IT directors fed up with poor software roadmap visibility

That's chief among the findings from research by the UK & Ireland SAP User Group, which suggests that IT directors are frustrated by the time and money wasted by vendors' failure to communicate future directions. The study, published ahead of the SAP User Conference 2010 (which runs from 21 to 23 November in Manchester), also shows that 83% of IT directors want better foresight specifically so they can make more informed decisions about updates to their hardware and software. Indeed, most say that lack of visibility is making it difficult for them to plan effectively at a time when the demands on IT to support the business are greater than ever. "It can be very frustrating for IT departments when they can't plan ahead effectively," comments Craig Dale, chief executive of the UK & Ireland SAP User Group. "At a time when budgets are increasingly tight, IT departments need to be able to make sure they are fully maximising their IT investments. Therefore, it is understandable that organisations can become frustrated when IT vendors aren't very forthcoming when it comes to sharing product roadmap information," he adds. One of the main obstacles to overcome is a simple lack of communication, he says, pointing to the finding that 82% of IT directors say this is having a detrimental effect on their IT planning and strategy. That is of particular concern when vendors merge or are acquired, with uncertainty around product roadmap being agreed and communicated to users. And the result: over two-thirds (68%) of IT directors admit they have wasted time and money customising products, only to find that the functionality becomes standard in a later release. "Many organisations have turned to user groups for the opportunity to influence product roadmaps and give them greater access to their IT vendors," comments Dale. "This is not only beneficial to the end-users, but also to the vendors, who can use this to better engage with customers and get feedback earlier on in the product development process. "This can be a win-win situation for both vendors and their customers as it can help them both become more effective and efficient."