Tim: At a time of such rapid change, it’s essential to have adaptable, sustainable applications that benefit both our customers and society at large. Furthermore, instead of being embedded in IT infrastructure, applications are now a key element of the flexible business approach needed to meet the challenges facing consumers and citizens around the world.
At Fujitsu, we view this through the seven key focus areas of our new business brand, Fujitsu Uvance. These cover four cross-industry vertical areas directly addressing societal challenges, supported by the horizontal technology-based areas, Hybrid IT, Digital Shifts and Business Applications, needed to realize a new generation of agile, sustainable solutions.
Saurabh: I believe that business applications are key to any successful organizational strategy. In my view, there are two themes driving this. The first is the shift in organizational mindset and priorities. The second is the explosion in agile and iterative development. Let me share how I see these themes evolving.
1. The shift in organizational mindset and priorities
CXOs, Chief Digital Officers and Business Unit heads are now working together to decide IT budgets and priorities. Indeed, it’s estimated that almost 50% of IT investment over the next five to seven years will be allocated by CTOs rather than CIOs. Significantly, the perspective of these technology decision makers is also changing, with decisions increasingly based on practical business and societal outcomes like how to create next generation retail stores and financial services offerings.
2. The explosion in iterative and agile development
For many decision makers today, considerations like time to market and improving the user experience have become even more critical than cost. Of course, cost is still important, but it’s considerations like time to market and user experience that will decide competitive advantage and future growth. As a result, decision makers are now embracing the ‘fail fast’ mindset, in their eagerness to get new products into market faster. To exploit these changes successfully, organizations need to understand the essential role of business applications in supporting and enabling rapid change.
