FD Insights Issue 5 | Page 20

HTML5 As an integral building block of the internet today, HTML5’s popularity and usage is only set to increase in the near future. Indeed, industry research giant Gartner had the following to say about the latest iteration of the mark-up language: “As HTML5 and its development tools mature, the popularity of the mobile Web and hybrid applications will increase. Hence, despite many challenges, HTML5 will be an essential technology for organisations delivering applications across multiple platforms.” HTML5-powered websites are commonly demonstrated by companies at tech conferences and keynotes, though many developers are still waiting for the technology to mature. Nevertheless, as it becomes more streamlined and evolved, look for it to play an increasing role in the software landscape in which it operates. 18 | www.firstdistribution.co.za Cloud Software With all the recent hype about Cloud technology and how the industry is growing exponentially in that direction, it’s only natural that the Cloud enabling software should receive some of the limelight as well. Cloud software business is big business, not only for the established industry giants like Oracle, SAP and Salesforce.com, but for an increasing raft of smaller niche players who are servicing a single industry or software segment. “We believe there is a great