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Netsuite aims e-commerce at SMEs
Microscope
11/21/05
The true integration of business applications into one software suite for the SME market is the major challenge of the vendor community, and is where NetSuite sees its advantage as it adds e-commerce capabilities to its bundle. Last week, NetSuite added e-commerce capabilities to its product bundle in a move that coincides with its latest channel push (see MicroScope, 14 November).
Craig Sullivan, director of international product management at NetSuite, said the company had analysed what SMEs were demanding and which e-commerce capabilities were sought after: "They are looking for an on-line presence that represents their business."
NetSuite is shaking up the industry through its integrated software, which is delivered on demand and puts it in a strong position with the channel
calling for true integration for multiple SME applications. Recent launches of Microsoft's latest CRM and Sage's hosted version of the software have been criticised for their lack of "true integration" with other applications (see MicroScope, 24 and 31 October).
Sullivan said true integration was essential for customer efficiency and cost savings: "Our products offer this and not just because they are Web-based, but also due to the fundamental architecture of product. It is based on a single database and single application, so it all works simultaneously." David Parsonage, director at Sage reseller Apex Business Systems, said NetSuite had a good product range which, due to its delivery mechanism, had disrupted the industry: "It has put existing players at a disadvantage. If you look at the example of how salesforce.com affected Siebel, the importance of true integration is clear. Siebel only had CRM but NetSuite offered an integrated product set and it has won market share in the US."
He added that the company was more prominent on the other side of the Atlantic but an opportunity existed in the UK. Sullivan said the vendor was now stepping up its reseller activities to help it build market share: "We are getting resellers that are looking for the next generation of products which wrap with services."
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