Study finds increased cloud computing adoption, but concerns around security and cost remain
Boston, MA November 18, 2010- A recent Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB) Tech Pulse study found that there is less confusion around the term “cloud computing” and adoption plans have increased over the last 12 months. In early 2009 a similar CMB Tech Pulse study found only 15% said their organization had aggressive plans to migrate towards cloud computing architectures. Fast forward to Fall 2010: that number has nearly doubled to 28%. This most recent CMB Tech Pulse study of nearly 250 IT departments also found these organizations expect to more than double the workload running on cloud architecture within the next two years. 
”In 2008 and 2009 we saw a big disconnect between industry and trade press hype about cloud computing vs. purchase plans from actual IT departments who write the checks for these solutions,” says Chris Neal, vice president of Chadwick Martin Bailey’s technology and telecom practice. “We’re now seeing that all the industry marketing dollars spent on promoting cloud computing have started to actually move the needle.”
While this research revealed aggressive deployment plans, IT departments still favor internal cloud solutions for most workloads rather than externally-provisioned cloud solutions. A big reason for this is lingering concerns about security, which is still by far the biggest concern plaguing the adoption of could computing. When asked what vendors need to do to make cloud computing solutions more appealing the top request was security, followed by more simplified (and lower) pricing models, plus greater reliability assurances (see chart).
The study also found that most (54%) IT departments think their current channel partners need additional training to support their transition to cloud based architectures, and 12% feel their current channel partners are not at all prepared to help with their organization’s transition to cloud computing.
About this research
This study of 247 US IT professionals was conducted in August of 2010 as part of the CMB B2B Tech Pulse series. The Tech Pulse is a self-funded quarterly study that covers a variety of current topics and issues facing IT decision makers. Additional findings can be downloaded: Cloud Computing in the Enterprise.
About Chadwick Martin Bailey
Chadwick Martin Bailey is a Boston-based custom market research firm who works with many of the most successful companies and best known brands in the world to help them acquire, maintain and grow their customer base. In 2009 CMB was listed on the Honomichl Top 50 and continues to demonstrate thought leadership at numerous conferences worldwide. Chadwick Martin Bailey focuses on using leading-edge research techniques to collect and translate the data into simple, business decision-focused deliverables. www.cmbinfo.com
Leading U.S. research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey launches independent strategy consulting arm
Boston, MA November 4, 2010- Chadwick Martin Bailey, one of the nation’s leading custom market research firms, announced the launch of a new sister company, South Street Strategy Group to offer a better breed of strategy consulting services. The new firm has a unique approach that combines state-of-the-art marketing science with the additional depth and strategic persp
ective of veteran consultants and executives to create a rare and powerful combination of skill sets.
“South Street Strategy Group was founded with the belief that combining the best of strategy consulting with the best in marketing science produces better, more practical and more differentiated strategies,” explained J. Mark Carr, co-founder and managing partner of the new firm. “We believe our process for developing and implementing these strategies – and more importantly, our results – compare very favorably to the best strategy firms.”
South Street focuses in two distinct areas that particularly benefit from this approach: 1) Growth Strategies that help clients capture new opportunities, such as launching new products and entering new markets; and 2) Value Delivery Strategies to improve clients’ existing businesses by improving brand positioning, building loyalty, and creating better alignment between the brand promises and customer experiences.
“South Street grew naturally out of our 26 years of providing a highly consultative approach to custom market research,” said John Martin, chairman of Chadwick Martin Bailey and a co-founder of the new firm. “Our combination of state-of-the-art marketing science and strategy consulting helps our clients capture new growth opportunities as well as to improve their existing business.”
The firm’s principals bring over 60 years of expertise in brand development, growth strategy and product innovation and have worked with well known brands in a variety of industries including technology, travel and hospitality, consumer packaged goods, financial services and healthcare. South Street is based in Boston Massachusetts. For more information about the company and its leaders visit southstreetstrategy.com.
About Chadwick Martin Bailey
Chadwick Martin Bailey is a custom market research and consulting firm who works with many of the most successful companies and best known brands in the world to help them acquire, maintain and grow their customer base. In 2009 the firm was listed on the Honomichl Top 50 and continue to demonstrate their thought leadership at numerous conferences worldwide.
Founded in 1984 by John Martin and Anne Bailey Berman, the company has corporate headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, serving clients in more than 30 countries around the globe. Chadwick Martin Bailey focuses on using leading-edge research techniques to collect and translate the data into simple, business decision-focused deliverables. www.cmbinfo.com
Boston, MA November 2, 2010- With more than 500 million people on Facebook worldwide, brands and businesses are highly focused on creating memorable experiences and keeping their Facebook “Fans” engaged. Fan Pulse, a new offering from Boston-based market research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey and powered by Brand Networks’ Social Survey Application, an application on the Facebook Platform, enables businesses to better understand the needs and expectations of their Fans by conducting research in their Fans’ News Feed. The result is a deeper understanding of the “Fan” experience and insight into potential improvements to their Facebook Page and overall Facebook marketing strategy.
“Our clients understand the value of social media, and particularly Facebook in helping them engage their customers and reinforce their brands,” says Judy Melanson, vice president at Chadwick Martin Bailey. “As the number of people interacting with brands on Facebook continues to grow, our clients have been looking for help in understanding how well their content aligns with their Fans’ needs. Utilizing Brand Networks’ unique technology, Fan Pulse gives our clients’ Marketing and Digital Teams the ability to find out more about how well they’re doing and what Fans want in the future. “
Unlike other market research methodologies that require Fans to leave Facebook in order to provide feedback, Fan Pulse leverages Brand Networks’ Social Survey application to enable completion of a survey in their News Feed without ever leaving their Personal Profile. This increases the likelihood of participation and enhances the user experience.
Fan Pulse provides brands with a deeper understanding of Fans’ expectations and preferences by asking about a variety of topics such as; Facebook usage behaviors in general (frequency, activities), motivations for becoming a Fan/liking a page, general communication preferences such as type, volume, or even reactions to potential new content ideas/programs/applications.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Chadwick Martin Bailey on this offering,” says Jamie Tedford, CEO of Brand Networks. “Our Social Survey application bundled with the smart, strategic and analytical resources at CMB makes Fan Pulse a unique and powerful solution. Marketers that embrace customer insight and leverage the ease of News Feed applications in their Facebook marketing efforts will be rewarded with greater Fan loyalty, evangelism and incremental sales.”
About Chadwick Martin Bailey
Chadwick Martin Bailey is a Boston-based custom market research firm who works with many of the most successful companies and best known brands in the world to help them acquire, maintain and grow their customer base. In 2009 CMB was listed on the Honomichl Top 50 and continues to demonstrate thought leadership at numerous conferences worldwide. Chadwick Martin Bailey focuses on using leading-edge research techniques to collect and translate the data into simple, business decision-focused deliverables. www.cmbinfo.com
About Brand Networks
Brand Networks is a leading Social Solutions company with headquarters in Boston and a Social Application Studio is in Rochester, NY. Their clients include Sperry Top-Sider, Warner Brothers, and Monster.com to name a few. And they are proud to have been named a “Preferred Developer Consultant” by Facebook.
By traditional definitions, Brand Networks is equal parts strategic consultancy, creative boutique, web development shop, and media agency. In the evolving social media vernacular, Brand Networks helps clients recruit, engage and reward networks of Fans, friends and followers. In addition to Social Survey, Brand Networks other Social Solutions include: Social PIX, Social Slideshow, Social Screening, and Social Quiz. Most recently, Brand Networks has launched a new offering called “GO” which is a promotions platform for Facebook Places. www.brandnetworksinc.com
Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.