IABM launches tech and trends roadmap

IABM today unveiled a customised blueprint for common understanding and collaboration for the broadcast, media and entertainment industry.  

The International Association for Broadcast and Media Technology Suppliers (IABM) announced its new major initiative which is designed to aid both technology vendors and buyers in developing their technology and business strategies.

The IABM Technology and Trends Roadmap was built by a wide group of industry members and technology buyers which incorporates the major current and unfolding technologies and trends.

The concept was then mapped onto the standard technology adoption curve which ranges from bleeding edge to commodity in each of the five main blocks of the BaM Content Chain, which include: Create, Produce, Manage, Publish, Monetise.

In some cases, they may be on different areas of the adoption curve at the same time, for example, an Early Adopter in one and Mature in another.

According to the IABM, sharing roadmaps has become a fundamental requirement in the new collaborative environment as point sales are increasingly being replaced with long-term partnerships between tech suppliers and buyers.

Both sides need to be confident that their ideas and vision for the future are closely aligned to form the basis of a successful long-term relationship that enhances business opportunities for both parties.

IABM chief technology officer Stan Moote said: “One of the constantly moving challenges in our industry is not only keeping up with all the new technology trends, but also having a deep enough dive to understand what is truly relevant and not simply just a ‘fad’.

“Our industry poured 25% of hard-earned revenue back into R&D in the last half of 2018 - so every penny spent needs to be as close to a sure bet as possible.

“End-users also have a similar issue understanding which technology to bet on, what they can’t live without – the ‘must haves’ - and which will capture more market share for them, as well as providing a path of profitable growth. The Technology and Trends Roadmap will help address these fundamental business questions for everyone involved with broadcast and media technology,” Moote concluded.

IABM sees two main uses for creating and distributing a common industry roadmap:

• Company Internal – giving both board members and executives a common view of the industry. This gives the CTO a strong reference or ‘springboard’ to further add in their own company’s unique expertise to produce a company-specific roadmap which will typically map into company quarters/years
• Company External – when presenting to customers and end-users, there is currently no starting point, no reference to begin. Having a common industry roadmap may not provide 100% buy-in by every end-user, however it does give a common industry consensus that sets the stage for each company’s distinctive roadmap. This in turn becomes a key driver of strategic decision making for high-level plans that need to be articulated in the new world of partnerships

IABM chief executive Peter White added: “We see creative collaboration as central to success for our industry and we have launched a number of initiatives aimed at fostering this over the last 18 months.

“The Technology and Trends Roadmap is another large step forward in nurturing the partnerships that will drive all our futures. As with the BaM Content Chain, it is also a ‘living’ concept that can provide a secure basis for business decisions not just now, but way into the future too.”

• Read more: IABM launches BaM industry model