SaaS vendor quits browser to boost sales

TalkBack 15 of 15:: « Previous

Thread View
Flat View

RE: SaaS vendor quits browser to boost sales: Phil, like some other readers, although I'm interested in what Entellium has done, I can't see the link between selling a smart client and the benefits that Entellium have reported.

(FYI: I run a hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM business in the UK).

For example:
* 3x easier to close - probably can be attributed to a better looking client (but this could be a factor of the looks of their previous, browser-based client)
* Sales cycle down to 11 days - vendors don't have a sales cycle, customers have a buying cycle. If the decision maker goes on holiday then having a WPF-based client isn't going to force a decision while that person is on holiday.
* Marketing costs 82% lower - how? Does Google offer an 82% discount if your adwords are for a smart-client? Does ZDNet charge 82% less for banner ads? Do marketing agencies work for a pittance if they're freed from browser-based creative work?
* Something to download - geez, if having something to download really encouraged sales, I'd ask all my customers to download IE8 (although Microsoft CRM and salesforce.com both offer downloadable plug-ins for Outlook integration and this has no discernable impact). Please don't tell Amazon or eBay that forcing customers to download a proprietary Windows client instead of using a web browser will boost sales!

I'm looking forward to Microsoft using next gen UI technologies in 'CRM 5.0' (as they have done with Dynamics NAV 2009, although I personally hope it's Silverlight rather than WPF). And fingers-crossed they, at long last, introduce cross-platform, cross-browser support.

Thanks for declaring your Entellium stock holding, Phil. But I think the article lacked logic and a counter position, not a disclosure.

Neil
www.increasecrm.co.uk; Posted by: NeilBenson Posted on: 07/22/08 (Edited: 07/22/2008 @ 08:06) You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use