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.
Marketing today bears no resemblance to the Mad Men era. Powerful analytic tools are parsing companies' web sites and content. Machine learning tools are studying buyers' behaviors to generate recommendations for even better web designs.
The technology that powers business is key to driving productivity improvements and economies. The recent Promat and Automate 2015 shows featured many technologies that can do both. But, were the innovations breakthroughs or incremental? And, where were the ERP vendors?
It's amazing: Of all the financial applications that could be built, ERP vendors focus on core financials like general ledger. Here's a firm that serves an enviable clientele -- but it's not a big name brand in financial software (yet).
Adaptive Insights, a cloud-based corporate performance management vendor, has a new CEO. Tom Bogan comes from a lengthy finance career - something that could be of value as the company (and the sector) continues to experience growth.
Two very good books: One documents the massive SAP ecosystem and the challenges now confronting all within it. The other details, in a very personalized but highly transferable way, how major change should be undertaken.
Intacct's user conference served as a coming of age event for this growing mid-market cloud accounting software vendor. New partnerships with Salesforce and American Express were announced, and industry analysts were invited to mix with a happy bunch of customers.
Made-up words were in abundance during this fall's software conference season. Your dauntless reporter traveled the world to bring back the latest in tech marketing speak. If you want to sound like you're current with today's dubious jargon, here's a quick primer to get you all caught up.
Powerful Human Resources analytic tools were in abundance at the recent HR Technology show in Vegas. But can/will HR departments buy these solutions? Probably not -- unless the HR group itself changes.
For years, IT departments have had tools to measure up-time and other metrics. But other internal operational groups often possess fewer of these tools. That isn't right. New taxonomies, tools andanalytics are needed in non-IT spaces.
Recent conferences by Infor and Oracle demonstrate that the on-premises vs cloud debate is over. Brian Sommer looks at what happened with Oracle this last year to get to this point.
Brian Sommer recommends two must-read articles for executives. One looks at the challenges in getting great talent for a resurgent U.S. manufacturing environment. The other examines why performance reviews deliver adverse business results.
Infor's suite of high-end cloud financial software products include a new user interface, in-memory database technology and more. CloudSuite signals a major shift in the application space. Will CIOs bite?
Businesses rarely know what others do to promote or merchandise their products. Gigwalk, not your ERP vendor, has a slick mobile/cloud solution -- powered by a half million 'Gigwalkers' -- that addresses some costly business problems.
Sage ERP X3 has hit a new level of technological sophistication and market relevance. Will the firm put the resources together to help this product line take off in the North American marketplace? A key customer visit adds insight.
Growth is evident in the cloud financial software space. Recent earnings, customer announcements and other data points continue to reinforce the shift to a new solution style.
Enterprise Software
Reshoring and performance reviews: Two priorities for business leaders
Cloud
M&A in the Cloud - Plex Online now part of Francisco Partners
Enterprise Software
Banking
NetSuite SuiteWorld Part 2: Growth of the Platform Ecosystem
Enterprise Software