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2011 Could Be the Year Social Networks Take Off: Are You Ready?

Judy Mottl | Date: 12-15-10 | Comments

IDC expects social networking tools to take deep root in 2011. For IT, that means making sure requirements, integration work and security policies are evaluated and ready.

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2011 Could Be the Year Social Networks Take Off: Are You Ready?

Enterprises�from tech icons to small shops�are getting into social networking because it's easy and can reap big rewards. Many large computer equipment makers are tying Twitter and Facebook to their direct channel sales, while SMBs are adopting Facebook as their primary customer-facing marketing tool.

And while such consumer-focused tools are viable and proven successful, true social networking success will only come with the evolution of enterprise-grade offerings.

A new IDC research report on predictions for the upcoming year goes as far as to say social networks will become a mainstream platform. The push will come from heavy hitters like Cisco, Dell, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP and others, as they see great value in linking current systems with product lines (and strengthening customer commitment and product loyalty) with the emerging social network need.

The first challenge for an IT team with any new tech initiative usually is deciding what solution to plug in. The good news, if research expectations are right, is that choosing a social network product won't be arduous.

IDC believes the big ERP, software and business toolmakers will start eyeing current offerings and buying them up. In fact, IDC predicts that 30 percent of the today's players in the social software market will be bought in 2011. Another portion of the market will just fade, say other industry watchers. IT vendors will make interoperability and integration happen before pushing newly vamped solutions out to market.

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