Using an ex-Salesforce.com exec as a lead, Red Herring writer Eydie Cubarrubia offers the following quote:
“There’s still that sense that you want to physically own software—it’s like CDs versus iTunes,†said Don Williams of BDO International, an international accountancy group that refuses to work with SaaS vendors.
Followed by:
Burton Group analyst Lyn Robison…says some businesses just aren’t suited to SaaS. The accounting sector, for example, has well-established business practices, so there’s enough off-the-shelf software to meet all needs.
Here’s a few facts:
- BDO has 32 offices using Twinfield an online accounting system
- FreshBooks has 150,000+ registered users – the number has more than doubled in about 9 months
- Winweb has more than 130,000 registered users – that’s x20 in about 15 months
- Intuit has a deal with Google that sees integration to QuickBooks Online service
- I recently heard Steve Ballmer commit to online services for the Dynamics range in front of around 4,000 people. It’s in development.
- SAP has online services in the works
- A very significant minority of Sage users are ‘seriously interested’ in SaaS (or webware if you prefer)
In the last week, I have received 4 calls requesting my opinion about developing online accounting services.
I agree there are questions that rightfully wary potential customers might wish to raise. But none of that can hide the fact that online accounting is coming. Perhaps not the way people expect it. But it is coming.
PS: A good friend contacted me with: “I bet you call this lot as a**holes.” Said person lost the wager. Inhabitants of planet Zog more like.
Technorati Tags: FreshBooks, Microsoft Business Solutions/Dynamics, QuickBooks Onnline Edition, Sage software
