ORLANDO -- Do you have a Chief Digital Officer? The gurus at Gartner think you should, and soon.
The idea of a CDO stems from the idea that companies are or will soon be rushing to digitize whole segments of their business. For example, moving marketing spend from analog to digital, or digitizing the research and development budget. Organizations are also digitizing how they service their clients, in order to drive higher client retention. In addition, many companies are turning digitization into new revenue streams, Gartner analysts stated at the firm's Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2012 here.
To address these changes, Gartner says organizations will create the role of a Chief Digital Officer as part of the business unit leadership, which will become a new seat at the executive table. Gartner predicts that by 2015, 25% of organizations will have a CDO.
IN OTHER NEWS: Attack of the (mostly) cool robots
"The Chief Digital Officer will prove to be the most exciting strategic role in the decade ahead, and IT leaders have the opportunity to be the leaders who will define it," said David Willis, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. "The Chief Digital Officer plays in the place where the enterprise meets the customer, where the revenue is generated and the mission accomplished. They're in charge of the digital business strategy. That's a long way from running back office IT, and it's full of opportunity."
Follow Michael Cooney on Twitter: nwwlayer8 and on Facebook
Check out these other hot stories:
FTC throws down robocall gauntlet: $50,000 for best way to stop annoying calls
NASA exploring $1.5 million unmanned aircraft competition
Loozfon, FinFisher mobile malware hitting Android phones, FBI/IC3 warns
CIA: Flying Skyhook wasn't just for James Bond, it actually rescued agents
FTC warns 19 online sites about falsely promoting International Driving Permits
What does your degree matter? Millions of dollars over time
New NASA robot could help paraplegics walk
Air Force lab test out "aircraft surfing" technique to save fuel
What are grand technology and scientific challenges for the 21st century?
Army special operations wants battlefield biometric tech
DARPA shows off unmanned aircraft in-flight refueling technology