Bill Gates seems to bemoan the fact that enterprise software isn’t covered by blogs and journalists. Instead, he points out, that we like talking about consumer software.
It’s a good point, especially since business software like that from Oracle, SAP, Microsoft etc makes a TON of money.
So, why is it so?
Well, how many people in the world actually buy business software? For instance, back when I worked at NEC, a company that had more than 100,000 employees back then (more employees than work at Microsoft, actually) we used SAP. But I didn’t have any say in that matter. Some CIO somewhere else made that decision and forced us all to use SAP. That doesn’t exactly make us warm and fuzzy about the computer sitting in front of us on the desk.
But that doesn’t really explain it totally.
Instead, let’s look at the business of journalism or even of blogging. We’re paid to deliver page views. Advertisers call it “CPM” (cost per thousand viewers). Now, what’s going to get more of you interested? Consumer software that you actually have a role in adopting or purchasing or enterprise software where some CIO somewhere else in your organization decides on? I know that when I talk about enterprise software the numbers of viewers just don’t show up. So, tech bloggers quickly learn that if they talk about enterprise software they aren’t going to get many advertising impressions.
There are a variety of CIO blogs, though, I wonder which one is the best one?
Don’t feel too sad for Gates, though. He’s laughing all the way to the bank. Turns out those CIOs buy a lot of software.
Any of you have any ideas on how to make business software sexy?
I wonder what the Enterprise Irregulars think about this? (They are a group of bloggers who cover business software).
[...] Predictions for 2008 Last month Scoble ignited a debate about why enterprise software isn’t sexy. The blogging world piled on until Nicholas Carr declared it a firestorm. Despite the fact [...]
After working with ERP systems for twenty years, there’s one thing that I’ve come to realize. ERP customers (decision-makers) believe that they are unique, and their uniqueness demands that their ERP be highly configurable.
Most of the sexy software serves its purpose very well, but I think most of the sexy software requires that everyone adapt to “how it works”.
While I’m not saying that ERP can’t or shouldn’t be sexy – I think ERP may remain matronly until the demand for sexiness meets or exceeds the demand for configurability.
After working with ERP systems for twenty years, there’s one thing that I’ve come to realize. ERP customers (decision-makers) believe that they are unique, and their uniqueness demands that their ERP be highly configurable.
Most of the sexy software serves its purpose very well, but I think most of the sexy software requires that everyone adapt to “how it works”.
While I’m not saying that ERP can’t or shouldn’t be sexy – I think ERP may remain matronly until the demand for sexiness meets or exceeds the demand for configurability.
Enterprise Software and sexy – in the same sentence? Are you OK Scolbe? Its like Sushi And Ketchup..
Names – as they say – tell a lot – if not all. Lets see:
Planning Time Horizon, MM Module, GL Code Combinations, Chart of Accounts, General Ledger.. and the list goes on..
Now, lets compare that to the non-enterprise words:
Music, FREE, Video, Flickr, Bebo,Watch, Download Free.. Creative Commons, Cheap, Friends of Friends.. and .. well..
I am not saying ERP is useless – bloated -yes.. but anything but sexy
Cheers
ajay
Enterprise Software and sexy – in the same sentence? Are you OK Scolbe? Its like Sushi And Ketchup..
Names – as they say – tell a lot – if not all. Lets see:
Planning Time Horizon, MM Module, GL Code Combinations, Chart of Accounts, General Ledger.. and the list goes on..
Now, lets compare that to the non-enterprise words:
Music, FREE, Video, Flickr, Bebo,Watch, Download Free.. Creative Commons, Cheap, Friends of Friends.. and .. well..
I am not saying ERP is useless – bloated -yes.. but anything but sexy
Cheers
ajay
BTW: has anyone seen a successful ERP implementation? Ok guys be honest..
ajay
BTW: has anyone seen a successful ERP implementation? Ok guys be honest..
ajay
Robert, I don’t want sexy enterprise software, I want functional enterprise software. A great UI would be helpful, but there’s a lot more to enterprise software than a pretty face.
Also, why is BillG talking about enterprise software. At Microsoft, enterprise software is selling 500 seats of Office. Now Oracle and SAP are premier enterprise software companies. Microsoft could learn a thing or two from Oracle and SAP.
When I moved from Microsoft to Oracle, it was like moving to another planet. Oracle is what enterprise software is all about. Microsoft, well, Microsoft should stick to selling copies of Office.
And note that where Microsoft gets the most traction with their apps such as Microsoft CRM and the Dynamics line in general is with SMEs, not the G2000.
Take a look at who runs Oracle or SAP apps. Compare this list to who runs Microsoft apps. How many G2000 companies are primarily running Microsoft Dynamics?
I rest my case.
Robert, I don’t want sexy enterprise software, I want functional enterprise software. A great UI would be helpful, but there’s a lot more to enterprise software than a pretty face.
Also, why is BillG talking about enterprise software. At Microsoft, enterprise software is selling 500 seats of Office. Now Oracle and SAP are premier enterprise software companies. Microsoft could learn a thing or two from Oracle and SAP.
When I moved from Microsoft to Oracle, it was like moving to another planet. Oracle is what enterprise software is all about. Microsoft, well, Microsoft should stick to selling copies of Office.
And note that where Microsoft gets the most traction with their apps such as Microsoft CRM and the Dynamics line in general is with SMEs, not the G2000.
Take a look at who runs Oracle or SAP apps. Compare this list to who runs Microsoft apps. How many G2000 companies are primarily running Microsoft Dynamics?
I rest my case.
[...] I would have never thought to find a beautiful user experience in an enterprise application, but recently Frog Design helped ship an application called “Lawson Smart Client” powered by Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) that I think changes the game for software user experiences both in and out of the enterprise. Obviously Robert Scoble wasn’t staring at this when he asked “Why enterprise software isn’t sexy“. [...]
[...] Scoble zorgde, zoals hij veelal doet, voor wat blog-conversatie toen hij zich afvroeg waarom enterprise software niet ‘sexy’ is. Zijn mening, waar ik mee akkoord ga: Enterprise software wordt voornamelijk aangekocht door een of [...]
[...] is “sexy”. This was in response to a number of responses to Robert Scoble claiming that “Enterprise Software Isn’t Sexy” on his blog. In that post, I focused on product management as a way to understand the market – [...]
[...] There’s all sort of conclusions to be made, but I can easily start by saying to Robert Scoble that he was wrong in “Why enterprise software isn’t sexy“. [...]
[...] punti di vista c’è un bel post di Ross Mayfield che interviene in una diatriba tra Robert Scoble e Michael Krigsman un editorialista di [...]
[...] industry often contemplates the “sexy” ingredients but it’s important to focus on the values that these consumer tools provide and [...]
[...] enterprise computing. But this weekend, in reaction to comments recently made by Bill Gates, Scoble opines about why enterprise software isn’t sexy or more specifically why it doesn’t garner the attention that consumer-centric software [...]
[...] show is whatever happened to business software? The Crunchies were yet another proof that “enterprise isn’t sexy“: this was all about consumer-glitz, with a few startups who cater to businesses. That said, [...]
[...] Posted by Susan Scrupski on January 29, 2008 I spent Friday afternoon with an impressive technology crowd that gathered here in Austin from Avenue A | Razorfish. I’ve blogged many times over the past few years about how these Interactive Agencies hold the keys to the kingdom on bringing “sexyback” to the Enterprise. It’s been nearly a few months since the blog/firestorm kicked up starting with Mr. Bill (Gates) fueled by Scobleizer. [...]
[...] it looks like Scoble did it again. In his article ‘Why enterprise software isn’t sexy‘, Scoble sends a shot across the bow at Bill Gates, calling him out on whining about the lack [...]
Robert, great article. You must be the master of pot-stirring. I would submit there is a middle ground between sexy and stable…
Enterprise software does need a PR make-over. CXO’s often don’t ask their customers how they would be impacted, and I think this is a major mistake. There must be a way to give customers what they need and what they want.
I have expanded on my comments in my blog:
http://www.changeforge.com/?p=26
Keep up the great work! I always enjoy reading and listening.
Robert, great article. You must be the master of pot-stirring. I would submit there is a middle ground between sexy and stable…
Enterprise software does need a PR make-over. CXO’s often don’t ask their customers how they would be impacted, and I think this is a major mistake. There must be a way to give customers what they need and what they want.
I have expanded on my comments in my blog:
http://www.changeforge.com/?p=26
Keep up the great work! I always enjoy reading and listening.
[...] changing business communications? In “Naked Conversations,” by Robert Schoble and Shel Israel, they advocate that blogging is changing the way business approaches communications [...]
Business software and sexy don’t go hand in hand. Hell, I haven’t exactly seen many sexy female software engineers out there, so it’s kind of tough to make it translate.
Business software and sexy don’t go hand in hand. Hell, I haven’t exactly seen many sexy female software engineers out there, so it’s kind of tough to make it translate.
[...] Robert Scoble started a debate over the weekend when he wrote that enterprise software isn’t sexy. I guess Scoble struck a nerve as his post caused a frenzy in the enterprise blogsphere, and on a Sunday… [...]
[...] See the following for more information including a link to the Bill Gates interview:http://www.liveside.net/files/folders/6910/download.aspx (Download interview)http://www.liveside.net/blogs/opinion/archive/2007/12/09/bill-gates-mix-n-mash-and-the-future-of-microsoft.aspxhttp://scobleizer.com/2007/12/09/why-enterprise-software-isnt-sexy/ [...]
[...] Scoble set off a firestorm last December when he wrote Why enterprise software isn’t sexy. In that post, he observed a couple [...]
[...] the Enterprise Irregulars and created a blogging firestorm by claiming enterprise software is not sexy. He also complained that big companies foist enterprise systems on unsuspecting users: Some CIO [...]
[...] According to Michael Krigsman, he is. We discussed our thoughts on Robert’s highly controversial post last December, and through a few new posts, it appears that “Robert’s position on enterprise software has [...]
[...] face it: enterprise applications will never be cool – and that is part of the reason why small-business focused applications such as Basecamp and Xero [...]