They set new standards for quality, execution and customer service. They're on to the next big thing before competitors have even begun to adapt to their previous innovation. Drivers need to dominate and obviate their competitors rather than just one-up them. But the payoffs are far greater. These same traits apply to most companies' application of Internet technologies.
Survivors make safe, measured bets on packaged apps, infrastructure and services.
Two of our page 1 stories this week look at IT organizations in the driver category those applying Internet technologies beyond neat templates. The German software company is turning to the technology not just to cut toll-calling costs and ease network administration the standard reasons for moving to VoIP but also to create an environment where its employees worldwide, whether in offices or working from home, can share the same networking tools and multimedia applications. Software AG had to rethink its entire network architecture for the project. But more important, it's using the technology to foster a more collaborative corporate culture. Even though GE is a Microsoft Exchange shop, reports assistant editor David Drucker, it's augmenting that infrastructure with several Lotus Web collaboration applications to help its 340,000 employees better share best practices across global time zones and 12 business units.