Happy New Year! 2011 was named the “Year of Mobile” so it’s important to ask what’s next in this ever growing field. CGI broke into the mobile market in 2011 by bringing presentations and apps to tablets and smart phones. We’re excited to see where we can grow with mobile in 2012. Here are our top three predictions for the next twelve months:

• Mobile Presentations: A one on one presentation can benefit from being presented on a tablet, such as the iPad. Not only does the presentation design look great, it’s interactive and easy to use and you will be sure to impress clients with an innovative new way of presenting.
• Tablets Replace PC’s: Tablets are quickly gaining momentum in the sales and marketing departments of Fortune 500 companies as the best way to present information. They are easy to use, portable, and great for presenting on the go.
• Digital Marketing Initiatives Grow: Smart phones are everywhere these days and marketers are taking advantage of the growing mobile market by creating digital marketing initiatives – from checking in with FourSquare to playing games like SCVNGR  digital marketing initiatives targeting mobile devices will continue to grow throughout 2012 and for years to come.

A couple of years ago CGI created an interactive Peace Card for the holidays. It was different than our previous holiday cards as it allowed people to share their thoughts and add their own stories “into” the card. It was a great way for us to connect with people all around the world.

With constantly evolving technology, we realized that this type of social media would be a great format for gathering feedback and collecting ideas.  What better way to find out what customers or employees need than to simply ask them. So building off of the idea of the Peace Card, we created the CGI Idea Wall which allows you to ask questions and get a connection going with your audience.

Click to see the Idea Wall

Since many people often gather in the break room to share stories and ideas, we chose a water cooler theme but the Idea Wall can be customized to match any theme. One of the optional features includes a database that allows you to capture information from your audience.

We want to know what you think. CGI is currently hosting a contest on the Idea Wall page. Tell us your thoughts on how you might use an Idea Wall and enter to win a gift certificate to Starbucks, Barnes & Noble or Lowe’s.

Let the good ideas flow!

Recently, two of our CGI Interactive employees headed to the Harbor Hotel in downtown Boston to collect (for the second year in a row!) our award for Best of 2010 Web Design Bronze. Everyone at the CGI was honored by the recognition for the work that we have done within the financial and real estate community.

The Banker and Tradesman contest is awarded through Massachusetts reader opinions.  It feels great to help members of our local community grow their business and find more effective ways to reach their customers.

Banker & Tradesman is a leading New England publication with a broad readership of the most influential people in the real estate, financial, and construction industries.

Thousands of Banker and Tradesman readers responded to this year’s readers’ poll for their “Best of 2010″ awards. The paper’s community has grown to be prestigious within the Massachusetts business culture.  It is an opportunity for the New England’s financial and real estate communities to speak up for those providers they believe are the best.

Winners were published in the August 2nd publication.