SMB Group has released the forecast for next year, as it follows:

Top 10 SMB Technology Predictions for 2011

1. Mobile Commerce Lifts Off

The increasing demand for mobiles is obvious over the last year, but for the next year SMB predicts a fiercer struggle between companies to keep up the pace. Mobile adapted version of websites, mobile payments, service and product tracking, cloud computing, and integrated business solutions are on the “to do” list for big retailers and companies interested in maintaining or improving the dynamic market share.

2. SMBs Demand that Vendors Bring Order to Social Media Chaos

CRM is on the list and continues to improve through social media, digital marketing interaction, and other ways over the year to come. The traditional solutions of relationship marketing must turn around in order to reach higher effectiveness, by adopting the improvements of technologies in their daily activity: online sales campaigns, various channels of communication, and online document sharing.

3. App Stores Become a Key Information Source and Channel for SMBs

App stores will act in 2011 like sensitive barometers to the customers’ needs and preferences by measuring the extent to which certain applications are downloaded and used. App stores will overcome the search engines and will give powerful insight for further development.

4. The Shift to Cloud Computing and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Becomes Irreversible

As predicted a few years ago, the drive towards cloud computing and software-as-a-service concepts are on a one way road, where there is no turning back. The advantages of using these strategies are positive both for businesses, which become more efficient and real-time visible, as to the users who gain facilitated access to cloud data.

5. A New Cloud Channel Model Forms

Cloud computing vendors are not acting like traditional IT providers, although they might be misplaced because of the integrated package they offer: software and hardware, management, etc., however, SMB seeks the development of a new model which will incorporate cloud vendors and partners, service which will bring transparency and ease.

6. The Transition to the Insight Economy Gets a Bit Easier

Data is the keyword for the passing year, which equals 1.2 zettabytes of digital information. It is difficult to translate that amount into understandable levels, but what is evident is the intention of the online businesses to develop more in the next year in terms of online video, social networking, images, and applications.

7. Tablets Add Fuel to the Mobile Applications Explosion

The market for smartphones expanded considerably in the last year, with iPad rising well beyond Dell, HP, RIM or Samsung’s tablets. However, the demand is still poorly defined, knowing the broadness of the phenomenon and consistent efforts will be focused towards the mobile marketing and advertising.

8. Better, Faster Integration Becomes a Key Business Solution Differentiator

The integration of certain business solutions into other platforms proved to be a testing point in 2010, but things are said to be improving in 2011. The first steps have been done by IMB’s Cast Iron or Dell’s Boomi and Pervasive. Therefore, the room in this subsector is to be filled in, providing a superior level of efficiency within different businesses.

9. Hybrid Computing Requirements Accelerate Virtualization Adoption

A new hybrid computing approach is predicted for next year, in order to combine the accessibility and security of cloud computing with virtual server desktops. The first step before an accelerated visualization adoption will be the task of explaining clearly the advantages of the combo solution: efficient management and saving costs for example.

10. Continued Convergence of Unified Communication and Collaboration Suites

Unified communication is seemed as meeting a continuous growth because of the easier way of exchanging information, image and connecting people. The integration of these facilities into social networking is the solution expected by 2011.