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6/14/2012 | 9:19:10 AM
Salesforce New kid on the block and on same track as others but is it losing focus on customer real needs? Has done well on back of fact customers are feed up with alternatives! But if alternatives get better then this model may change?
Oracle Now end to end ICT by buying commodity hardware. But are they getting ready for commoditised software which is coming! But huge risk with a rather complex set of tools and con Fusion may be that with old model application approach. ERP is dying as smaller more focused solutions deliver better value. The move to object model driven software may make the 6 years of building their suites a hard pill to swallow?
IBM They like Oracle have huge and complex set of tools which makes for expensive overhead for partners and users. They avoided ERP ownership; smart move and use their acquired consultancy to good effect to exploit installing others! But that market is under threat so I see they will be pushing the combined BPM MDM (Master Data Management) message. A user centric outside in approach fits well with consultancy and some of their acquisition but still complex to get working together?
SAP How long can the ERP model last GÇô not long as the outside in approach gains momentum with quicker and more effective wins. Obviously such a question was recognised hence the in the acquisitions to give spread of capability. All credit to them they initiated innovation with Business by Design. But a threat to core business if it delivers as they say maybe why not pushed but they do have that capability ready.
Dell Yes very focused in a commodity market and now into modernization of software a big issue but only big players will pay a lot to fix. They bought Perot consultancy but where is its presence? Future sales of ICT will be solution driven and they do not have any yet. The cloud use is about solutions not hardware which is a commodity to deliver. But they have learned from others on not buying old complex component based software.
HP Oh dear all the mistakes yet there is a strong presence in the market to just maybe make it easier to take on new models? They have at least avoided the pressure to follow the big software vendors in acquisition of component tools that have failed to deliver business and user focused solutions efficiently (hence why SalesforceGÇÖs success). Despite their clear challenges they may have a better chance to be GÇ£solution ledGÇ¥ but as was mentioned they need to harness their front end EDS acquisition.
Summary these players all have challenges as the game begins to change and it will not get easier if the policy is to wait and acquire at later stages. That model has run its course with very mixed results as indicated. Software is the real problem and yet may be the answers for those with the vision. Commoditised business software has been created the long held vision held by many see this interesting perspective from well respected independent analyst Naomi Bloom said recently in her blog http://infullbloom.us/?p=3222 She concludes GÇ£If IGÇÖm right, youGÇÖll want to be on the agile, models-driven, definitional development side of the moat thus created, whether youGÇÖre an HR leader, working in the HRM software vendor community, or an investor in that communityGÇ¥
So which side of the moat will these players find themselves?