Most organizations rely on information, knowledge and intelligence to create products, services, education and entertainment.
Information is power.
In the past, it was always difficult to get a hold of. Either you couldn't get reliable information, or you couldn't get it on time. This was either by intent or by cumbersome mainframe or networked systems. Now, information is managed directly at the desktop with no particular worry about platform or software compatibility. Each user purchases the tools they need to do the job they need to do.