September 2009 - Funnelback presents at Gartner event.

Funnelback raised the critical importance of search at the well attended Gartner-Squiz-Funnelback event entitled 'Supported Open Source Software' in Sydney on 27th August, 2009.

The event focused on effective content management and the importance of search. A key theme outlined by Gartner VP, Brian Prentice was the need to consider all points on a broad continuum of software technologies ranging from proprietary to self supported open-source software.

Dr David Hawking, Funnelback's Chief Scientist, argued the business benefit of effective search. "Ineffective search leads to decreased productivity, reduced competitiveness and non-delivery of relevant and sometimes critical information", he said.

Dr Hawking outlined a methodology for measuring the effectiveness of search deployment and for comparing search tools. "A successful search project requires effective result ranking, but must also respond to the needs of different audience groups. Search implementers must accept that many people are unable to come up with optimal queries, and try to deliver useful results anyway.", he said.

Dr Hawking used a large number of Funnelback client web sites to illustrate tools and approaches which can contribute to successful search implementation within an organisation. These included: A tool which aids result set exploration and query refinement and requires little or no configuration; Search plugins to accommodate the needs of different sections of an audience; Geospatial tools providing searchers with media results and government information relevant to their location; Customisation tools and methods which allow a search interface to be configured to an organisation's look and feel in as little as an hour.

The success of the Gartner seminar has reinforced Squiz's and Funnelback's view that senior Executives are willing to take the time to attend seminars as long as the topic is current, affects most businesses, and for which a thought leadership approach is being taken by the organisers.

For further information contact David Hawking: 02 6175 8500