This ITAC roundtable washosted at the MaRS Centre, Toronto, Ontario.

What we learned

• “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” –Henry Ford
• Focus on what customers do, not what they say ; monitor where customers are spending their money
• It all comes down to people – getting it right with people, investing in people; technology is a tool, but not without people

What sources do you draw on for forward thinking and insight? How important is market research as a source of intelligence for you?

• External research firms
• Advisory boards, internal partners, strategic alliances
• Listening & participating in social media, such as Twitter, Facebook; tracking blogs

What do you see as emerging priorities and preferences in the market?

• Generation of instant need, “ADHD generation”
• Regulations driving need for integration
• Social lifestyle setting new expectations/priorities in the business world

What are the key business drivers that cause the emergence of new technologies?

• How technology can enable strategy; leverage technologies and methodology to address concerns and issues
• Need to take risk to get an ROI (risk/reward)
• Anytime, anywhere access

Are there common characteristics of breakthrough technologies (PCs, Internet, Smart phones)? What market conditions existed for them to emerge?

• 38 years for radio to go global; 4 years for internet to go global, 2 years for Facebook to go global…. based on human need and desire to connect
• Infrastructure lags technology; technology jumps ahead and infrastructure needs to catch up
• Consumer trends drive when and where they want to work

What has been the typical evolution of these technologies from inception to broad market acceptance?

• Look at trends happening at light speed – look at markets with tremendous needs (China, for example) – look at solution requirements
• Advertising and marketing – is one better than the other? It’s also how advertising and marketing is articulated
• The quicker you can get to early adopters, the better

What are the general technology segments that the next breakthrough technology will come from? I.e. wireless communications, smart phones, computer hardware, software.

• Cloud computing (device-to-cloud, making cloud bigger, cloud needs to become seamless)
• More structure in internet governance
• Mobile pieces – anytime, anywhere
• Ability to collaborate; ability to share documents anytime, anywhere
• Software-as-a-Services (SaaS)
• Regulatory need will play an important role

What will be the next breakthrough technology in the next few years?

• Video traffic – enable person-to-person high def sharing of information and tools; access information anytime, anywhere
• In less than two years: touchscreen technology
• Longer term: understand cloud access
• Driven applications with no IT assistance/person; IT an enabler, not a
  decision-maker

Panelists:

• Lynne Tait, Director of Corporate Projects, Algorithmics
• David De Abreu, VP, Customer Advocacy, Cisco Canada
• Sandi Sandiland, Director, Large Enterprise Sales Operations, Dell Inc.
• Rochelle Coleman, Director, Client Business Group, Microsoft Canada
• Riaz Raihan, National VP, Value Engineering & Business Development, SAP Canada Inc.