Bart:
What, in your opinion, is a proper definition of Web 2.0?
Deepak:
Web 2.0 is a catchall phrase for a bunch of Technologies,
starting from Blogs, RSS,
Wikis, Podcasts,
Web Mapping, Social Networking, Collaboration - to - Ajax, SOA,
Web Services Virtualization. Clearly, there is some Smoke
and Hype around Web 2.0 concept. Some people started calling it
Bubble 2.0 after News Corp acquired MySpace
for $580M and Google acquired YouTube
for 1.6B $. But, something is happening here, for sure. The way,
companies use the web, is undergoing more than just an
incremental change. Web 2.0 is brewing a, sort of quiet
revolution with the help of Service Oriented Architecture on a
worldwide scale sprawling across the Web. There are
literally, millions of contributors around the globe, creating
content and hundreds of thousands of developers across the world
creating software and applications utilizing these new
technologies. There is a lot of innovation going on. These
technologies are increasing productivity. They are bringing in
new ways of doing businesses and in many instances, completely
new Businesses itself. There are companies
like Infopia, who have built
applications by mashing up APIs from eBay, SalesForce.com and
FedEx to create a new level of interactivity between companies
and customers of all kinds. So, in short, I would say, Web 2.0
is a phenomenon which is happening right now, in front of our
eyes.
Bart:
Does this name signify a point in web evolution or is it just a
landmark - a signpost - in web evolution?(It has been
said that every revolution occurs in stages.)
Deepak:
I would say, Technology Publisher
O'Reilly really started pushing out the Term Web 2.0 around
2004-2005. Web has evolved over a period of time in a manner
that no one had planned for, or thought of. I think,
evolution of web illustrates "Survival of the Fittest". Any
technology or processes, which were not fit, did not catch on.
Any thing, which allowed people to express
themselves caught on people's imagination and they
started using it. In that sense, Web 2.0 has created a very
Democratic Platform, which has given everyone the freedom of
speech all around the world. Such openness coupled with
collaboration has sparked innovation all across the globe. I
think, Businesses are finding new
ways every day, of how they can use the Web to do things more
efficiently. In that sense, it has been more of a revolution -
since it has happened so rapidly.
Bart:
Many say the real difference in Web 1.0 vs
2.0 is the shift from software to services - is it this new
service tweaking
on
old software frames that will drive us into new web use.
Deepak:
Well, I would say, it is a lot more than that. There are a
lot of Legacy Systems out there. They have limitations. Then,
you have to worry about the Security aspect as well. So, in lot
of cases, you really have to get your software enterprise ready.
In some instances, it could be done by tweaking an existing
frame, if the frame was really well designed. But, in most
cases, you have to either make massive changes or re-write the
complete software. But, the good news is that most of
the software that a company runs,
really does not need to be thrown open to the wide world on Web
2.0. For example, in most cases, your
HR and Payroll applications have no need to be accessed by an
outsider. So, you can follow the age old advice there - "If it
ain't broken, don't fix it.".
But, there are a lot of other areas where your company can
benefit from throwing some kind of services on the web. For
example, if you are FedEx, it makes sense to let people access
your tracking system, so they can integrate it in their internal
systems. If you are eBay, it makes sense to open part of your
Auction System to those who are running Massive Auction
businesses on eBay, to help them run their businesses more
efficiently. In short, it requires careful analysis to find what
pieces of enterprise software, you
need to re-design for Web 2.0. Having said that, let me
re-iterate, the investment will be well worth it.
Bart:
For the business person, how will the new interactive modes of
Web 2.0 effect his marketing methods?
How will
they effect the way he runs his daily business - e.g. are we
seeing a change in information flow and access - or
has that already come of age?
Deepak:
I think, the best thing that Web 2.0,
blogging and Wikis have done
is, that your reputation precedes you. Most of your customers,
potential associates or potential employees will
google you up before even meeting
with you. Which is good in a way, because it
helps them know a lot about you and your company in advance.
However, on the other hand, we have to keep in mind, if 100
customers have had good experience, you will be lucky if 1 of
them writes about it on a blog. On
the other hand, if 1 customer or employee has had a bad
experience or even a perceived bad experience, they may run a
smear campaign and make you look like the worst company / person
on the earth. I think, therefore, it is very important to
google yourself and your company
from time to time. If you find any thing un-towardly,
you need to counteract.
Bart: Finally, about yourself: so my readers may have
some idea of your life and expertise, you could you in a few
sentences tell where your were born
and your work and education history. (Do not feel you have to
labor over this - I certainly do not mean to be personally
invasive.
Deepak:
A Graduate in Mechanical Engineering, Deepak Khare, switched
into IT straight out of college. He has been contributing to
the development of IT Industry, in various capacities, for about
20 years, now.
During his
career as Software Consultant, he worked with prestigious
clients like J.P. Morgan, Chase, Hoffman
LaRoche, Scholastic, Management Science Associates and
Warner Systems to name a few.
He founded
Caresoft in the fall of 1994 to provide Software Consulting
Services to Fortune 500 Companies. The company has grown
steadily, even as the Software Industry itself went through the
Bubble and Bust Cycles. As a matter of fact, for Caresoft, major
growth started when most other companies in the industry were
shrinking.
This steady
growth has not gone un-noticed. Caresoft has won many awards on
the way. It has been recognized among the fastest growing 50
Technology Companies in the highly competitive market of North
East US for 3 Consecutive Years in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Today, Caresoft is a highly respected name in the Industry well
known for Industry’s finest Consulting and Specialty Services
integrating state-of-the-art systems.
Caresoft
specializes in I.T. for Emerging Technology Companies. It is
famous for accomplishing More I.T. in Less Dollars than 99% of
the companies can do on their own. Caresoft achieves this by
providing a unique mix of Off Shore Software Development, On
Shore Outsourcing and On Site Consulting Services.
Deepak
contributes the success of Caresoft to a
Hard working, Talented and Winning Team that Caresoft has
transformed into, over the years.
Deepak also
sits on IT Advisory Board for New Jersey Technology Council.
About Caresoft Inc
Headquartered in Edison NJ, Caresoft is a leader in Custom
Software Development, Temporary IT Staff Augmentation and
Outsourced QA Services. It is known for the highest quality of
IT Specialists who have a wealth of experience serving Telecom,
Pharmaceutical, Financial and related industries throughout the
world.
Caresoft
takes pride in the delivery of Operational Excellence, setting
ever-improving standards for the software industry. Its
Methodologies are derived from leading Industry Think Tanks
including 6 Sigma, CMM, IEEE, among others. This dedication to
Processes and Methodologies helps Caresoft deliver Consistent
Quality on the time, all the time. For more information about
Caresoft, please log on to http://www.caresoftinc.com
About
New Jersey Technology Council
The New Jersey
Technology Council provides business support, networking
opportunities, information, advocacy and recognition of
technology companies and their leaders. Founded in 1996, NJTC's
more than 1,200 member companies work together to support their
own enterprises while advancing New Jersey's status as a leading
technology center in the United States
By collectively representing New Jersey's various technology
sectors and the institutions and service companies that support
them, NJTC is an effective advocate of public policy that
promotes economic growth in the state of New Jersey.
For more
details on NJTC and the discussion on W2.0 please visit http://www.njtc.org/events/indevt.asp?dbid={D26C77C7-AA2F-DB11-9637-0013725A113C}&svdate=N
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