An interesting white paper came across my desk the other day. Authored by another Corporate Performance Management (CPM) provider, the paper dismisses cloud-based applications as a fad, part of a hype cycle generated by analysts, investors, and “the media.” Almost like a conspiracy theory.
The paper purports that cloud-based CPM applications are “lightweight” and designed solely to benefit institutional investors, not corporate buyers. It even goes on to draw a parallel between cloud technology and the dot.com bubble burst (a totally erroneous comparison on so many levels that would take pages to address).
Nowhere in the paper’s contents is a discussion of the kind of functionality required for true corporate performance management. Its only guidance is to counsel potential purchasers against considering any vendor offering a cloud-based Corporate Performance Management solution – period.
It’s no surprise that the company authoring the paper does not currently have a cloud-based offering, although, according to the most recent Gartner CPM research, it will have one “later in 2014”. I guess the vendor is betting that corporate buyers won’t remember this paper a few months from now.
We’ve long advised prospects NOT to make CPM selection decisions based on deployment. First and foremost, decisions should be determined by the company’s immediate and long-term business requirements, a solution’s adaptability to changing and expanding business needs, efficiency (in terms of cost, staffing, and maintenance), and ease of use. Focusing on deployment early in a selection process is – to use a tired cliché – putting the cart before the horse.
We firmly believe cloud deployment does benefit many companies, but we also know it’s not for all. That’s why we offer a range of deployment options – all with identical functionality. We want to be selected as the best fit for the business, then let them decide whether SaaS, hosted, private cloud or on-premise is the best deployment option for their IT environment. For some it means starting on-premise with the intent of moving to the cloud when they are ready.
But we also advise companies not to get sidetracked by the persuasive but often misleading myths and fear tactics that some vendors use to push prospects to the solution they want to sell them. Technology is continually evolving in ways that definitely bring a range of real benefits – from reduced TCO to more processing power to better usability. If you ignore “the new,” chances are you’ll be left behind in the dust. But be sure you do it on your terms. If a vendor tells you “cloud is the ONLY option you should consider” or that “cloud is a fad”, find yourself another vendor.
By Marco Pierallini, from: http://www.tagetik.com/blog/authors/marco-pierallini/2014-08-27-cloud#.VADLJMVdV8E