Screaming from our silos

I had a drink with my former Gartner colleague, Erik Keller and I was describing the stack of OnStar FMV rear view mirrors I saw at BestBuy this week. I was describing how OnStar, with massive GM investment was meant to be a differentiated feature for its Cadillacs and Buicks when first introduced a decade ago, and how Garmin and other GPS devices, then Google Maps on our smartphones dramatically reduced the allure of OnStar. So  it was repackaged as FMV - a service on a rearview mirror which even a Toyota or Chrysler customer could avail off. And now an app like Automatic comes along and reduces the allure of even FMV.

Most top executives are baffled at the massive and rapid changes that technology is unleashing. And yet, as Erik and I were discussing, most analysts and bloggers sit in our silos and argue about SAP versus Oracle and social this and cloud that.

Many grocery executives are startled at the pace at which Amazon, eBay, Google and startups like Zipments are introducing same day, home deliveries. A decade after WebVan, the existential threat of newer competitors becoming viable once the "last mile" delivery problem is solved is back.  But we rather talk to them about Android and AWS.

In my 20+ technology career I have never seen so many new technologies become viable concurrently. I have also never seen more buzzwords fly around at the same time. 

Many market watchers have through HARO helped out reporters. I think it is time for a HAEO - as in Executive  We should all work with a business executive for a couple of days - no buzzwords, no HANA or Hadoop will solve world hunger.

Listen to them, and give them a realistic perspective on their technology challenges and opportunities.  And yes, even send them a bill. Could be the best (and smallest) technology investment they make all year.