Technology Revolution: The Future of Now

Today's buzz: Cloud. The IT industry is in a state of flux, with its traditional approaches heavily impacted by disruptive technologies. Cloud computing tops that list. Want to know more? Hear what five cloud experts see in the cloud this year. Sven Denecken, SAP: "The most important long-term benefits of cloud are greater business flexibility and agility vs. cost savings." Allan Krans, TBR: "Whatever you are, be a good one" (Abraham Lincoln). Jillian Mirandi, TBR: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined" (Henry David Thoreau). Matt Healey, TBR: "Politics are almost as exciting as war, and – quite as dangerous ... [I]n war, you can only be killed once. But in politics, many times" (Winston Churchill). Elizabeth Hedstrom Henlin, TBR: "There cannot be a crisis next week – my schedule is already full" (Henry Kissinger). Join us for A Cloud State of Mind: Predictions 2014.

The buzz: Cloud. Three technology visionaries meet to gaze into the cloud. What do their expert eyes see? Jeff Kaplan, THINKstrategies: "In my view, the cloud computing marketplace will change rapidly in the coming year." Jorge Garcia, TEC: "In the Age of Analytics, as products and services become 'lighter' (i.e., less physical and more digital), manufacturing and distribution costs—while still important—will be augmented with new metrics—the costs of know, the flow of know, and the costs of not knowing." (Thornton May, futurist, IT Leadership Academy) Tim Minahan, SAP: "Businesses found religion in the cloud in 2013. And there is no doubt that the cloud will become more prevalent in all aspects of the business and IT stack in 2014. Yet, adoption approaches and cloud environments will look far different over the coming year than they have in the past…In short, 2014 will likely go down as the year where business got smart about the cloud." Join us for Cloud Scapes 2014: Perfect Storm?

The buzz: Social regulation? Social media has given customers a powerful voice that can make or break your brand reputation in a virtual heartbeat. If you've suffered their slings and arrows, did you succumb to the temptation to fire back? Hold the presses. Let's evaluate social risks, rewards and regulation. The experts speak. Raluca Druta, TEC: "Instead of seeking the explanation in a general conception of the law […] it seemed to me far wiser to look at the workings of Power. I was concerned not with some omnipresent power,[...] but with refinement, the elaboration and installation since the seventeenth century, of techniques for 'governing' individuals. (Michel Foucault) Tim Barker, DataSift: "The future is already here — it's just not very evenly distributed." (William Gibson, author) Todd Wilms, SAP: "For now, let your company compass be your guide. Regulation will come, so enjoy the self-regulated freedom while it lasts. Join us for Social Media Compliance: Time for Regulation?

The buzz: Social. Have your company's social engagement tools and practices evolved to meet the demands of today's digitally-empowered, brand-controlling customers – or are you stalled, stumbling, or just plain failing? If the latter, wake up right now! The world of customer service has changed, with your audience tipping the balance of power in their favor. They expect you to welcome and serve them with speed, accuracy, respect, and grace – on all of the channels they choose. Need help? The experts speak. Brent Leary, CRM Essentials: "Speed of engagement will play an increasingly important role in creating great customer service experiences." Dan Gingiss, Discover: "First focus on a superior product or service. Then focus on outstanding customer service. Once you have both, doing customer service well in social media is a breeze. Kai Petzelt, SAP: "We live in a world of digital Darwinism" (Brian Solis). Join us for Social Customer Engagement: How Does Your Company Score?

Looking for a crystal ball to help you predict what 2014 may bring for your business, your industry, your marketplace? We've got the next best thing – dozens of expert insights into the technologies, strategies, and trends that can help you grow and compete better this year and beyond. These thought leaders will appear on SAP Game-Changers Radio 2014 Predictions – Part 3 LIVE: Todd Wilms, SAP; Michael Denis, Flatirons Solutions; Neal Schact, CommuniTech; Nicolette Van Exel, SAP; Kathy-Ann Hutson, IBM; Padman Ramankutty, Intrigo; Steve Hilton, MachNation; Bill Newman, Newport Consulting; China Gorman, Great Place to Work; Steve Player, Beyond Budgeting Round Table; Jorge Garcia, TEC; Dennis Goodhart, IP Network Consulting; Marcus Baur, Sailing Team Germany; Eric Siegel, Predictive Analytics World; Tim Minahan, SAP. To hear the first two parts of our 2014 Predictions special, visist: http://bit.ly/Predictions2014A and http://bit.ly/Predictions2014B. Wishing you a positively game-changing New Year!

Today's buzz: Donations. Businesses are pressured to do the right thing via donations, especially at year-end. Giving feels good. It could feel even better all year long if your company expands its generosity to support NPOs and NGOs around the world. How? The experts speak. Joana Breidenbach, betterplace.org: "The social sector and philanthropy will experience a similar disruption to industries such as news and retail – digital tools challenge existing power relations, practices, and business models. Executed well, they hold the potential for civil society organizations to be much more efficient and effective." Alex Lapusan, Zitec: "There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction" (John F. Kennedy). Nish Pangali, SAP: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has" (Margaret Mead). Join us for Tech Donations: Transforming NGOs & NPOs – Part 2.

Looking for a crystal ball to help you predict what 2014 may bring for your business? We've got the next best thing – more than 40 thought leaders sharing their expert insights into the technologies, strategies, and trends that can help you grow and compete better next year and beyond. Following our first 16 thought leaders' predictions on Dec. 18, we now bring you SAP Game-Changers Radio 2014 Predictions – Part 2 LIVE with featured guests: Greg Girard, IDC; Chris Carter, Approyo; Eric Stine, SAP; Quentin Fisher, CSC; Paula Rosenblum, SSResearch; Mark Breading, Strategy Meets Action; Elizabeth Hedstrom Henlin, TBRI; John Elder, Elder Research; Greta Roberts, Talent Analytics; Scott Mitchell, OCEG; Meghan Cook, CTG Albany; Mark Delisi, CSC; Steve Peck, SAP; Nola Masterson, Science Futures; Henner Schliebs, SAP. Be sure to mark your calendar for Part 3 on Jan. 22, 2014. Wishing you a positively game-changing New Year!

Today's buzz: Giving. Your company is continually pressured to help locals less fortunate via cash, clothing, food, toys donations. Giving is good, right? What if you expand that generosity worldwide to effect social change by supporting nonprofits and NGOs through localized, company-sponsored giving and volunteer campaigns? The experts speak. Akhtar Badshah, Microsoft: "Passion is overrated! Mobilizing and powering social change requires far more than the passion of an individual and the simplistic notion of a technology solution." Chris Worman, TechSoup: "Thanks to... social media, we are witnessing the rapid decentralization and democratization of authority. Reconciling this shift to less formal, yet powerful citizen-driven models, with traditional civil society, keeps me up at night." Nish Pangali, SAP: "Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good." (Minor Myers Jr.) Join us for their insights on Tech Donations: Transforming NGOs & NPOs – Part 1

What's on your wish list this holiday season? If it's a crystal ball to help you predict what 2014 may bring for your business, we've got the next best thing – more than 40 thought leaders sharing their expert insights into the technologies, strategies, and trends that can help you grow and compete better next year and beyond. Pour a cup of Joe, Earl, or Dom, and join us on Dec. 18 for SAP Game-Changers Radio 2014 Predictions - Part 1 live! Featured guests: R "Ray" Wang, Constellation RG; Deb Smallwood, SMA; Jamie Anderson, SAP; Jill McGillen, Next Turn Consulting; Brian Sommer, TechVentive; Pat Saporito, SAP; John Edelman, Edelman PR; Brian Barnier, ValueBridge Advisors; Brent Leary, CRM Essentials; Steve Boese, HR Happy Hour; Jen Cohen Crompton, Blogger; Jason Rose, SAP; Lee Dittmar, Deloitte; JP Finnell, SAP; Susan Etlinger, Altimeter; Swen Conrad, SAP. And mark your calendar for Part 2 and 3 on Jan. 8 and Jan. 22, 2014. Happy holidays!

Today's buzz: Mobility. Welcome to the Mobile 2.0 world. Enterprise mobility is moving at triple-Internet speed. Adoption of BYOD and enterprise-wide B2E, B2B and C2B is disrupting traditional computing. Your company may soon need a BYOA (Bring Your Own App) policy. Tablets will soon outsell PCs. Arm yourself with knowledge or be left behind. The experts speak. Michael O'Farrell, Mobile Institute: "Companies that know how to harness the power of enterprise mobility will have a tremendous competitive edge in the global mobile economy." Ben Robbins, Palador: "Mobile in the enterprise: You've got to know why, before you'll see ROI." Carolyn Fitton Coad, SAP: ""You are not alone. We're all in this together — networked, connected, up in the cloud, flying through wi-fi and the web, carrying it all in our pockets and purses with handheld mobile phones and tablets." (Enterprise Mobility for Dummies Book - first paragraph) Join us for Enterprise Mobility for Dummies: You can run but you can't hide.