We are publishing recent vendor highlights on the SMB Group web site. As time permits, we discuss our key take-aways from more interesting briefings. I will try to remember to post them here as well. Here is the most recent one. Highlights: In May of this year, I
Tag: cloud
IBM’s Cast Iron Acquisition (6-17-10)
Highlights: In May of this year, IBM acquired Cast Iron Systems (for an undisclosed sum) to help customers more effectively tackle the challenges of integrating cloud and on-premise solutions. Cast Iron, which was founded in 2001 and has 75 employees, provides ...
There’s an App Store for That!
App stores focused on the needs of small and medium businesses (SMBs) seem to be proliferating quickly as cloud computing takes off. As discussed in “What is an App Store, and Why Should You Care,” a marquee SMB vendor, such as Google or Intuit typically builds the app sto...
What is Hybrid Computing, and Why Should You Care?
(Originally published on June 9, 2010, in Small Business Computing) What is Hybrid Computing? A hybrid computing platform lets customers connect the packaged small business software applications that they run on their own internal desktops or servers to applications that run in the cloud. As discussed in
What Does Cloud Computing Mean for the Channel? Presentation at Sage Insights 2010
What Does Cloud Computing Mean for the Channel? Last week I attended 2010 Sage Insights, Sage Software's annual partner conference, and had the opportunity to present
Acumatica’s Best of Both Worlds ERP Story
Just want to let you know that we are publishing highlights from recent vendor briefings on the SMB Group web site. As time permits, we discuss our takeaways from the more interesting briefings. I'll try to remember to post them here as well....
Does Your SMB Marketing Message Need a Makeover? Seven Questions to Ask
Countless technology vendors are targeting the increasingly coveted yet still somewhat elusive small and medium business (SMB) market. We do our share of message testing and market strategy work with them, and attend innumerable briefings from other vendors aiming to make their mark in this crowded space. All too often, we see some warning signs that indicate gaps a vendor hasn’t created a str...
What Is an App Store, and Why Should You Care?
(Originally published on April 8, 2010, in Small Business Computing) An app store can offer a lot more than just mobile apps. Essentially, it is a Web site that aggregates software solutions for business or personal use. App stores, also known as an applications marketplaces, are typica...
Dell 2.0: Top Takeaways from Dell’s Virtual Era Event
A couple of weeks ago, I attended Dell’s Solutions for a Virtual Era analyst and press event in San Francisco. At the event, Dell unveiled its new strategy to help companies more readily and easily provision ...
SAP Aims for SME
I dialed into SAP’s SME (small and medium enterprises) Global Business Update Call a couple of weeks ago. Jeff Stiles, SVP, SME, Volume & Ecosystem Marketing, provided analysts a recap of recent SAP SME highlights, and shared strategic directions for 2010. I’ve been following SAP in the SME market since it acquired TopManage (which later become SAP Business One) in 2002, so I’m always inter...