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Platform as a service

Pure metadata apps platforms such as this are the next mega-trend in SaaS and all enterprise software companies will need to figure out how to deal with this over the next few years in order to compete, especially at the SMB level. They enable rapid expansion into adjacent markets and beyond as well as create opportunities for long tail micro-markets that wouldn't be addressible otherwise. Such platforms in the hands of the right vendors have the capability to more quickly distribute targeted apps than ever before possible.

Salesforce is doing a great job of driving this trend forward, I am surprised they are still so far out ahead of the pack and continue to define the future of SaaS. Way to go SFDC.

However, they are not entirely alone in their vision. Platform as a service is being tackled by a few startups in new albeit very different ways. CogHead for example uses completely different concepts to build apps at the metadata level with a pure Flex UI. Intuit's QuickBase has been around for years and is probably one of the most robust on-demand app builders behind Salesforce, although sadly the company does not appear to be pumping much into it.

Rollbase is a new platform-as-a-service venture in development by former Taleo execs. LongJump is also poised to launch something relevant here.

At least one or two of these companies will do a great job at this. Meanwhile more and more enterprise vendors will join if not by choice by competitive necessity. We should see some great strategic acquisitions and perhaps new standalone companies emerge from this trend in the coming years.

Posted by: sforceuser   Posted on: 09/17/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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