Face-to-face still tops tech communication

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Mobile phones, Web 2.0 and other new communication technology still aren't as good as a face-to-face meeting, Alcatel-Lucent's president of enterprise solutions Tom Burns told attendees of the NetEvents conference in Malta.

While mobile technology is necessary to keep in touch on the road or out of the office, he said it won't take the place of meeting up in person. "Nothing is more beneficial as when employees get together and share ideas," he said. "There's still nothing more beneficial than when a team gets together face to face."

But such technology is key to connecting employees and can help link up their knowledge, he said. "[Knowledge] is the next layer of communication in enterprise," Burns said. "How do you tie people, networks and processes and the greatest asset, the knowledge of employees."

He also outlined a three-step strategy to bring mobile technology to enterprise users. Technology is key, he said, as enterprises must make sure they build the right internal network but also choose the right external provider. But it also must be properly secured to protect mobile users.

Burns also stressed that chief information officers must know their users, and understand how they work - sales people, executives and desk-bound office workers will all have different communication requirements. Burns noted that people increasingly want to protect their personal life but also want to use devices from their personal life.

Such a trend is only set to increase as younger generations enter the workforce. "They're so used to having everything at the touch of their fingerprints," he said, noting the use of mobiles, texting, instant messenger and social networking. "They have expectations they're going to get this when they enter the workforce."

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