Ventana Research Finds Demand in New Market for Information Applications

    PLEASANTON, CA, June 17, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Information is the fuel that powers today's businesses, and new benchmark research released today by Ventana Research indicates that organizations are aware of the challenge of managing that information and are maturing in their ability to adopt platforms and applications to enable them to do so.

This major research on Information Applications, the latest from the leading business technology research firm, analyzed input from hundreds of organizations around the world to assess the maturity and direction of their efforts. The research provides the foundation for the establishment of a new market category called Information Applications, enabling Ventana Research to provide guidance on efficiently and effectively using technology to make information available to business areas and processes.

This research examined organizations' people, process, information and technology competencies and maturity, trends and best practices in how they make information available to those who need it. It found most maturing in their support for information applications, with nearly one-fourth (22%) at the highest innovative level of maturity in the Ventana Research Maturity Index. Size helps, the research found; the largest of organizations are more mature.

The findings offer significant new insights into attitudes toward information applications and the processes they enable. Organizations take these issues seriously: Considerably more than half (58%) of research participants said it is very important to improve information availability. They also intend to take steps to do that: More than half are planning to change the way they make information available in the next 12 to 18 months. And 60 percent are making design and deployment improvements for information availability now or will do so in the near future.

"Information is one of the key enablers of effective competitiveness and performance," said Mark Smith, CEO and EVP Research of Ventana Research. "This benchmark research confirms the importance of using the right tools to manage it and make it available as needed. Businesses are determined to improve information availability, we found, but to do so business and IT must join forces. The research also found that the design, assembly and deployment of information applications are in need of improvement, as is the technology currently being used to build them. This research and our analysis over the last year has driven the creation of this new software category of Information Applications."

Ventana Research will detail the findings of this benchmark research in a live interactive webinar on Thursday, July 1st at 10:00 am Pacific time that will discuss the research findings and offer recommendations for improvement. Key research findings to be discussed will include:

- needed improvements in the design, assembly and deployment of information applications.
- the importance of Business-IT collaboration around information applications.
- issues in the adequacy of the technology currently used to build information applications.
- the key role of analytics and presentation components as aspects of information applications.
- the importance of search and navigation in facilitating collaboration and data discovery.
- the role of mobile access to information.

Register for the Webinar - https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/709149656

The research was sponsored by Actuate, Endeca Technologies, Inc., IBM and MarkLogic and media sponsors Information Management and TechTarget. Those interested in learning more about the benchmark research can find additional information at http://www.ventanaresearch.com/infoapps/. As a part of your registration you will receive insights and education from Ventana Research on using technology effectively in business.

About Ventana Research
Ventana Research is the leading benchmark research and business technology advisory services firm. We provide insight and expert guidance on trends and mainstream and disruptive technologies. Our unparalleled insights and best practices guidance are based on our rigorous research-based benchmarking of people, processes, information and technology across business and IT functions worldwide. The combination we offer of benchmark research, market coverage and in-depth knowledge of hundreds of technology providers means we can deliver business and technology education and expertise to our clients where and when needed to reduce the time requirements, cost and risk of technology investments. Ventana Research provides the most comprehensive analyst and research coverage in the industry; the many business and IT professionals worldwide who are members of our community benefit from Ventana Research's insights, as do highly regarded media and association partners around the globe. Our views and analyses are distributed daily through blogs and social media channels including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Business Week's Business Exchange. Ventana Research was ranked the #1 analyst firm you can trust in enterprise software for 2009 for its relevance to the industry. To learn how Ventana Research advances the maturity of organizations use of information and technology through benchmark research, education and advisory services, visit www.ventanaresearch.com.

Media: Copies of benchmark research report and interviews are available upon request.

Media Contact: Marisela Reynoso (925) 474-0060 [email protected]

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