The global economy is front and center, and enterprises worldwide are looking to get the biggest bang for their buck in 2009. With that in mind, Verizon Business has identified 10 business technology trends to help corporate and government information technology (IT) leaders do more with less.

"These challenging times present IT leaders with an opportunity to make technology work harder and smarter to get the job done," said Nancy Gofus, senior vice president of global business products for Verizon. "We're at a crossroads, where cost-cutting and technological innovation can actually unite to create new business capabilities in spite of the economic climate. Verizon Business stands ready to help large businesses and government agencies worldwide make the most of communications and IT to propel their enterprises forward."

Here's Verizon Business' list of 10 hot trends for 2009:

Enterprise 2.0

The workplace is ever-changing and yesterday's work style is being replaced with a more interactive exchange of ideas inspired by social networking tools such as Facebook, Wikis, Mash-ups, Twitter and Digg-it. Web 2.0 is quickly evolving into Enterprise 2.0 as these rich capabilities are creating new business models for some companies and empowering new strategies for others. Removing traditional barriers of walls, wires, time and distance --reflective of today's often globally dispersed enterprises -- in favor of new social networking tools will enable workers to connect to their extended network of customers, suppliers, vendors and employees in new and exciting ways. Look for Enterprise 2.0 to help organizations take their game to the next level through enhanced collaboration, communications and sharing ideas.

Work as Activity Versus Place

Organizations want their employees to get their jobs done no matter where they are. For that reason, teleworking is becoming a strategic imperative. Companies will continue to recognize the productivity-boosting benefits of enabling mobile teleworkers or at-home teleworkers to remain securely connected to corporate resources. The environment will also benefit as more businesses, government agencies and municipalities recognize the energy savings that can result from teleworking and "hoteling" (using office space on an as- needed basis, like a hotel room). Telework, including new high-definition virtual meetings, will create an increased focus on work as an activity versus a physical location, and companies will be able to hire and retain professional talent regardless of where they are located. Managed mobility offerings will help businesses track, monitor, secure and manage the plethora of mobile devices accessing corporate networks.

Doing More with Less

Businesses and governments everywhere are looking for ways to do more with less. That holds true whether it means using managed services or tuning up existing networks instead of building new ones. IT organizations are also looking for the right technologies, such as sophisticated automated speech systems, to better serve customers. In 2009, it's all about productivity. Companies can choose which functions to keep in-house and which to hand off to a third party. Flexibility, the need for specific skill-sets and globalization are making selective outtasking the preferred model. With managed services, companies can focus on what they do best and leave some of the highly specialized work such as IT, security, networks and call centers, to experts.

Visual Communications

Video will continue to play a starring role, as companies make the most of their IP connections to create a culture of collaboration. From the boardroom to the desktop to the laptop to the mobile phone, more collaboration will take place, as companies increasingly embrace the cost-savings, productivity and environmental benefits of virtual meetings versus business travel. High-definition video will begin to pay off for extended enterprise communications between employees, customers, suppliers and partners. In addition to interactive video collaboration, video functions will be incorporated in the enterprise for on-demand content distribution, including on-the-job training. As high-definition video equipment becomes more affordable and interoperable, the opportunity to video-enable corporate IP network endpoints will allow companies to rev-up their existing networks with minimal investment.

Unified Communications Integrated Into Business Processes

If voice over IP (VoIP) is thought to be the first return on an IP network investment, unified communications (UC) will be the gift that keeps on giving. Unified communications uses Internet protocol networks to integrate various systems, media, devices and applications to help streamline business processes, accelerate decision-making, and reduce costs. With UC now at the forefront of business communications strategies, companies are making decisions about voice telephony that will help them achieve greater collaboration and productivity. Workers leveraging presence capabilities in a UC environment can gain more control over work flow and time management as well as expedited communications. What's next: UC integrated into automated business processes, where human and machine intelligence commingle in an IP world to drive even greater business growth.

Ready, Set Go IPv6

The number of IP-addressable devices and systems is skyrocketing within enterprises and few organizations have current documented data on what those IP assets are, how they are being used and which ones are most critical to their operations. Knowing which IP addressable elements are linked to which business needs will enable IT leaders to prioritize the data and applications that will need to be future-proofed with IPv6 capabilities while phasing out those that are idle or counter productive to operations. IPv6 will be a necessity for companies to achieve mobility and scalability with increased efficiency and ultimately move their businesses forward.

Getting SaaSy

The network becomes king once again in 2009 making it the perfect platform for software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery. Serving content, applications and security in a centralized online environment will become the rage. Buying computing resources a la carte will help companies control costs while attaining the security, performance, scalability and reliability required for the enterprise. Consuming IT resources (connectivity, server and storage) on an asneeded basis will keep IT costs in control and eliminate the need, time and effort to outfit every desktop. Centralization will keep IT departments on top of their game in 2009.

360 Security

Professionals will need to be security-conscious in and out of the office. Whether at home or on-the-go, security needs to be considered every step of the way. Three hundred sixty-degree security, mandatory on any IT checklist, requires that the flow of data be protected in and out of the corporate network and through the extended enterprise of widespread and mobile customers, partners, suppliers and employees. Security will touch every endpoint, every device and every situation, both physical and logical. Home and office require equal protection as boundaries continue to blur.

Eco-Responsibility as Sound Business Strategy

Companies will evaluate eco-responsibility along with their technology investments as part of an overall business strategy. Corporate social responsibility is becoming increasingly important in how companies are viewed by their employees, customers and investors. What's good for the environment also happens to make good business sense. According to "Smart 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age" published by The Climate Group, information communication technology (ICT) can reduce total global carbon emissions by 15 percent by the year 2020. If companies can reduce their energy consumption, they can also reduce their energy costs to gain a competitive advantage. What's more, savvy companies today are embracing the green initiative to get ahead of government and business mandates that will eventually force the issue.

Cutting Through the Compliance Clutter

Compliance and regulatory oversight are here to stay. In 2009, expect more, not less, with IT in the hot seat for ensuring IT systems are fully compliant and all the right controls are in place. Enterprises should be prepared to be strategic, think innovatively and act decisively. Professional services and Web-based dashboards that help track, monitor and enable controls for compliance will provide the foundation for companies looking to get it right. These "smart" tools also will allow an organization to quickly review whether its partners, customers and suppliers, which form an extended network, are complying with relevant standards and regulations, a critical consideration in today's increasingly connected world.

"To these predictions," concluded Gofus, "we will add one more: Businesses worldwide will need to be quick and nimble in the coming year. Those that leverage the benefits of technology to power their business objectives will weather the storm and become even stronger in the long run.

Our expert staff is trained to help companies navigate these turbulent waters and deliver a comprehensive suite of integrated, secure communications and IT solutions, including managed and professional services that enable companies to focus on their core business."

全球通訊及資訊科技方案領袖預測主要科技趨勢，協助企業在來年再創佳績

全球經濟一體化的事實就在眼前，全球企業現正尋求能在2009年獲得最大回報的投資。有見及此，Verizon Business現披露十大商業科技趨勢，協助企業及政府機構的資訊科技主管以最低成本發揮最大的效益。

Verizon Business全球商業產品高級副總裁Nancy Gofus表示：「嚴峻的市場環境促使資訊科技主管，把科技變得更事半功倍及更具效益。儘管現時經濟不景，但其實成本削減和科技創新可相互結合，締造新的商業實力。Verizon Business早已作好準備，銳意協助全球的大型企業和政府機構，充分利用通訊和資訊科技的優勢，推動業務發展。」

以下是Verizon Business預測的2009年十大熱門趨勢：

Enterprise 2.0

工作環境日新月異，昔日的工作模式，正逐漸被Facebook、Wikis、Mash-ups、Twitter及Digg-it等讓意念交換能更互動的社交網絡工具取代。Web 2.0現正迅速演變為Enterprise 2.0，社交網絡工具的豐富功能為企業創造嶄新的業務模式，及締造新的發展策略。今天，大部份企業的足跡遍佈全球各地，新的社交網絡工具能協助企業消除如牆壁、電線、時間和距離等傳統障礙，讓員工能以全新的方式連接到延伸的客戶、供應商、廠商及員工網絡。Enterprise 2.0將有助企業加強協作溝通和意念分享，讓他們可更上一層樓，再創佳績。

視工作為日常生活之一部份，不再將之局限於辦公地點

企業期望員工不論身處何地，都能如常完成工作。正因如此，遙距工作逐漸成為策略性的迫切需求。企業將日益意識到讓流動員工或在家工作的員工安全地連接至企業資源，能大大提高生產力。隨著越來越多的企業、政府機構和市政府意識到，遙距辦公和「酒店式辦公室」(按需使用辦公室空間，就像租用酒店房間一樣) 有助節約能源，亦更能符合環保的趨勢。如高清虛擬會議的遙距辦公方式，將成為日常辦公室生活的一部份，而不再局限於實際的工作地點。此外，企業可聘請或保留專才，而又毋須顧慮或局限於他們定居的地區。管理式流動服務將有助企業追縱、監察、保護及管理存取企業網絡的各種流動裝置。

以最低成本發揮最大效益

不論是使用管理式服務，還是調整現有的網絡，各地的企業及政府機構都正尋求如何以最低成本發揮最大效益的方案。此外，資訊科技組織亦正尋找合適的技術，如先進的自動語音系統，為客戶提供更優質服務。2009年，將會是凡事都講求生產力的一年。企業可選擇哪些職能由公司內部負責，哪些工作交由第三方處理。靈活性、配備所需的特定技能，以及全球化等因素都使「選擇性任務外判」成為企業首選的業務模式。憑藉管理式服務，企業可專注本身的強項，把其他如資訊科技、保安、網絡及客戶服務中心等專門化工作交托予相關的專家。

視像通訊

在企業盡用IP連接力來創造協作文化的影響下，視像影片將繼續擔當重要的角色。隨著企業日益體會到虛擬會議在節省成本、生產力及環保方面的優勢，均遠勝於商務公幹，從董事會，到桌面電腦、手提電腦以至手機層面的協作活動將會相應增加。採用高清視像會議系統的效益將開始在擴展型企業內展現，如促進員工、客戶、供應商及合作夥伴之間的通訊。除了互動視像協作，企業亦將會利用視像功能進行點播內容分發，包括在職培訓。高清視像設備價格日趨相宜，相互操作性亦日漸提升，這些都使企業IP網絡端點可支援視像功能，協助企業以最少的投資，加速現有網絡的運作。

統一化通訊與業務流程全面整合

如果網絡電話被視為是IP網絡投資的第一個投資回報，那麼統一化通訊將會是企業不斷收到的禮物。統一化通訊能透過互聯網協定網絡，整合不同的系統、媒體、裝置和應用，精簡業務流程、加快決策進程及降低成本。現時，統一化通訊已成為業務通訊策略首要考慮的解決方案，企業將會選用有助其實現更大的協作力和生產力之網絡電話技術。員工可憑藉統一化通訊環境的在線 (Presence) 能力，享有更佳的工作流程和時間管理控制能力，發揮更佳的通訊效率。展望未來，隨著統一化通訊整合到自動化的業務流程，人類和機器智能將在IP世界中融為一體，推動更大的業務增長。

準備就緒迎接IPv6

企業內部的IP可尋址裝置及系統數量急升，只有少數機構能妥善記錄IP資產和其應用，以及哪些才是對運作至關重要的IP資產。若資訊科技主管知道哪些IP可尋址裝置設備支援哪些業務需求，將可優先處理一些需要適應未來IPv6功能的數據和應用，同時逐步淘汰哪些閒置或拖慢營運效率的數據和應用。IPv6將是企業必備的技術，以實現流動性和延展性，提升效率，進而推動業務發展。

邁向「軟件服務化」

網絡於2009年將再度封王，成為軟件服務化 (SaaS) 的最理想平台。服務內容、應用和保安功能由網上環境集中處理的趨勢將加劇。企業逐次選購電腦運算資源，不但能有效控制成本，更可獲取所需的保安、性能表現、延展性及可靠性。事實上，按需使用資訊科技資源 (連接力、伺服器和儲存)，將有助控制資訊科技成本，讓企業毋須再花費時間和人力資源裝備所有桌面電腦。資源集中管理將會使資訊科技部門於2009年能更運籌帷幄。

360度全方位保安

專業人員在辦公室內外都需要注重保安。無論在家、或是在路途上，保安措施都需要考慮周詳。資訊科技核對表必須具備360度全方位保安措施，以妥善保護在企業網絡內外，以及在擴展型企業 (分散和流動客戶、合作夥伴、供應商及員工) 流動的數據資料。保安必須以合乎實際和邏輯的方式進行，以顧及每個端點、每台設備和各種情況的需求。隨著家用和辦公室的分野愈來愈模糊，兩者的系統都需要同等穩妥的保安防護。

把生態責任列入業務策略內

企業將從整體業務策略的角度，一併評估生態責任及科技投資。對員工、客戶和投資者來說，企業社會責任於企業形象的影響力將變得日趨重要。保護環境的項目亦可同時獲取商業效益。根據The Climate Group發表的《Smart 2020：在資訊時代實現低碳經濟》報告，到2020年，資訊通訊技術可減少高達15%的全球碳排放量。如果企業能減少能源消耗，即可降低能源成本，獲取更佳的競爭優勢。更重要的是，高瞻遠矚的企業今天可快政府一步，積極支持綠色行動，藉此提高社會環保意識。

輕鬆地遵循法規

2009年，市場對法規遵循和監管的期待只會有多無少，其中資訊科技部門需要確保資訊科技系統完全遵循法規，及配備完善的監控政策。企業應及早作好準備，訂定策略目標，勇於思考創新及採取果斷的行動。專業服務及以Web為基礎的儀表板能有效追?、監察和控制企業對法規的遵循，為企業提供符合法規要求的基礎。這些智能式工具讓企業能更迅速檢視擴展型網絡內的合作夥伴、客戶及供應商有否遵循相關標準和法例，這正是在當前日益相連的世界之一個重要考慮。

Gofus總結說：「我們會為以上種種預測再增添多一個預計 ─ 展望來年，環球企業必須具備反應迅速和靈活變通的能力。能善用科技優勢以實踐業務目標的企業，定能安然度過經濟寒冬，並變得更實力雄厚。Verizon Business的專業人員全都訓練有素，致力協助企業克服困難，並提供一應俱全的整合式、安全通訊及資訊科技解決方案，包括管理式及專業服務，讓他們可專注於核心業務，免除後顧之憂。」