Dump ERP: a Valentine's message

Clipped from Agresso onto my Flickr

As Valentine's Day approaches, expect to see some innovative and entertaining marketing 'stuff' come from the vendor community. How about this from Agresso to get the ball rolling:

Dear <Vendor>,

I don't know how to tell you this... but I'm seeing someone else.

I know I should have said something sooner, but we've been drifting apart for so long, I didn't know how to tell you. It's not you, it's me; I've changed so much recently...

Since our last corporate restructuring, you just haven't been there for me. Every time I have to change a business process, it's like you don't even care. You know how important this upcoming merger is to me. I've been looking forward to it for a year and you can't even handle different tax reporting requirements.

When I think back to that day we went live... it could have been so different. We had good times... all those upgrades and lavish re-implementations. Sure, when the money was flowing, we were great together. But we built nothing for the future.

I have to get on with my life... and yes, there is someone else... someone who has helped me grow. I know that you hate change, and want things to always stay the same, but that's just not my reality. I might as well tell you now that, yes, it's Agresso and I can see us being together forever.

While I don't expect you to be happy for me, I hope we can stay friends...

Love, <Your name>

One person thinks this is a sideways route from a shameless piece of pimping a 'crap' survey on Facebook. That's tosh. (UPDATE: person recants - hehe)

Another thinks it's good.

Yet another LOVES the Dear John nature of the narrative.

I think it's a fun way to poke a stick in the eye of the mega vendors even if it does come from another vendor. We need some levity in the oh-so-serious world of ERP and when better than on Valentine's Day?

[Disclosure: Agresso has been a past client but they're still an interesting outfit]