Computer Weekly Buyer's Guide features list 2015
The Computer Weekly Buyer's Guide maps the IT buying cycle of our readership onto relevant editorial to help decision-making.
The Computer Weekly Buyer's Guide will map the IT buying cycle of our readership onto relevant editorial that will inform and educate readers and help them towards making the right buying decision.
On a three week cycle the publication will run a series of articles on a particular category of software/hardware/IT service, which will on a weekly basis. Articles will run in the features section in the Computer Weekly ezine, which can be downloaded as a PDF, and as an SEO-optimised Buyer's Guide page on ComputerWeekly.com.
The Buyer's Guide PDF articles will point readers to the online Buyer's Guide, where they will be able to access all the articles in one place, along with additional content, such as blog posts, and related articles.
We will produce a quarterly schedule of Buyer’s Guides, allowing us to keep topical and also respond to short-term commercial opportunities.
Buyer’s Guides will be organised into three parts, which develop into a standalone piece of evergreen content that readers can refer back to.
Each part will include a written article plus relevant background material as well as exclusive online-only multimedia content and infographics.
Format of Buyer's Guide
Format of Buyer's Guides
Market Overview
This is an introduction to the topic covered in the Buyer's Guide. The article will examine the nature of a given software/hardware/IT services product category, look at where it fits within the business, why users need it and which companies sell products in this category.
Analyst Perspective
Here, Computer Weekly will invite leading IT analysts to submit relevant research that can help readers narrow down product choices with a shortlist of products they may wish to investigate further.
Case Study
At this stage in the buying cycle, the reader has a shortlist and may have given his/her technical people a brief to research the products in more detail, such as by following up customer references from the supplier. Computer Weekly supports this research with an in-depth case study, selected for its uniqueness, which illustrates best practices, technical and business drivers, lessons learnt and future plans of a successful IT project using one of the products shortlisted.
Please email Cliff Saran if you would like more details.
The proposed Q1 2015 schedule is:
Software defined everything
Jan 13 – Feb 2
According to IT analyst Frost & Sullivan, 2015 is set to be the year of software-defined everything as the software defined revolution spreads beyond the boundaries of the datacentres. Programmable networks will enable the creation of new business applications and services which will drive efficiencies and new service models. In this article we will cover how datacentres are expanding beyond server virtualisation.
Cutting edge data science
Feb 3- Feb 23
We are moving to a data driven future. Organisations are developing increasingly sophisticated analytics techniques to understand their customers. NetFlix and eBay, for instance, used hardware-assisted analytics engines to offer their customers recommendations. JustGiving is using a graph database to predict causes people are most likely to give their support to. We examine how this trend is evolving beyond web scale organisations.
Cloud optimised IT
Feb 24 – Mar 16
Hybrid seems to be the way many organisations are going to gain the benefits of the public cloud, while retaining key data in a private cloud. As cloud computing matures IT departments will need a portfolio of products that span private, public and hybrid configurations. We look at the latest developments that help IT managers optimise their highly heterogenous cloud environments.
Desktop 2020
Mar 17 – Apr 13
Up until very recently, desktop IT involved supporting and upgrading Windows desktops and laptops. Driven by IT consumerisation, desktop IT is evolving. Windows is no longer the dominant platform and thanks to the take-up of software as a service, many applications are available cross platform. In an increasingly multi-device world, a user may begin working from a laptop or desktop, then move to a tablet or smartphone when they leave the office. We look at post Windows desktop IT.
Next generation e-commerce
April 14 - May 4
The web was never a separate channel to market. But in the age of multi-channel, retailers, especially those in the high street, are trying to create a seamless experience both online and in-store. At the same time, e-tailers are forging partnerships to build presence on the high street. We look at how social media, analytics, cloud and mobile access are driving web development.
Bring your own Collaboration
May 5 - May 25
Collaboration used to involve logging into the VPN to access to a shared folder or workgroup and dialing into the corporate video conference system. Now people can use business versions of consumer tech to connect and collaborate with colleagues and business partners just by downloading a cloud-based app. We look at the take-up of these collaboration tools in the business and where they fit within traditional IT procurement.
Customer experience platforms
May 26 - Jun 15
According to analyst Forrester businesses need an array of software technology to support digital customer experiences, but they struggle to understand and leverage the tools necessary to create and manage unified, multichannel digital customer experiences across multiple touchpoints. we look at what software tools are available to enable businesses to manage the digital customer experience and how they are being used.
DevOps
Jun 16 - Jul 6
Pressure to shorten release cycle times and raise quality is emphasising the need for change-centric delivery. we look at the tools and cultural chnages that need to take place to enable a change-centric delivery (CCD) framework for continuously deliver a steady, never-ending stream of change to the consumers of digital services and products.
Log Management
July 7 - July 27
The logs generated by computer programs can be used to optimise software, enhance customer experience and tackle cybercrime. In this series of articles we look at how logs can be analysed to enable businesses to run more efficiently. We also assess the challenges of harvesting vast amounts of log data and the security and privacy implications.
Saas Compliance
July 28 - Aug 11
Software as a service should offer IT departments a straightforward means of ensuring end users get the software they need to get their jobs dones.The problem, according to the Business Software Alliance, is that most Saas products are licensed as an annual subscription, which may not fit in with how the business wants to use the software. Login details may be shared or reused , which could break the terms of the Saas contract. We look at best practices in managing Saas.
Big Data appliances
Aug 18 - Sep 7
The idea of a general-purpose database server is shifting towards specialist hardware, that makes use of large memory configurations and arrays of low-cost storage to maximise the performance of certain types of data analytics. We assess the pros and cons of running proprietary appliances to accelerate big data analytics.
Next Generation service management
Sep 15 - Oct 5
Business leaders often admire the profitability of the software giants and many companies are looking at how digital services can offer a new revenue stream, using smart, internet-connected endpoint devices. We explore how ITSM can be adpated to monitor and manage services built around connected devices.
Windows Migration
Oct 6 - Oct 26
Windows 10 could be the last major desktop upgrade IT departments need to make.We explore how organisations can move from Windows 8.0/8.1 and Windows 7 to Windows 10in a way that will allow them to lower future desktop IT support and rollout costs.
Value added IT services
Oct 27 - Nov 16
It is sometimes easier to get a third party in to overcome internal wrangles, offer an outsider's view of how the organisation can improve or provide the executive team with independent expertise. We look at how CIOs can maximise the value of engaging with external consultants, advisory services and system integrators.
CIO School
Nov 17 - Dec 7
We look at career progression and the training available to develop the skills needed to become a successful CIO.
Saas-based employee self service
Dec 8 - Dec 28
From self service HR, expense management to booking travel and online training, organisations are increasingly turning to cloud-based applications that deliver employee self-service efficiently and cost-effectively. We look at adoption of these products and speak to organisations using Saas-based employee self service within the IT application portfolio.
