Many writers explore just one tech sector. Brian looks at the entire tech ecosystem to better understand the often conflicted relationships between software vendors, integrators, outsourcers and more.
Brian is currently CEO of TechVentive, a strategy consultancy serving technology providers and other firms. He is also a research analyst with Vital Analysis.
Many M&A deals present more opportunities (and challenges) than may first appear. Brian ran some of his thoughts about the strategic value of this deal with Eric Berridge, CEO of BlueWolf, a big cloud and CRM implementer. Here are their insights regarding this potential deal.
From talent management, payroll, analytics, HRMS and other niche HR solutions, this year saw several cool innovations and emerging trends, plus a generous helping of M&A with a side order of IPO. Brian Sommer covers major issues, company highlights, and the year's big misses.
Not every vendor follows the script Geoffrey Moore laid out in Crossing the Chasm. But Igloo Software appears to be and the results speak for themselves.
What will Jim Snabe SAP's co-CEO, say at next year's Sapphire conference? Some of the clues were present at the recent Madrid Sapphire event but Brian Sommer fills in the gaps and targets some strategic decisions SAP must make. Enjoy this two-part piece.
For a decade or so, several ERP vendors have made naked plays for market share, maintenance revenue and customers. In the process, they created unwieldly firms with lots of redundant products and product lines. Now, multi-tenant cloud solutions, like Workday's, are showing the error in these Franken-soft creations.
VAI may not be the best known ERP vendor out there but their customers sure like them. Read on for the highlights of their recent user conference.
It's been a busy month of software events. But, taken together, they point to several major and permanent changes that will shape IT and ERP for decades. This seven part look at these changes spans hardware, HR software, the ERP leaderboard, changing buyer sophistication and more.
There's a great lesson to be learned from New Zealand software firms. They have savvy and insight when it comes to getting businesses to adopt cloud solutions. Xero is doing this with accountants (and that's no easy feat!).
Well, I think Marc's got a bit more story to tell in the last of two keynote addresses. This talk zeroes in on Salesforce's application software strategy. Let's check in and see what Marc might say this time next year....
Marc Benioff does a great job of setting the tone and direction of the software space. If you missed Dreamforce 2012, you might feel a bit left out. But, if you'd like to get a jump on next year's event, read Marc's Keynote for 2013. It's got vision to spare and should make a lot of software firms envious.