The implementation of big data has proven to increase a company’s ROI by as much as ten to 20 percent depending on the metrics used. Productivity can also increase by five percent and lead to six percent higher profits than other competitors. Enterprises not using big data in their operations are missing out on the benefits that come from increased data gathering and analytics.

Why marketing teams have not become data-driven

The way businesses operate has certainly changed with the rise of new technology flooding the workplace. Perhaps one of the most significant developments in the past few years has been the increased use of personal devices in the office. As smartphones and tablets have become more affordable and their capabilities have multiplied, more workers are bringing their own devices to help them with their jobs. According to one recent survey from Webroot, employees at more than 60% of companies use their own devices at work.

Predicting future changes in the world of technology can be a tricky endeavour. New products and innovations are revealed so rapidly that even experts may be caught unprepared. Even so, that doesn't mean looking into the future is without merit as it helps businesses and industries plan ahead. One of the most important aspects of any organization’s operations is the use of storage, particularly as more of the world becomes driven by data. Current ways of tackling storage challenges are already proving inadequate, necessitating new technologies and strategies for companies both large and small.

This week, the Board of Directors for the Content Management Professionals announced the ending of CM Pros. The decision to close down the organization was evidently made by the Board in Summer 2014.

A couple years ago I joined CM Pros, paid for membership, never got billed, and never heard back from the organization. Knowing that some good people were involved in the organization told me that they were facing an uphill battle. The battle for an organization to have identity and play a role in the industry they wish to advocate.

Acquia has announced the appointment of Christopher Stone as senior vice president of products and development. Stone has more than 30 years of experience in software development and pioneering open source solutions for the enterprise. Stone will be responsible for engineering, DevOps, and product management of the Acquia Platform, helping lead the expansion of the company’s suite of SaaS solutions for building and managing integrated digital experiences.

With Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs likely here to stay, companies are trying to find ways to reap the most benefits while downplaying the drawbacks. While it’s true that BYOD policies can lead to increased productivity, more employee satisfaction, and greater collaboration among workers, some significant issues have arisen in recent years. At the forefront is the concern over having a BYOD security plan, and since under a BYOD policy employees would be using their own personal devices to access company networks and data, business leaders are finding it an issue they need to address quickly.

Last week, Sitecore announced Sitecore 8, the next version of its Sitecore Experience Platform. Over the past few years, Sitecore and almost every other CMS provider has focused on providing marketers and other users with as many analytic tools as possible. In their campaign for this new version, Sitecore has stated a belief that when it comes to raw numbers, enough is enough. It's time to return the focus back onto the art of marketing.

When it comes to tools that can help businesses reach out to more and more people, customer relationship management (CRM) systems are some of the most important currently being used. In a nutshell, CRM systems help companies keep track of customer information, with automation and organization of data being crucial elements of the software. As technology has evolved, so have CRM systems. Every year brings about new advances, and businesses have needed to adapt to keep up with all the changes. Predicting what’s to come can help organizations prepare in advance. As companies look to the future, they’ll notice several trends that they can be ready for well ahead of the rest of the pack.