IWMSconnect fills a void in IWMS market insight

I've been working with the founders of the IWMSconnnect (http://www.iwmsconnect.com/) site over the last year. Since that time, the site has grown to be the authoritative web location for IWMS market insight and a community of IWMS industry leaders and participants. When I was at Gartner, I began to research the facilities and real estate software space back in 2002. Over the period from 2002 to 2007, I watched the space evolve into an enterprise level class of software, and coined the acronym, IWMS or integrated workplace management systems to describe the distinct nature of this class of multi-functional software and services. I launched the Gartner magic quadrant vendor analysis of IWMS in 2004, which was well received by the industry. Since I retired from Gartner in 2007, there has been one subsequent magic quadrant analysis completed in late 2008, however, Gartner has announced that it would discontinue the magic quadrant analysis of IWMS, but publish an annual "vendor guide" which would be more of a directory than an actual comparative analysis of the leading vendors in the space. Gartner will continue to publish research notes on the IWMS space, but a comparative vendor analysis will no longer be available. This leaves a void in the market.

IWMSconnect will begin to fill this void with market surveys, best practice research, white papers, case studies, webinars, and other communication media that will be a focal point and information exchange for the industry. Over the last year IWMSconnect has published a definitive market outlook report, an in depth readiness guide, a number of white papers, and other thought leadership pieces that have attracted industry members like Deloitte, M2 Consulting, TRIRIGA, FM:Systems, Manhattan Software, PlanOn, Qube Global Software, Serco as well as Corporate user members like Pfizer. This year’s research agenda is focused on bringing a new level of depth around independent IWMS research and market analysis. In the next few weeks IWMSconnect will publish its survey of leading IWMS software vendors and service providers on a wide range of market topics. Later this spring, a similar report will be published on IWMS user topics and issues. Clearly IWMS Connect is becoming a vital source of market insight and analysis for the IWMS industry. I encourage anyone associated with IWMS to become an active member of this growing business community. In this period of economic melt-down, it's paramount that both users, software vendors, and service providers leverage resources like IWMSconnect to gain valuable and affordable business intelligence, actively network and participate in their active domain. IWMSconnect is the place for members of the IWMS business community.