Networks Are Revolutionizing Our World - And It's As Big A Deal As The Assembly Line 100 Years Ago

This post is sponsored by SAP.

The rise of social media, big data, and the cloud, combined with the widespread use of mobile technology, are revolutionizing our understanding of what networks are - and what they can do for us.

Networks are reaching beyond corporate walls to help solve global problems.

They're building smart cities, managing energy and other precious resources better, and helping Aid organizations provide faster and more effective disaster relief.

"Networks today are transforming business as dramatically as assembly lines did 100 years ago," according to Tim Minahan, senior vice president of network strategy and chief marketing officer for Ariba. Although initially aimed at simply increasing efficiency, business networks are increasingly providing insights that enable greater collaboration, better customer service, and more informed decision-making.

"With the advent of mobility and big data, there are a lot more networks and they are connected at a much lower level in the organization," says Quentin Fisher of CSC, "which allows companies to be much more agile and adaptive."

Why Are Businesses Going Social?

People spend many of their waking hours with other members of their global tribe of friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, and they share information and opinions about everything that interests them.

Businesses are joining that conversation in increasing numbers, too. These include many Fortune 500 companies, as Steve Olenski, senior creative content strategist at Responsys, recently reported. Companies are trying to figure out how to make stronger, deeper and more creative connections with consumers and other businesses.

How Will The Internet Of Things Change The World?

The Internet of Things, which is sometimes called Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication, is making it possible for us to create dynamic connections between everyday objects such as our home appliances, thermostats, cars, and smartphones - giving us more integrated, fluid and convenient lifestyles.

But the Internet of Things isn't only about warming up your house remotely when you're on your way home or having your refrigerator tell you when you're low on milk.

What if a heart patient's pacemaker could send an alert to her mobile phone, and notify her doctor if there were a problem, such as a low battery?

Defining The Future Of Business Networks

The diversity and complexity of today's networks, their convergence to form new connections between people and things, and their power to change lives and transform businesses, are increasing at a breathtaking rate. And companies everywhere are racing to catch up.

People from the executive suite to the factory floor are seeing how networks are changing the face of industry, and they want to understand how they can harness the power of networks to help them grow and improve their business. Increasingly, these conversations are taking place across all industries and all lines of business - and they are critical to the future of business.

- Adapted from a post written by Jim Fields for the SAP Business Innovation blog.

To join the conversation on the future of business and the changing workplace, check out SAP.com/conversations.

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