The large building automation industry understood the concept of Web convergence early, but I do not believe that we envisioned ourselves as having such an active part in it. Originally we perceived that we would take our products and services to a Web level and magically our services would become part of the clients' Web-based enterprise. It is now becoming clear that the companies that are most likely to succeed are developing the "magic" to take our automation interfaces to the next level in an elegant convergence model that adds tremendous value to our clients' enterprises.
The real danger for our industry is that if we do not grow rapidly enough to provide this value-added service, there is a host of information systems and information technology (ISITs) types that will. Their perception of the depth and width of our industry concerns me. Although ISITs have a better understanding of the clients' enterprise and Web ways, they lack the greater understanding of the complexity of our industry.