
VMForce – What CIOs and others really need to think about
Salesforce.com and VMWare made an announcement today that could auger big changes for Integrators, Outsourcers, Universities, IT professionals and CIOs. What was the fuss about VMForce?

SaaS-querade: When On-Premise Vendors Try to Pass as SaaS Vendors
On-Premise software masquerading as SaaS? Who would do such a thing? Well, just about every on-premise apps vendor is SaaS-querading these days and customers could be the ones who get burned.

On-Premise ERP vendors: Your Partners are Abandoning You
Ann Landers frequently told readers to seek true love elsewhere. It looks like a number of big-name integrators, outsourcers, etc. have signed up with NetSuite, a SaaS application solution. It would appear that big service’s love for on-premise ERP is waning.

Three Kinds of IT – Which is right post-recession?
With every IT shop vying for a low-cost leader prize during this recession, a change in IT strategy may be needed soon. But what will your new strategy be? Customer intimate? Product innovator? Process excellent?

The Expanding Gap Between On-Premise and SaaS Solutions
SaaS and On-Premise solutions are growing further apart, not closer. The innovation within SaaS vendors is fast, furious and focused. It’s also embarassing to on-premise vendors.

The Cost Difference Between On-Premise and SaaS
The SaaS vs. On-Premise cost differential turns out to be quite significant. Large enterprises are starting to embrace SaaS applications for more than cost reasons.

The scary side of freelancing: the inadvertent freelancer
Not every freelancer is one by choice. The economy has thrust millions into the freelance economy. Technology can help some of them but what about the inadvertent freelancer? Who’s helping them?

iPad musings – How big is the market for this anyway?
Maybe I’m the only person who’s not doing handstands re: the new iPad. It’s a slick device but is the market really there for it? Here are some points to ponder….

NetSuite’s Revenue in light of the bigger ERP revenue question
Earnings reports and channel checks suggest SaaS vendors are making in-roads in the ERP space. On-premise vendors may be at risk although the effect of acquisitions makes it hard to ascertain within their financial statements.
Where next for Shared Services and Operational Excellence?
Are the big gains from ERP, quality programs, shared services and other techniques and technologies losing their ability to deliver big benefits? What else can companies do to further their operational excellence goals?