Interprise and ERP Software Ideas
Interprise Suite announced that a group of private investors from Taylor Corporation (which acquired Interprise in 2008) will acquire the company. Along with the acquisition comes a reduction in force, relocation and reshuffling of resources, and modification of support which could cause delays in technical support during the transition week. Interprise was attempting to build a low-end ERP solution for price conscious customers.
Is this a new beginning, or the beginning of the end?
ERP Software Competitors
Currently Interprise competes against QuickBooks for the low-end market. Interprise has many modules, but the functionality is very basic. For example, there is an inventory module, but companies that want to manage inventory by serial numbers and track lots need to upgrade to mid-market systems. Competing with QuickBooks for the low end is going to be difficult, if not impossible.
Client-Server ERP Technology
Interprise relies upon client-server technology which takes advantage of web services. They have built a smart client that is installed on all user machines. The smart client essentially acts as a web-browser with access to all computer resources. According to the Interprise web site, the smart client improves scalability because it has access to all of the resources of the client machine. Although this might be good for 1 and 2 user systems, most mid-market companies want centralized control of their ERP data which makes it difficult for the company to go up market.
Many players are trying to move away from client-server technology to facilitate faster installation and lower maintenance costs. Vendors benefit from thin-client/browser because it reduces the number of resources required to develop and test multiple client environments. A pure web-based solution can handle Windows clients, Mac clients, iPhones, and anything else with a browser without significant efforts.
Partner Efforts
Interprise is 100% channel driven. VARs provide customization, support, installation, and configuration of systems. However, the channel needs customers that can afford consulting fees, not customers looking for discounts on out of the box products.
There are sales partners which can help distribute solutions and install software, but these partners require a large volume of deals since the average cost of sale is so small. Mid-market partners are likely going to stay with mid-market vendors.
I have personally used IS. The comment “Is this a new beginning, or the beginning of the end?” it has always been the end for this app. Every group has failed to deliver quality and service which ERP customers demand. Stay away. they have been promising a stability and basic features for 3 years now and they never have delivered.
stay away