CIO publishes Top 10 Strategic Technologies for 2010

The CIO Information Network has posted what they see as the Top 10 Strategic Technologies for the coming year. Keep in mind that this is not necessarily a list of emerging new buzzwords, but more importantly seeks to identify which existing trends and technologies can serve the greatest purpose for doing business.

For example, Cloud Computing ranks number one on the list. Certainly this concept is nothing new anymore (I blogged about this topic months ago), but it is a maturing model for distributing electronic services to, in theory, reduce risk, overhead, and expand feature offerings at a rapid pace.

I was most intrigued to see Advanced Analytics as the second most watched strategy – this is used to model and predict outcomes to make better business decisions. Insurance companies have employed legions of statistical actuaries for decades to decipher data. Predictive modeling has presumably been employed by major industries such as aerospace and automotive for years. Who hasn’t watched an episode of CBS’ Numb3rs and wished for their own numerical wizard to ferret out unseen patterns – furthering your ability to make better decisions in all walks of life? Well, it seems like someday that level of tech might be employable as it trickles down from the enterprise. For example, do you wish to quantify which booth space will maximize sales? It’s likely this level of modeling would help inform your decision prior to contracting a space.

Mobile Apps, Green Tech, Social Computing — among others are also on the list as expected. None of these strategies are drawn from a particular piece of code or platform, nor does any individual device claim exclusive keys to the future kingdom of business. It was refreshing to read an article that doesn’t laud over a particular application, platform, or gadget. As we move forward in the exhibit industry, we look forward to assessing technology and formulating our own strategies for helping our clients promote themselves in-and-around the busy trade show circuit.