Ellison: "If our bodies looked like our computers we'd all be dead"

Larry Ellison, Oracle's chairman, CEO and most outspoken prophet, has once again stated industry heresy by insisting that businesses must fit themselves around the software they use.

Speaking in Paris today, Ellison launched an all out attack on the way companies have developed computer systems up until now, declaring: "If our bodies looked like our computer systems we'd all be dead." To a background of the kind of showbiz glamour that has become de rigeur when a rich man like Ellison speaks, the billionaire claimed companies like IBM are bleeding companies of funds by attempting to join together different systems to achieve the perfect infrastructure. "Sytems integration is the gift that keeps on giving. The more systems you install the more you hide your data," said Ellison. He added that the headlong rush by big business to exploit the opportunities of the internet meant ebusiness presence is now essential. As a consequence of that, companies no longer have the time to develop perfect systems, he claimed. Instead, they must get online as soon as possible and change their businesses to conform to the internet. Ellison said Oracle, which is now offering a complete ebusiness suite, can help with this process. Ellison claimed use of the system has already saved Oracle $1bn and slashed its IT budget in half. We'll have more on Ellison's speech tomorrow. For related news and opinion, see
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