Business failing to adopt from Web 2.0

About half of senior business managers are failing to take advantage of Web 2.0 technologies because of a lack of understanding, according to research.

This shortfall is not helped by the fact that 32.4% of IT managers lack understanding of the technologies, said the research report from IT services supplier Parity.

Rob Banathy, client relationship manager at Parity Solutions, said the majority of organisations are simply buying what they perceive to be the latest document management and search technologies, rather than adopting Web 2.0 technology to achieve a new way of working.

"If enhanced document management and system search capabilities are perceived to be the sole principal benefits of Web 2.0, then widespread adoption will be all the less likely, meaning that UK businesses run the risk of missing out on the less tangible but arguably more important benefits that Web 2.0 can provide," said Banathy.

Parity said the biggest benefits of Web 2.0 are around the way workers interact with each other. Over half of respondents cited working together more efficiently and uniting workers across different locations as the benefits.

The research, Web 2.0 - More than Social Networking, was carried out by Bournemouth University, Reseachers asked businesses whether they had invested in Web 2.0, and if so what were the business drivers.