If you have not heard the term web Enterprise 2.0 or know what it means, don’t be too disappointed because most HR managers have not….but you will in time. In a nutshell, web Enterprise 2.0 is the term for the technologies and business practices that liberate the workforce from the constraints of legacy communication and productivity tools like email. It helps employees perform tasks more intuitively using technology that harnesses the power of collaboration, communication and visibility. Tools like RSS where desired information can flow to employees in real time. Wiki’s that assist groups in a more open environment to help tap into the collective brain power of the company.

One of the keys of a great Enterprise 2.0 vendor is creating sometimes-complex technology and converting into an easy and rich user experience. The user interface has a big impact on how the technology will be used, if employees are engaged they will get the most out of the application, if not we all know to well what happens then, a big waste of money and time. Also the days of over-bloated software that does it all will be replaced by “niche” applications that will be mashed up with other applications, such as Salesforce.com with Appexchange.

When choosing a vendor to outsource and insource, the HR, CFO and IT department should spend time looking not only at the cost but what are the real needs and what is the thinnest application that will get you the results. Most bells and whistles that vendors throw at you are just more layers of stuff that gets in the way of what you really want and that is technology to enhance and not to bog down that particular solution. And just remember, the beauty of web Enterprise 2.0 is that what ever you want to create can be created!

No question with web applications becoming more “mainstream” it should create a sea change in the way we work, but it also holds within it an enormous competitive advantage to those who embrace it, to enable contextual, agile and simplified information exchange and collaboration to distributed workforces and networks of partners and customers. Enterprise 2.0 makes accessible the collective intelligence of many, translating to a huge competitive advantage in the form of increased innovation, productivity and agility. And after all, the ‘human capital’ of your company is its greatest assets, and the Enterprise 2.0 engine so far has the best opportunity to literally tear down the barriers that would normally impede their forward movement.

Mark Lindquist
Founder, BenefitThink Partners