The Web 2.0 Buyer Profile: 2008

In 2008, one in three businesses across North America and Europe is planning to invest in Web 2.0 tools and technologies. This attention will be a boon to vendors selling Web 2.0 technology. However, most buyers will start slow and are interested in just one or two pieces of functionality, such as wikis or RSS (really simple syndication). Very few of the businesses planning to adopt Web 2.0 tools see the technology itself as a priority in 2008; instead, most plan to focus on business problems, such as application integration and collaboration platform deployment. Vendors must commit to smaller deals for the short term, but, to prepare for enriched deals in 2009, align themselves with 2008 IT priorities and clearly articulate to clients how Web 2.0 technologies are solving specific business problems.