Hype Cycles 2007 (Topics)

Welcome to the Hype Cycle Special Report for 2007. This year, we assess 1,500 technologies and trends across 70 IT topics, markets and industries to provide you with the most comprehensive assessment of technology maturity in the IT industry.

These Hype Cycles examine technologies and trends driving innovation in business applications as well as IT and network management, such as CRM, workplace technologies and outsourcing. The convergence of business intelligence and corporate performance management is mirrored by the merging of two Hype Cycles, while IT services and outsourcing has been split into three areas: business process outsourcing, consulting and systems integration, and IT outsourcing.

Application Infrastructure Middleware, Platforms and Architecture (Summary)

The software foundation of business applications is undergoing a transformation that is directly affecting architects, application developers and middleware technologists, and, via service-oriented architecture, indirectly affecting applications and IT services worldwide.

Business Process Outsourcing (Summary)

The 2007 BPO Hype Cycle shows considerable change from last year. More and more service offerings are clustering at the Peak of Inflated Expectations. Parts of the market, especially comprehensive strategic complex contracts, are poised to experience growing pains in the next 12 to 24 months.

Carrier Network Operations (Summary)

Telecom carriers continue to streamline their back offices, but new technologies are enabling them to introduce products and services more quickly than ever. This Hype Cycle will help network planners judge which products and services to expect, and how best to handle them.

Consulting and Systems Integration (Summary)

The Hype Cycle for Consulting and Systems Integration is designed to help organizations discern the relative maturity and significance of specific C&SI services before making a sourcing or partnering decision.

Consumer Mobile Applications (Summary)

This Hype Cycle examines the status of, and prospects for, various consumer mobile applications. It advises carriers, handset vendors, application providers and others on the maturity of these applications and their value.

CRM Customer Service and Field Service (Summary)

This Hype Cycle maps the advances in customer service and field service technologies that are transforming the understanding of the customer experience, such as online community management, call center desktop software, feedback management, speech analytics and customer service analytics.

CRM Marketing Applications (Summary)

A growing number of marketing applications and technologies are available, but many are not mature or widely adopted. Gartner's CRM Marketing Applications Hype Cycle can help you understand the maturity, adoption rates and benefits of marketing technologies.

CRM Sales (Summary)

Companies pursuing growth strategies are seeking to upgrade existing investments and adopt innovations in sales technologies. Use this Hype Cycle to understand the maturity and market acceptance of leading sales technologies.

Data Management (Summary)

Data management technologies and best practices are evolving rapidly. Gartner's Hype Cycle for Data Management can help companies understand the relative maturity of these technologies and best practices, the benefits of adopting them, and the key factors behind their successful deployment.

E-Commerce (Summary)

This Hype Cycle helps organizations understand the e-commerce capabilities of established and emerging technologies, and will enable you to assess their impact on your business.

Global Consumer Communications Applications (Summary)

This Hype Cycle examines key consumer services like voice over IP and devices that push growth in mature and emerging communications markets. We consider the key services that affect the global market for operators and vendors.

IT Operations Management (Summary)

The IT operations market is comprised of tools and processes that not only help enterprises achieve business results by delivering and managing mission-critical infrastructure and services, but also enable innovation. This Hype Cycle will help you separate the "hype" from reality in these areas.

IT Outsourcing (Summary)

The range and maturity of IT outsourcing services are broad and varied. As new services evolve and others mature, organizations should use this Hype Cycle to review their sourcing strategies and gauge the potential of newer offerings to meet changing business needs.

Legal and Regulatory Information Governance (Summary)

Information governance is emerging as a critical competency. Legal departments and IT organizations must work closely together to improve it. Many different information technologies can complement strategies to improve information governance.

Printing Markets and Management (Summary)

Printing touches every organization, every department and every employee. The ubiquity of printing makes it easy to take for granted, but organizations should not ignore the incremental improvements that are happening around print.

Product Life Cycle Management (Summary)

Product life cycle management applications continue to expand in scope from product development to all facets of a product's life. This Hype Cycle helps manufacturers assess the risk associated with adopting PLM applications.

Software as a Service (Summary)

The software as a service Hype Cycle represents an aggregate of different software markets. This Hype Cycle will help organizations discern the relative maturity and progression of various software-as-a-service technologies, with implications for a business model architecture and buying dynamics.