General Consultant Discussion

Cloud Computing Prospects are now stating they want their ERP in the cloud the same way they used to say they wanted to do bar coding. They don't know what they're asking for. Today's prospect meeting was cancelled because they wanted everything in the cloud. In looking at Sage Online, they saw that it did not include many key functions - like production tracking and control - which is what I told them. At least they followed up with an e-mail that they want to meet, but they need to figure out what they really need first. IT wants cloud and production wants their system - inhouse.

The new reality is that to some extent IT have eased their way to the driver seat.

Absolutely, @WayneSchulz ! I am just now typing an email to the IT person regarding their Sage maintenance renewal.

I thought the whole selling point of cloud was it bypassed the ""not as smart as they think they are"" internal IT department :-)

Doesn't the idea of a hosted application where the end-user maintains the license and the hosting provider maintains the infrastructure satisfy both of their needs: production tracking and control (you know, standard Sage 100 ERP features) and an environment that IT doesn't have to support (like a cloud solution)? We have an option to show and discuss if anyone is interested in scheduling a demonstration for the group.

I explained the option of subscription licensing with hosting, while knowing exactly where your data is and how it is being protected, which is the cloud with security and peace of mind. That's when they decided to meet among themselves to determine their requirements. That, of course, was the original purpose of our meeting.

Pure foolishness. And I know everyone is Cloud, Cloud, Cloud these days but most of my clients actually want on premise when push comes to shove. Yes - with CRM! Or they want a hybrid, what I would call a Private Cloud (owned software hosted by a managed partner). @WayneSchulz - I would revise your comment to say that IT has eased their way back into the driver seat. They plus accounting used to own sales processes but IT was marginalized for a while. Now they are coming back.

@PeterWolf - Agreed... cloud has its place but a hybrid solution is a more likely scenario than wholesale adaptation. Haven't we seen this movie before? ...... service bureaus and processor time-sharing of the 60's, 70's, and early 80's. When processors became affordable everyone rushed out to get one of their own!

Finally other people beginning to see what I've been saying for awhile about cloud. Just like all those clients that want RFID and how you buy an ERP application based on how well it works on a tablet (excluding traveling salesperson scenarios) Alot of people think they want cloud ERP so they have disaster recovery and know everything is protected and can run if there were a disaster. But that's like buying an expensive condo in the Caribbean to maybe use 1 day per year (average amount of down time) Better option is Hybrid Cloud Backup... Plus since it has the word 'cloud' in it, it makes IT happy (who should be careful what they wish for) Shameless plug : http://www.disaster-recovery-services.net

We are definitely in the minority. I've been saying the same thing for 5 years and not many folks are seeing it. Most believe cloud is the holy grail of IT.

I feel like the guy in denial when I speak with concern of the ominous cloud but here are the concerns I see (unless you are contracting your own hosting). Where is your data in 5 years? What management of your upgrades do you hold? How effectively can you integrate multiple cloud solutions (not to mention integrating peripheral hardware for warehouse automation)? I know some of these can be answered with a cloud solution but I can not help hearing the echoes of the average user complaining about the preannounced modifications to their facebook account and the associated pain and wonder how that is managed in a cloud business environment with a shared code set.