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Effective collaboration through IT is the biggest technological challenge that will be faced by businesses next year, according to new research.

The survey by software firm Touchstone Group found that over 40 per cent of IT directors believe the use of technology to support collaboration was the most vital IT demand, followed by the demonstration of business value and customer relationship management.

Furthermore, the research suggested that almost six in ten IT heads intend to increase spending on technology over the next year, while 42 per cent cited a preference for purchasing ‘best of breed’ IT products from services companies and system integrators.

‘Collaboration across the company, particularly across different countries, is important in order to be able to plan and make effective business decisions,’ commented Adrian McNay, group board director at Touchstone Group.

Earlier this week, research firm Gartner urged IT directors to prepare two financial budgets for 2008 in case the ongoing credit crunch results in the need to make significant cuts in costs.

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Almost nine in ten online shoppers have suffered a problem when attempting to complete a web-based transaction, new research has revealed.

Furthermore, nearly one in four of these consumers would cancel the transaction if they experienced any negative issues, the survey by Harris Interactive for software firm Tealeaf found.

Nearly a third of those who came up against a problem while shopping online had done as a result of a hard-to-navigate website, while 29 per cent said they could not go through with the transaction after getting stuck in an ‘endless loop’.

‘After a decade of ecommerce, British consumers have very high expectations of their online experiences, yet many companies doing business online are still failing to deliver an acceptable level of customer experience and service to internet customers,’ commented Rebecca Ward, chief executive of Tealeaf.

A recent study by web application testing firm SciVisum suggested that British online retailers risk losing £300 million in sales every year due to hidden errors on their ecommerce sites.

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