Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/232206
48 Information Technology maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 DECEMBER 2013 Doing business in real time MARTHESE PORTELLI THE oncoming year, 2014, is bound to trigger off a change in the way IT is currently being used across a big number of companies and businesses, both locally and internationally. IT is transitioning from technology to service delivery. We are at a stage where businesses need to embrace 3rd Platform Leadership Challenges. This means that the role of the CIOs is bound to evolve even more – their vision and strategy will be crucial for company growth and continued success. CIOs must become innovation partners with the business to help companies realise the greatest value from mobile, social, Big Data, and cloud services. According to International Data Corporation, a research firm specialising in the collection of market intelligence and the provision of advisory services for the IT and the consumer technology markets, 2014 will start challenging businesses to change what they do and how they do it currently to the so-called Third Platform of mobile, social, Big Data, and cloud services. This Third Platform has is starting to take hold and no business can afford to be left out. The triggering of this so-called Third Platform is due to a number of factors. The first factor – Mobility is on the move. The younger generation and mobile customers are demanding change. They want to communicate with companies in a new and mobile way. The second factor – The IT sector is being driven by cloud-delivered services, including both software and data. In this big transition to the Third Platform, the role of the CIO cannot in any way be sidelined. The CIO has a crucial role – the CIO's role will be critical for the success of the business. The same can be said for the IT budget and its expenditure. The IT budget must focus on business innovation and value. The following paragraph outlines the 10 market predictions that International Data Corporation is making with respect to the Third Platform milestones: 1. By 2015, the demographic shift to young and mobile customers will require 80% of consumer-facing businesses to integrate IT with public social networks. 2. By 2015, 60% of CIOs' security budgets for increasingly vulnerable legacy systems will be decreased drastically. International Data Corporation are estimating that the budget cuts in this area will be between 30%-40% short of the required amount that would allow CIOs to carry out and manage the threat assessments required to maintain legacy systems. 3. By 2015, Third Platform requirements will drive 60% of CIOs to go for enterprise architecture as a required IT tool. 4. By 2016, 80% of the IT budget will be based on the provision of a broad portfolio of IT and business services. 5. By 2017, 60% of CIOs will be producing business enhancing insights from Big Data and analytics. 6. By 2017, the current primary role of the CIO will change. Over 70% of CIOs will change their primary role from directly managing IT to becoming an innovation partner. 7. By 2017, 60% of CIOs will be supporting an agile architecture with next-generation mobile applications so as to ensure enterprise business mobility. 8. By 2017, 70% of CIOs will increase enterprise exposure so as to accelerate business agility through increased cloud adoption. 9. By 2017, 60% of CIOs will be focusing their IT budget on business innovation and value. 10. By 2018, adoption of Third Platform IT technologies will redefine 90% of IT roles. Mobile is seeing an explosive growth of internet-based services, ranging from search to streaming media to offline storage of personal data. Cloud is seeing the improvement of the economics of IT for companies and governments. We are seeing greater flexibility and responsiveness. We are seeing new business models emerge. Business is a continuum and therefore it must seek to absorb these trends at the right time. As Shakespeare said, "All the world's a stage; and all the men and women merely players," implying that people are driven largely by the turns and whirls of the time and place in which they live. The same goes for the business world. Marthese Portelli is Business Development Manager of the Alert Group of Companies. For more information, email at info@alert.com.mt Family Fun at SmartCity Malta during L-Istrina 2013 ONCE again, L-Istrina 2013 is drawing near and this year, for the second time running, SmartCity Malta will host L-Istrina 2013 at its premises as a satellite venue on the 26 December from noon to 9.30pm, opening its doors to the public for a day full of fun activities and entertainment. The event will be held at Laguna Walk within SmartCity Malta which will be open for the very first time to the public for everyone to enjoy and experience during the merry festive season, and which will be officially inaugurated next spring. The event promises to be a unique and exciting family experience including a multitude of fun activities, live performances and an allround electrifying atmosphere. For the first time, the Laguna Walk will be hosting Malta's popular Patches Market which brings together talented artists, designers, stylists, and craftspeople. As always, the market will showcase local talent and beautiful creations to Laguna Walk visitors on 26 December. L-Istrina at SmartCity Malta will also be a fantastic event for children who will be entertained with a playstation area, scale model boats in the laguna, as well as DaZZle, an inspirational children's musical with West End quality songs and Centre Stage to entertain and delight everyone at the event. Adults and children alike will also get moving to some lively zumba with Maria and Pedro, as well as be entertained by an array of fantastic music talent including: Footprints, Klinsmann, Pamela Bezzina, Kantilena, Lyndsay and Lulu, Eleanor Cassar, Adrian, Gloriana Arpa Belli, Nadine Axisa , Tiziana Calleja, Neville, Amber, Dario Mifsud Bonnici, Pamela Schembri, Gaia Cauchi and others. That is not all. A Harley Davidson show and beautiful fountain shows in the laguna involving a dancing fountain synchronised with music, will surely be enjoyed by all. Visitors will also be able to help children in need, thanks to Locks of Love which will be on site during the event. Locks of Love is a charity that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. So by visiting SmartCity Malta you would be able to help these children gain confidence and normalcy. Speaking about the upcoming philanthropic event, SmartCity Malta CEO, Anthony Tabone said "We are honoured to be hosting L-Istrina 2013 for the second time. The L-Istrina team has warmly welcomed SmartCity Malta on board and together, we are working very hard to ensure the event is a huge success for all Maltese families." Make sure to visit SmartCity Malta on the 26 December and join in the Christmas family fun and many activities taking place during L-Istrina 2013.