At the end of last year Forrester interviewed 13 vendor companies - including Adobe Systems,  Backbase, Curl, Cynergy Systems, EffectiveUI,  Esria, IBM, Laszlo Systems, Microsoft, Nexaweb  Technologies, Oracle, Roundarch, and SAP - for a report by Erica Driver and Ron Rogowski called 'RIAs Bring People-Centered Design To Information  Workplaces.'

RIAs, the report  found, are emerging as vehicles to enable the next generation of Information  Workplaces that are best suited for decision-makers and task-oriented workers who engage in complex, multistep processes - people who need seamless, individualized, and highly visual user experiences.

"While RIA technologies aren’t pervasive within enterprises today," the report concluded, "adoption will increase as Information and Knowledge Management  pros recognize the technologies’ value in creating Information Workplaces that are seamless, individualized, and visual."

The report also noted that better Information Workplaces don’t just make customers happier, they improve the quality of work life for employees because processes are simplified and people aren’t doing pointless, redundant work.

Plus, when service employees are better equipped to provide accurate answers to client queries, quickly turn around completed loan applications, or process an insurance claim in a timely fashion, it reduces the stress that irate customers can create. All of this leads to a better work environment where it’s possible to retain top talent.