Strategy
On-demand applications have changed the dynamic between IT and business functions forever.
Historically, IT has led the process of selecting and implementing software applications. But today, operational departments such as sales, marketing, technical support, and human resources are selecting on-demand applications such as salesforce.com, Google Enterprise, and SuccessFactors - often going around IT to get them implemented. Business users believe on-demand applications are easier to use because they require nothing more than a web browser to use and even to administer and maintain. Business leaders believe on-demand is easier to implement, and easier to manage and control. However, in the long run, avoiding IT does not serve the best interests of the enterprise.
Appirio believes that IT organizations need to embrace the empowerment that on-demand technology provides to the business, in order to avoid a new generation of stovepipes. At Appirio, we speak the language of both business and IT people. We work to bridge traditional gaps so that on-demand solutions bring both business value and new levels of collaboration to your organization.
"CIO's are coming around to the reality that SaaS-based applications can benefit most departments within their organizations. Many Web 2.0 tools are moving too quickly for IT to support in a traditional manner, yet the CIO and the team have a role to play as customer data is shared and analyzed."
Triple Tree: Sales, Marketing and Service Convergence Report, Q3 2007
