Collaboration trends for 2012: Part two

Last month I discussed two trends that I see having an impact on enterprise collaboration in 2012.  I discussed how the rise in big data and arrival of social networks in the enterprise will increase the adoption of collaboration platforms this year. In this final post of my 2012 predictions, I'll touch on the impact that cloud computing is having on collaboration (and vice versa), as well as what it means for the enterprise.

Cloud + Mobile

The cloud and Software as a Service (SaaS) has served as a key enabler for enterprise collaboration since the first products appeared some 10 years ago. And over the last few years, the increasing acceptance of SaaS is speeding the adoption of intercompany, multi-party collaboration.

©istockphoto.com/franckreporter

2012 will be the year when smart mobile devices, especially tablets, will provide full mobile access to collaboration systems in the cloud, enabling anyone, anywhere using any device to access a single platform.  IDC and others share this view (see "Competing for 2020"). If anything I think most people are underestimating the effect that rapid growth in mobile computing will have on the way people collaborate.

As collaboration become more mobile, all the people and organizations in an industry supply chain or partner ecosystem will be 100 percent connected and able to collaborate, no matter where they are -- even on a Wi-Fi-equipped airplane. Increased productivity and efficiency. Accelerated delivery cycles. Improved decision making. A reduction in mistakes and errors. It's all possible, it's started to happen, and 2012 will be the year it becomes the norm.

Learning to Let Go

2012 will be the year when enterprises finally understand that they can significantly increase productivity and reduce risk when they give up control over their collaboration systems and become comfortable with their data in the cloud on platform they don't manage.

What are the drivers supporting this shift towards "letting go"?  

• Security: Enterprises are understanding that they can get the highest levels of security and data protection in SaaS applications. Case studies and industry stats demonstrate the reliability of these systems and often the security of SaaS is even superior to in-house systems.
• Cost: SaaS applications delivers tremendous cost benefits, compelling IT departments (which face increasing budgetary pressures) to let go of their traditional internal, costly approaches to building and managing systems.
• Neutrality: As discussed in an earlier post, multi-party collaboration works best when on a neutral platform that levels the playing field for all participants. Enterprises that want the productivity and competitive benefits of true multi-party collaboration will embrace neutrality.

As Forrester Principal Analyst Holger Kisker, Ph.D. noted in his recent blog post, "2012 Is The Year The Cloud Becomes Mature," collaboration will move more businesses into the cloud and more collaborative cloud solutions will emerge in the coming year. I'll talk more about what to look for in a collaboration solution in my next few posts, so stay tuned.

My list on trends in collaboration for 2012 is in no way exhaustive -- share any that you think should have made the cut in the comments section.

Leigh is the Co-Founder & CEO of Aconex, the world's most widely-used online collaboration platform for the Construction and Engineering industry.