Salesforce.com talks up web-based enterprise software

Salesforce.com chief executive Mark Benioff yesterday unveiled the company's Winter 2006 release, claiming that web-based enterprise software is catching up with hosted consumer applications such as Google.

"The consumer web is really where all the action has been," Benioff said at a launch event in San Francisco. He pointed to services including eBay, Google and Apple's iTunes Music Store as examples of successful online applications.

"If it's so easy to get books or music online, how can we deliver that same level of business automation?" he asked.

The latest Salesforce release allows developers to create customised applications that tie in with the software.

Enterprises can build their own software or use free or commercial tools from third-party developers through a web browser similar to the way users access Salesforce.com's CRM software.

Benioff demonstrated plug-ins from partners including Adobe and Skype. The Adobe software allows users to create and send PDFs, while the Skype application lets firms place VoIP calls to partners or customers listed in the Salesforce address book and adds online presence information for other Skype users.

Another tool ties Google Maps into the application, giving users a way to show a map of sales leads. 

Salesforce.com first unveiled its online application platform in April last year. The company hosts the applications free of charge, but users are required to sign up for the service and pay a monthly user fee.

All available applications will be listed on Salesforce.com's newly developed AppExchange. An online application platform like AppExchange is the inevitable next step for the internet, according to Tom Kucharvy, a president at analyst firm Summit Strategies. 

"Salesforce.com is a clear leader in understanding the ecosystem and putting in the foundation," he told vnunet.com. 

But Kucharvy warned that other major IT players, such as Microsoft, Google, IBM, Oracle and SAP, are likely to follow Salesforce.com's lead with competing offerings.
Given the large developer communities and the number of partners that these competitors will be able to gather, Salesforce.com will have to work hard to create a compelling platform by showing a large consistent customer growth, said Kucharvy.