Data storage may now be cheap, but letting electronically stored information pile up is a big risk that can cost companies millions of dollars in litigation expenses.

In the not-too-distant future you could buy anything, from a train ticket to a can of soda from a vending machine, with the wave of your cell phone. Mobile payment -- payment for products and services via a mobile device -- is coming. Before widespread mobile phone payments become possible, however, considerable work needs to be done.

Today, organizations face suddenly swelling losses and the need to reduce staff. This requires that they not only identify and streamline financial processes but also that they optimize them. In short, they need modern business process management (BPM).

CFOs generally don't think much of open source software, but economic times are tough, and eliminating proprietary software licenses and maintenance fees is tempting.

Performance matters, especially these days, so CFOs are being asked to report and analyze all manner of financial measurements and nonfinancial metrics (data not traditionally collected, reported, and analyzed by the finance group). That means BPM, business performance management.

Using eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) could enhance the liquidity and alleviate some of the stress and uncertainty plaguing today's markets. Read Ventana Research's "Tag Fannie and Freddie with XBRL" in the BPM Resource Center.

How far ahead can companies peer into the economic gloom? How are budgeting processes holding up in the downturn? Help us find out by participating in this 10-minute survey. If you respond by April 3, you will have the opportunity to enter into a drawing for one of two $100 Visa gift cards.

The 6th Annual BPM Summit, Generating Value Through Visibility, brought together some of the business world's foremost practitioners to explore the transformational role of finance in the enterprise. If you missed the live event, you can still enjoy unlimited access to the audio and slide shows from the keynote speaker presentations at our on-demand archive.