophisticated software tools to manipulate data and facilitate accurate forecasting to lean current and future operations. The goal will be to maintain sufficient inventories to serve customer demand, but not be saddled with excessive inventories during periods of weak demand.

How will they achieve this?

Joey Benadretti: Executives will leverage their digital dashboards, business modeling tools, and other insightful data to facilitate effective decision-making.

Manufacturers and distributors will concentrate on building highly efficient supply chains to enhance throughput and operational flexibility. There will be an increasing emphasis on supply chain visibility to maximize supply chain controls.

Is there a green side to these cost-cutting trends?

Joey Benadretti: Green and sustainability will continue to influence business decisions, but they will no longer be a top priority.

Hybrid deployments of technology will become more commonplace as ways to reduce costs while maintaining stringent security. Greater attention will be afforded to Internet-based applications, and the much needed effort to provide total security of passage.

What role will CRM play?

Joey Benadretti: The use of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software will grow in importance as businesses increase their focus on the customer needs.

Large corporations will consolidate their computing structures, yet they will move away from huge corporate ERP solutions, such as SAP, to more flexible and less costly mid-market ERP solutions.

Are social media of growing importance?

Joey Benadretti: Social media will be increasingly used to support all aspects of business, including marketing, sales, and customer service.

What skill sets will technology workers need in the coming years?

Joey Benadretti: Hiring within the IT community will become reliant on better individual skill sets and a more focused attention to current technologies.

Are you a future optimist?

Joey Benadretti: All in all, the future of IT is very promising. The requirement for integrated modern software managed by schooled, technologically savvy individuals will help US midmarket companies regain much of the competitive edge that was lost during the current downturn.