Search

So now what for General Motors? Last week, InformationWeek editors met with GM's IT leadership team, including CIO Terry Kline, who discussed the company's tech priorities in his first in-depth [...]

Companies are going far past standard smartphone apps, with tools to tackle specific business problems E-mail and Web browsing are obvious applications for smartphones. But some businesses are doing much [...]

Salesforce.com has long pitched freedom as one appeal of software-as-a-service--as in freedom from heavy investments in software licenses and hardware to run enterprise applications. Yet as the launch of its [...]

RFID isn't changing the world, but it's being used strategically in government and business to track animals, stock products, and tag documents RFID was expected to change retailing forever. That [...]

Compaq and Sun Microsystems are putting plans in place to help companies cope with the challenges of supporting mixed computing environments. Both vendors last week launched initiatives to provide tighter […]

Server vendors say they're aware that users are placing a higher value than ever before on reliability, performance, management, and support. So, they say, they are building on products and […]

The article discusses on the interest of chief informant officers (CIOs) in alternative information technology (IT) models as alternative strategies for businesses. CIO Bill Louv of GlaxoSmithKline moved its 115,000 employees to save 30 percent on total cost of ownership compared to comparable licensed software. Brent Hoag, senior director of global IT at JohnsonDiversey Inc. added that as an IT organization, their interest in alternative IT models aims to their internal business and customers.

The article reviews the Recovery.gov, the Web site that promises transparency for the $787 billion economic stimulus package in the U.S.

The article reports on the significant efforts exerted by Kraft Foods Inc. to acquire iPhone G3 in the U.S. Dave Diedrich, vice president of Kraft, said that there are 1,800 Kraft employees have chosen to spend their company-provided mobile phone stipends on iPhones. In addition, Diedrich's team is working through the network security issues to allow iPhone users access the company's Microsoft SharePoint server.

The article provides information on software maintenance cost. It says that many chief information officers (CIO) are paying high on the maintenance and repair of the company's software problem but they often complain that the service are not worth of their money. It notes that there can be no alternative and cheaper models to software licensing and maintenance.

The article provides information on the use of software as a service (SaaS) to save costs and to leave maintenance and upgrades to the vendor. It also features SaaS' learn-as-you-go phase based on lessons learned by Manjit Singh of Chiquita Brands Inc. Results of using SaaS subscription model to core business applications in companies such as Workday and Salesforce are also provided. Moreover, it cites the need for vendor management skills.

The article reports on the significance of the collaboration among employees, bottlers and consumers at Coca-Cola Co. in Atlanta, Georgia. The company sees the collaboration as important to remake its business to chase the fast-moving global markets. Analyst Jack Russo reveals that improved communication and collaboration especially between Coca-Cola and its bottlers is important to continue the rebound. He added that the growing cost of raw materials has made the collaboration more important.

The article discusses the significance of understanding the role of software-as-a-service (SaaS) on organization's software applications in the U.S. SaaS's important attributes include the ease with which it can be customized and how well it can integrate with other systems. Moreover, incorporating SaaS with on-site applications can be more difficult than just integrating two on-site applications.

The article discusses key issues concerning the trend of the offshore outsourcing of information technology (IT) functions in the U.S. in 2007. It includes an in-depth analysis of the various risks and business strategies involved in offshore outsourcing of IT functions, as well as the issues' implications for information and business technology. INSET: INSIGHTS..

The article profiles Charles Phillips, president of Oracle in the U.S. When he became the company's front man, its revenue, profit and stock price have risen. He has gained the trust of Oracle users even if he has minimal management experience. He has served the Air Force and earned an undergraduate degree in computer science at the Air Force Academy and joined the Marines and got an MBA degree from Hampton University and a law degree from the New York Law School.

The article reports on the development of computer software systems that manage information overloading of business records. The Information Server, a package comprising several WebSphere application servers from International Business Machine Corp., conducts various data integration tasks including transforming and loading data from one source to another. The SharePoint Server 2007 from Microsoft Corp. features business intelligence and content management.

The article focuses on the significance of software acquisition in the U.S. technology industry. Software consolidation is driven by big vendors who are desperate for growth. Software is considered to be prevalent when it comes to acquisition. It could be noted that deals are getting bigger and more complex while software always has been an acquisitive industry. It was found out that big deals center on industry maturity, vendors in search of new growth and market opportunities. INSETS: HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF, by Mary Hayes Weier;SERVICE AS AN ALTERNATIVE, by Mary Hayes Weier.

The article evaluates the several computer programs including Microsoft Windows Vista, Office 2007, and Exchange Server 2007 from Microsoft Corp.

The article discusses the tranformation of applications of Salesforce.com Inc. and information technology (IT) infrastructure into cloud computing. It mentions that Salesforce.com is using on-premises software to run its operations, and it has developed Force.com, a platform where the company hosts a range of its applications. Moreover, Trae Chancellor, vice president of enterprise strategy states that the company employs business process experts rather than datebase administrators.

The article focuses on the end of 9-year-old mergers between Daimler's financial systems and Chrysler Corp. It discusses details about Daimler-Benz AG's acquisition of Chrysler to the announcement in February 2007, to the deal of selling Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management LP in August of the same year to Daimler Financial Services' independence of Chrysler's financing arm. It got a third of Chrysler's Financial IT staff, to work with 300 employees on the business side.

The article focuses on software company SAP AG's engagement with the business intelligence (BI) industry. The activity is influenced by BI vendors' standards on important company procedures including query, reports and analysis. SAP's sincerity to BI has been manifested in its planned $6.8 billion acquisition of Business Objects SA. However, it claims that cost and technological complexity are two of the main hindrances to BI adoption.

The article focuses on the survey conducted by the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. and Sand Hill Group LLC regarding the 475 senior Information Technology (IT) and business executives. The survey found that business executives and IT departments want more innovative software. Most companies are concern on the dynamics of a modestly healthy economy to grow their businesses than controlling cost.

The article offers information about the marketing strategy of SAP AG as its rival Oracle gains market share through big acquisitions. The company is taking a tentative approach to subscription-based computer software, says the author. The company is also planning to introduce an improved version of NetWeaver Business Intelligence software. The software would make it easier for employees to access company information.

The article focuses on the growing demand for software as a service (SaaS) model among business enterprises. According to a study, 29% of 250 business technology use at least one licensed application available over the Internet for a monthly subscription. Big software vendors such as Microsoft Corp. and Sap AG have also realized its potential and are developing subscription offerings of Saas models for their customers.

The article focuses on the development in business intelligence (BI) in the U.S. Oracle Corp.'s acquisition of Hyperion Solutions Corp. is considered to be the latest improvement since the beginning of 2007. This deal gives the company a stronger BI portfolio to pursue enterprise application rival SAP. Hewlett-Packard revealed that it has been developing a data warehousing platform of its own. Moreover, it has been argued by Microsoft Corp. that companies can thrust BI to more employees.

The article outlines the plans of Hewlett-Packard Co. for the year 2007. The company is eyeing for more acquisitions with its $16 billion cash horde. It bought several software companies, including Mercury Interactive and Bristol Technology. HP further is planning to venture the area of business information optimization. After acquiring 60 percent revenue from PC's and printers, the company is going for more expansions.

The article offers information about the plan of General Motors Corp. (GM) to spend about $15 billion on its Information Technology services. Ralph Szygenda, the chief information officer of General Motors expects the IT vendors to rebuild GM's IT organization into a global single team. The six IT vendors that got contract included Covisint Inc. and India's Wipro Ltd. The question is whether the new contracts will immediately solve GM's severe problems. Some of these problems include lagging sales, fierce competition and huge legacy costs.

This article discusses the latest information technology (IT) transformation at General Motors Corp. (GM). In January 2006, GM will divide up $15 billion worth of contracts, likely to four main outsourcers and a number of lower-tier providers. GM'S ClO is asking vendors at different companies to adhere to 44 standard processes for various IT tasks, a move that could broadly change the IT-services business. It's an opportunity being discussed at the highest levels, with GM's CEO holding dinner meetings with the likes of Sam Palmisano, CEO of International Business Machines Corp. and EDS CIO Michael Jordan, showing that General Motors' spending gives it ample clout in the IT industry despite its struggling sales.

The article discusses the introduction of Freestyle drink dispenser, the first software-driven dispenser in the U.S. by Coca-Cola Co. which pours varities of sodas, juices, and teas. It notes that the product will let Coke tastes new beverage concepts and new drink flavors. It also mentions the global impact of the data from the freestyle machine which also relates to the continuing product development research of Coke.

The article discusses the significance of the appointment of Léo Apotheker as chief executive officer (CEO) of SAP America Inc. in the U.S. in 2009. It has perceived that since Apotheker does not have the same deep and personal ties with the company, it is easier for him to recognize the big changes needed to keep it relevant to the information technology industry. Meanwhile, Apotheker aimed at the company's culture to become more agile, responsive and customer-centered.

The article reports on the acquisition by Rackspace, a hosted computing services provider, of Sliceshot, a hosted virtual servers provider, and Jungle Disk, an online storage provider for its bid at Amazon.com's Web Services. The $11.5 million acquisition aims to broaden the company's presence in the rising cloud computing market. It also mentions that Microsoft Corp. will push its utility computing platform and online storage in the last week of October 2008.

The article focuses on portfolio management system by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly & Co. The system will track all of Lilly's potential drugs that will allow some 350 R&D business managers analyze hundreds of factors whenever the drugs hit the market, including the money spent on testing and the expected return on investment . Chief Information Officer Mike Heim says that the new system will help them advance their ability to access and manage information through the use of portfolio.

The article focuses on the redevelopment process of the information technology (IT) infrastructure of General Motors Corp. It discusses that the goal of the overhaul was simplification and standardization. Thus, it rolled out two standardized software applications, a product routing and tracking system that help ensures that specific vehicles, down to the paint color are produced as planned. It also established an in-plant order management system which links suppliers into the assembly line.

The article reports on the plan of information technology (IT) company Hewlett-Packard Co. to buy business and technology services company Electronic Data Systems Corp. in the U.S. HP is confident that the merger will enable them to fulfill its objective of expanding in the services industry. However, the company is in the process of preparing its organizational structure with the aim of finding the most significant people with vertical expertise and operational expertise.

The article reports on the growing significance of software as a service (SaaS) on the stability of electronics manufacturing services provider Flextronics and other big business enterprises. The growing demand for SaaS in is evident because of its capability of providing the convenience needed in employee and customer services management. Chief Information Officer (CIO) David Smoley explains that his commitment and effort of using SaaS within the company is due to its high quality of service.

The article analyzes the potential information technology (IT) spending by several companies in the U.S. by 2008. As claimed by Forrester Research, purchases of technology equipment and services in the country will grow in 2008 by eight percent, revising it to a more modest 4.6 percent growth. This includes the increase in spending on computers and peripherals by two percent, and spending on both communications equipment and IT services such as consulting by just three percent.

The article presents the market share analysis of Bon-Ton. Accordingly, Bon-Ton has its several clothing stores across the U.S. There are at least 10 million customer records and has pulled a sample set for 100 million transactions. Meanwhile, the Bon-Ton has increased its predictive analytics software.

The author reflects on the introduction of SAP's new software, Business ByDesign in response to the rising momentum in on-demand business software. He argues that the software caters to business functions including order management, customer relations and analytics. He contends that the new offering came up with a shocking caveat, it's reserved only for companies with 100 to 500 employees.

The article reports that a new return system has been introduced by Lowe's Cos. Inc. which will allow customers to return items with or without a bill. The system enables Lowe's associates to scan bar codes of returned items and verify the original invoice information like its purchase price and the payment methods used. Steve Stone, chief information officer at Lowe's, told that they can attract more customers by making the return process hassle-free.

The article focuses on several aspects related to virtual appliances with reference to a concept driven by VMware. One of the advantages of virtual appliances is simplified data center management. But a drawback is that for virtual appliances, a company requires a virtual server environment such as VMware's ESX Server. VMware introduced its Virtual Appliance Marketplace in November 2006 and now offers nearly 600 appliances on its website.

The article focuses on the outsourcing strategy of General Motors Corp. under the management of chief information officer (CIO) Ralph Szygenda. It is reported that Szygenda has used the book "CMMI for Outsourcing" as his reference to managing the company's $7 billion worth of information technology (IT) services contracts. It is claimed that the book lays out how to standardize interactions with an IT services vendor, with the goal of lower costs, smoother cooperation and better outcomes.

The article reports that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has acquired Hewlett-Packard Co.'s (HP) new Neoview data warehousing system. The new system will be used with Wal-Mart's Retail Link system, an application which offers Wal-Mart's 20,000 suppliers access to information regarding the company's condition. Although HP's platform is new and unproven, Wal-Mart used the application since its executives have enough knowledge about HP's data warehousing system.

The article cites the software from SeeWhy Software Ltd. used by eCourier to generate customer data more quickly. ECourier's co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Jay Bregman cites the uniqueness about SeeWhy, that is its ability to report what is happening with customers instantly. Though eCourier has been using the software for just a few months, the anecdotal evidence is cited to be encouraging.

The article reports on the development of the application software called Idol Echo from Autonomy which enables companies to track all their data in case of lawsuits. The software can track the life cycle of all the data within a company generated by telephone calls, voice mail and instant messages. Idol Echo is built on the company's Intelligent Data Operating Layer7 enterprise search platform.

The article focuses on the new software application employed by Dunkin Donuts to better understand its potential franchise customers. The new system, which was implemented in 2006 by intelligence vendor Oco, is a dashboard-type application that allows the company's managers to effectively manage potential and on-going franchise deals. It also provides managers a geographic view of regions where deals are taking place, identifies high-performing areas, and gather best-practices from regions.

The article focuses on the personal insurance firm Allstate's claims-processing system aimed for better customer relations. The new company -wide software application replaces dozens of apps that used to handle claims. This makes employees free from accessing data residing in different servers and mainframes. The new software built using Tibco Enterprise Application Integration supports standard Web services protocols making it easier to feed information from other systems.

The article focuses on various merits and demerits of radio frequency identification systems (RFID). Inspite of huge expectations, RFID still remains a niche technology due to its cost and difficulties faced by its pioneers like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in drawing partners in critical numbers. When focusing on solving a particular business problem, businesses are succeeding with RFID. Only 3% of the Wal-Mart's suppliers have started using RFID.

The article reports on the offerings of Ford Motor Co. and Microsoft Corp. that will be touted at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada and the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. Ford will offer an in-dash system called Sync that allows hands-free cell phone calls, driving friendly text messaging and a media player based on Windows CE.

The article reports on the entry of several players in the enterprise search market. IBM Corp. has launched IBM OmniFind Yahoo Edition, while Microsoft will be launching Office SharePoint Server for Search and IBM OmniFind Yahoo, which will take on the Google Mini at the low end of the market. Factors to consider in deciding which service to select include cost, security and access.

The article discusses the move of various retailers to transact orders from their Web sites to accommodate shoppers during the holiday season in the U.S. Among the retailers include Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Macy's and others that are experiencing problems in their electronic commerce operations. Based on the Internet monitoring of Keynote System Inc., Wal-Mart has set big online goals during the season while Macy's site functioned poorly for nine hours due to performance problems.