This issue has been a collaborative effort in many ways. It’s been a collaboration between the previous editor, Jonathan Cotton, and me. And it’s also been a collaboration of devices. As we have pushed to get the magazine to print we have employed desktop PCs, smartphones, Skype, Dropbox, Google Docs, iPads and even a more-handy-than-we-thought-it-would-be iPad scanner.

But collaboration doesn’t happen without integration. This issue we are turning the spotlight on this traditionally complex topic and unearthing the sought-after riches, with a plethora of case studies on golden solutions for productivity gains through integration in (and between) multiple industries and devices. There is no silver bullet for integration projects, which are often hard and get put off, but it does proffer rich rewards to those who go there. With all the inspiration on display here, it may be time you took another look at ‘Phase III’.

In the same vein, our cover story this month, Tech at the coalface, takes an in-depth look at the future of mining technology and, you guessed it, both integration and mobility are playing key roles, alongside process automation (p 16).

As all good managers know, the best technology in the world is only part of the picture – people are the real diamonds and the foundation of your organisation. We take a look at human capital management and how technology is helping to keep track of your best people. Once you find a great IT solution halcyon days are ahead, so to help you to IT happiness we present you the iStart guide to buying IT. And we also take a look at how to create a compelling and structurally sound IT brand.

With so many mobile devices floating around the workplace, it’s not surprising that mobility is a recurring theme across this issue too. In the days when there is an app for almost everything (check out ‘Bowel Mover Pro’ for example) we take a look at whether your business actually needs an app (p 68) and round up the top 10 Android apps for business (p 80).

And lastly, it has not gone unnoticed that in the past month alone we have seen the launch of the iPhone 5, the iPad mini, and the ‘fourth generation iPad’. (This had us scratching our heads regarding the meaning of ‘new’ when it comes to Apple.) We reckon the much bigger launch comes from Microsoft with Windows 8, which has catapulted the Windows platform into a whole new stratosphere when it comes to the modern world of work and play.

Clare Coulson
Editor