BT to sell NetSuite on-demand software

BT and NetSuite have joined forces to bring web-based, on-demand software to the telco's 1.6 million business customers.

In addition to offering NetSuite's business-management applications, BT will soon provide customer-relationship management (CRM) software from SugarCRM.

The tie-up focuses on SMEs and will, according to BT, allow them to keep up with the rapid adoption of on-demand software — or software as a service (SaaS) as it is also known — in larger organisations.

Working with the on-demand software companies, BT will not only provide service support but also software tailored to individual business needs.

Both sets of software are aimed at boosting client relationships which, according to BT Business research, 43 percent of UK SMEs feel is the most critical factor for success.

NetSuite software provides a single system for a variety of purposes, such as enterprise resource planning, CRM and e-commerce.

Customers will be able to integrate the CRM applications with existing communications and data systems, meaning implementation is quicker.

Zach Nelson, president and chief executive of NetSuite, said the partnership will see a SaaS "revolution" take off in Europe.

Nelson added that NetSuite, which currently generates 18 percent of its revenue from outside the US, hopes the move will significantly expand its reach beyond its home country.

BT is also looking at a number of other future partnerships around business applications.