Forrester Forum to Prepare Businesses for the Real-Time Internet Economy

Business Wire, Oct 19, 1998

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19, 1998--Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq:FORR), today announced plans for its upcoming Forrester Forum, "Preparing For Dynamic Trade In The Internet Economy," to be held November 4-6, 1998, at The Westin Hotel Copley Place in Boston. The Forum will focus on how companies must adapt to meet the round-the-clock, global demands of the Internet economy.

Over the next 36 months, the Internet economy will evolve from early Web marketing and selling experiments to a new business trading model that Forrester calls "dynamic trade." Dynamic trade will dramatically change how companies view products and services, production schedules, and pricing models. Services will eclipse products as companies compete to win and retain customers with custom self-service offerings, bundled pricing, and smart substitutions. Current demand will drive production schedules as companies respond to immediate rather than anticipated market needs. And prices will closely reflect market conditions via on-line markets and embedded pricing systems.

"Dynamic trade has the potential to fundamentally reshape entire industries, rewarding companies that embrace process efficiency and market sensitive pricing, and punishing those that fail to adapt to rapidly changing market demands," said John C. McCarthy, group director of New Media Research at Forrester. "The goal of the Forum is to help business leaders grasp the impact that dynamic trade will have on their industries and organizations."

Forum speakers will address how the adoption of dynamic trade will redefine organizations: their internal processes, external relationships, and technical infrastructure. The presentations will examine the impact of dynamic trade on pricing, procurement, production, logistics, marketing, and customer support. The Forum will also feature case studies highlighting some of today's emerging leaders in dynamic trade.

Featured speakers include Gregory S. Rocque, president, The National Transportation Exchange; Keith Krach, chairman of the board, CEO, and president, Ariba Technologies, Inc.; Gayle Crowell, president and CEO, DataMind Corporation; Fulton Wilcox, director, consulting services, BOC Gases; James C. Wood, president and CEO, Silknet Software, Inc.; Paul Gaffney, senior vice president, Office Depot; Scott T. Randall, CEO and president, FairMarket, Inc.; Glen T. Meakem, CEO, FreeMarkets OnLine, Inc.; Chip Perry, president and CEO, AutoConnect; Katrina A. Garnett, president and CEO, CrossWorlds Software, Inc.; and Gregory A. Brady, president, worldwide operations, i2 Technologies.

In addition to McCarthy, featured Forrester speakers include George F. Colony, president, CEO, and chairman of the board; Waverly Deutsch, group director, IT Research; Ted Schadler, director, Software Strategies; David Weisman, group director, New Media Research; Steven Bell, analyst, Business Trade & Technology Strategies; and Bobby Cameron, principal analyst, Packaged Application Strategies.

Forrester Forums are designed to provide opportunities for senior executives to informally share ideas, discover the latest technology tools and vendors, and develop successful business strategies. "Preparing For Dynamic Trade In The Real-Time Internet Economy" is the final Forrester Forum for 1998. Plans for the 1999 Forrester Forum Series will be announced in November.

Forrester Research, Inc., is a leading independent research firm offering products and services that help its clients assess the effects of technology on their businesses. The company provides analysis and insight into a broad range of technology areas such as new media, computing, software, networking, telecommunications, and the Internet, and it projects how technology trends will affect businesses, consumers, and society. Additional information about Forrester Research and the Forrester Forum Series can be found at www.forrester.com.