We were happy to share the news last week that Gartner Inc. has positioned ATG in the Leaders Quadrant of Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for E-Commerce. Published by Gene Alvarez, vice president of Gartner Research, last Tuesday, the MQ is a focused analysis of vendors based on market share, revenues, number of clients, the type of products or services, and other defining characteristics.   The report makes the case that the economic downturn has spurred investment in online sales technology and that customer experience, Web 2.0 and mobile are driving demand for redesigns.  We see these trends in the market as well and agree that the ultimate end customer benefits via better access in contextually meaningful interactions.

Gartner has positioned ATG in the “Leader” quadrant. Gartner notes that leaders in this quadrant “have demonstrated longevity in the e-commerce market”, as well as “consistent, extensive and durable execution in delivering e-commerce Web sites at the enterprise level.” After a thorough research process with extensive customer surveys and technology evaluation, we are honored to take the industry’s top spot in Vision.

The report makes the compelling point that online shoppers are looking for Web sites to “accelerate the processes that perform product search, review and relevant information” to be able to compare products and decide whether to buy. “Moreover, consistent, orchestrated online experiences are required across multiple points of interaction, including smartphones, to enable contextual awareness that matches customers’ browsing, buying and interaction habits.”  

We couldn’t agree more with this statement. We see a growing awareness among online retailers and brands that you can’t look at sales channels as independent silos, but as connected channels to enable more efficient management, merchandising and marketing for the business.

For full access to the Gartner report, visit: http://www.atg.com/gartner-ecommerce-magic-quadrant/

I believe that reporters – at least the good ones – loathe when they, or their situation, become the story.  And that is exactly what happened to Jon Meacham, editor of Newsweek, on a recent visit to The Daily Show (http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-may-5-2010/jon-meacham).  Meacham had been scheduled to discuss “Need to Know”, a new PBS program he was about to debut, (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/).  However, that plan changed the morning of the interview when The Washington Post Co. announced that they were putting Newsweek up for sale after 33 years of ownership – and 77 years of publication.  With that as a backdrop, John (Stewart) and Jon (Meacham) were set for a fascinating conversation about the state of publishing and reporting in general.   

Two elements of the Post’s announcement stood out to me: The main reason given for the sale; “the company can foresee no path to profitability for the money losing magazine,” and the statement by Donald E. Graham that he accepted responsibility “for not seeing early enough and reacting in the right way to the changes that have come to our industry.”  Donald Graham is the son of Phillip & Katherine Graham and their company purchased Newsweek at the urging of Ben Bradlee – an amazing collection of publishing royalty.  If this group is up for sale, is there a future for traditional publishing companies?   

John & Jon engaged in a captivating conversation that touched on the role of reporters in the Internet age, the sad realities of the publishing business model in general and the future of Newsweek specifically.  The most interesting exchange came when Stewart compared the current state of publishing to that of the horse carriage industry at the introduction of the automobile and Meacham responded with a new approach for publishing that centers on a “solely digital focus” during the week and a print recap publication for weekend readers.  While I don’t believe that this model would recoup the full advertising revenue that magazines have relied on, I do believe that this idea has merit.  I would value a publication like Newsweek providing a recap and analysis of the key issues that sparked debate throughout the week.  I believe it would also allow them to reclaim a bit of the voice of authority they held before the explosion of the Internet.

Stewart maintained his usual witty banter throughout the chat and Meacham generally played along, yet I was left with a sense of unease as the conversation ended.  Meacham ended with a good rallying cry – and an offer to bring the for sale papers over for Stewart to sign – but his demeanor was hard to ignore and he appeared a bit defeated.  My career includes a good deal of media buying and planning and I am a voracious reader of both books and magazines.  I am also an early adopter – and I must say, fan – of the iPad, and, I am a huge advocate for the potential of the web for reasons well beyond my current paycheck.  I initially found myself conflicted by the state of media and the potential loss of a publication like Newsweek.  But then I went back and watched the Stewart interview again and I focused on a passage where Meacham discussed his so-called “virtual beltway”, a consumer group that values both digital and traditional media, a consumer segment that heavily uses the Internet yet still values hard covered books and print publications.  I personally relate to this consumer segment and I believe I’m not alone.  I still receive a daily newspaper and I don’t believe I’d enjoy my Sunday morning coffee as much if I were reading the news on my iPad.  But I’m eager to hear your perspectives – do you see a place for a publication like Newsweek in today’s Internet age?