InformationWeek has disclosed its annual ranking of the most innovative US users of business technology.
Some of the innovative ways firms on the full list use tech include:
Union Pacific used game-like virtual simulation technology to improve training for workers in the field, cut fuel and training costs and reduce safety incidents.
AllState’s Technology Innovation team uses crowd-sourced employee ideas to improve business processes.
Procter & Gamble developed what it calls “decision cockpits,” now used by more than 60,000 employees worldwide to shape product marketing and merchandising decisions, among others.
The top ten companies in the 2012 rankings are:
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Deere & Co.
- Zynga Inc.
- Vail Resorts Inc.
- E. & J. Gallo Winery
- Quintiles
- Cigna Corp.
- UPS Inc.
- Dow Chemical Co.
- Lowe’s Companies Inc.
“For 24 years, the InformationWeek 500 has honored the most innovative users of business technology,” said InformationWeek VP and Editor In Chief Rob Preston. ”Many of this year’s top companies are turning the IT status quo on its ear. They’re embracing new technologies and technology approaches, even new IT-powered business models, to drive revenue and profitability. Their results speak for themselves.”
Research findings show technology executives are more focused on new IT-led products and services for customers.
- 37% have widespread deployment of customer apps, compared with 25% for employees
- 85% use cloud software; with many using it to offer new products to customers
- With big data analytics, the disruptive impact has barely begun. Three-quarters are using social networking tools for external collaboration. However, more telling is how IT is using analytics. For example, number one InformationWeek 500 company Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center allows clinicians to search BIDMC’s 200 million data points on 2.2 million patients, and the answer comes back in three seconds.
The true innovators realize the rules for IT have changed. And a growing number are even rewriting the rulebook to acknowledge the change: One third of CIOs now have formal responsibility for innovation in their company—more than double the 16% who did in 2009.
“Where companies once most needed internal tech support, they now need tech embedded in products and in front of their customers,” said Chris Murphy, Editor of InformationWeek.
“We’re seeing the leaders in the InformationWeek 500 changing their IT organizations to play by these new rules and embrace this customer-facing role.”
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Tags: AllState, InformationWeek 500, innovative users of technology, Procter & Gamble, Union Pacific
