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Sales Force Automation Comparison Guide

Businesses of all sizes can benefit by automating all aspects of their sales processes with an SFA (Sales Force Automation) solution. But due to the sheer number of features that most SFA solutions...Read More


Which CMS Is Right For Me?

If you're wondering which CMS is the right one for your organization, this comprehensive guide will take you through the various options available, detailing the pros and cons of each. Download...Read More


How to Buy a Phone System

Considering a new phone system for your business? The Phone System Buyer's Guide from VoIP-News provides you with all of the information you need to make a more informed decision. The Guide helps you...Read More


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Oracle Magazine contains technology strategy articles, sample code, tips, Oracle and partner news, how to articles for developers and DBAs, and more. Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) is the world's largest...Read More




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Lawson's CEO Hates SaaS

A remarkable interview was published today on ZDnet, titled Lawson's CEO, Harry Debes, doesn't believe in software-as-a-service (SaaS). I find it just striking how the CEO of a major ERP company just doesn't think at all about what is good for his customers.

He even compares his own company to a cocaine dealer - his whole thought process is about his legacy business model and how he gets his customers hooked on it. His main complaint about SaaS is that Lawson can't figure out how to make money doing it...

It was going to take us seven to 10 years before we made any money. That's nonsense.

Wow. And it get's even better - he says

Getting signed up as a SaaS customer is fast, but getting out is just as fast. Whereas traditional software is like cocaine--you're hooked. It's too difficult and expensive to switch providers once you've invested in one.

So his point basically nets out to - Lawson isn't going to do SaaS because it provides less customer lock-in and it is economically worse for Lawson that their current on-premises software model.

The reporter missed asking the key "boil the frog" question - As Lawson's CEO keeps the company focused on the old on-premises software model - what is Lawson going to do when SaaS companies like Intacct - who have figured out the economics of offering great on-demand products that are also better for customers - start to turn up the heat?

The blogosphere is starting to pick up on this story - Vinnie Mirchandani weighs in on his deal architect blog, and Josh Greenbaum wrote a nice piece on Enterprise Anti-Matter.

I can almost hear the sound of the tar pit starting to gurgle as it begins to swallow the dinosaur...

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