Article at a glance:

Technology after the bubble

When demand for technology recovers, in the next 18 to 24 months, technology providers will face a more challenging environment than the one they enjoyed during the boom years of the late 1990s. Vendors will have to help lagging companies not only to fix failed software installations but also to learn the lessons of companies that have successfully used technology to achieve competitive advantage.

The take-away

The use of technology at leading companies like Dell, Schwab, and Wal-Mart provides valuable lessons for IT vendors, which will soon need to help less prescient companies get the most out of their investments.