The Year 2000 started off with a debate about when the new millennium actually starts, and a much-feared bug that never really appeared; and it ended with a burst-the-dot-com bubble. In between, enterprise IT managers grappled with a wide variety of challenges-analyzing e-commerce customer data, keeping Web sites up and humming, personal digital assistants (PDAs), Linux, Windows 2000, and more. Our picks for the Top 10 stories of the past year clearly reflect your experiences.
Not surprisingly, the impact of the Web on IT organizations and business management is a common theme that runs through all the best of 2000. In particular, the need for IT and business management to put the right technology to work at solving e-commerce issues dominated the enterprise IT management agenda year. We’re sure it will also be high on this year’s list-but of course, we won’t know that for sure till next year.
In the meantime, below are our Editors’ Choices for Datamation’s Top 10 for 2000, in chronological order.
(1) Data Warehousing & Business Intelligence
Targeting one buyer–or a million
Clickstream and other emerging Webhousing tools help companies analyze and profit from the wealth of customer data stored in Web logs.
By Beth Stackpole
March 2000
(2) Network & Systems Management
Keep the e-business infrastructure humming
New network management tools pave the way for e-business as usual.
By Lynn T. Haber
April 2000
(3) Security
Safe at home
Protecting data outside the corporate firewall is no longer an option, it’s a must-have security feature.
By Stephanie Wilkinson
June 2000
(4) E-commerce & Extranets
Fulfilling the e-promise
Short of time and lacking money to build their own warehouses, most b2c companies elect to outsource order fulfillment. How do you pick a fulfillment provider? Very carefully.
By Lauren Gibbon Paul
July 2000
(5) Enterprise Applications/Client Systems/Application Development
Rewiring the world for handhelds
With wireless Web devices expected to outnumber wired devices in a year or two, some forward-thinking companies are ready for the future now.
By Karen D. Schwartz
July 2000
(6) Application Development
Java component development heats up
Many companies reap faster time to market, lower development costs, and more flexible systems with Java. But the ultimate benefit of component development–reuse–remains elusive.
By Lynn Terry Haber
August 2000
(7) Application Development
Linux in Manufacturing: Building Linux up
Kaiser Aluminum uses Linux on the factory floor. Will other manufacturing firms follow suit?
By Cynthia Flash
August 2000
(8) E-commerce & Extranets
Melding clicks and bricks
For established retailers, going online presents a unique set of challenges and no guarantee of success.
By Stephanie Wilkinson
August 2000
(9) Intranets
Knowledge
Management
Meets the Portal
Combining knowledge management and corporate portals helps companies and their employees gather, manage, share, and use previously disparate information.
By Cynthia Flash
November 2000
(10) Enterprise Applications
No Rush to Open Windows 2000
Microsoft’s new OS has what it takes to open corporate doors, but so far most companies are only willing to look through the keyhole.
By Joe Mullich
December 2000