Firms urged to experiment with new technologies

Technologies rooted in consumer applications will increasingly drive innovations in enterprise IT, analyst firm Gartner has predicted.

The company noted that recent technology advances have lowered the threshold for consumers to use and experiment with new technologies.

Instant messaging and free applications such as desktop search are examples of technologies that were popularised in the consumer segment, but are now finding their way into the enterprise.

"Consumer-oriented technology will continue to pave the way for the most significant IT tools," said David Smith, vice president and Gartner fellow.

"A primary agent of this phenomenon is the second internet revolution in which the internet serves as a proving ground for new technologies. The internet's ease of use has made people view technology with less hesitancy."

The trend requires a shift in the way that enterprises handle IT, according to Smith. Employees will introduce new technologies into the organisation, and managers should resist the urge to ban the technologies because of regulatory or productivity concerns.

Firms should instead experiment with new technologies and identify those that can improve worker productivity, creativity or satisfaction.

But this trend raises security concerns as the new applications can open back doors into corporate networks and compromise enterprise security.

"Businesses need to recognise that the consumerisation of IT will continue to gain momentum. It is not a fad that will go away next year," said Smith.

"Exploit, manage and benefit from the consumerisation of IT with education and a realistic and pragmatic approach. Do not try to stop it - you will fail."