SugarCRM
The enterprise has long favored Java and .Net, but PHP and other dynamic programming languages have left their infancies and are rapidly closing the gap on their more stodgy competitors. While dynamic programming languages like PHP and Python dominate Web engineering, the signs that they are breaking Java and .Net's hold on the enterprise are less clear. Forrester recently reported that PHP claims the highest instance of open source use within enterprises, at 57 percent penetration.
Located along the eastern fringes of Canada and within the frigid waters of the North Atlantic, the island of Newfoundland won’t be confused with India as a major outsourcing hotspot anytime soon. But thanks to the development of software-as-a-service (SaaS) and cloud computing, the concept of locating virtual call centers within the rural bastions of North America has become achievable, and for one SugarCRM customer, a reality.
The podcast will discuss the week's news, focusing on major issues, trends and events in the world of the enterprise. As the enterprise becomes increasingly consumer oriented, a whole new world of issues arise. The role of open source, the advent of cloud computing and the open Web will affect how business is conducted for years to come. Each week. thought leaders, analysts, technologists and executives will discuss these issues and how the week's events reflect the trends we see in the enterprise.
At SugarCRM, which makes an open source customer relationship management system by the same name, the installed base has climbed to more than 6,000 commercial customers in more than 30 countries. The company claims 60,000 system deployments. (That includes the free use of the product.) Those numbers indicate interest in commercial open source that might surprise the casual open source spectator.
The theme for SugarCon 2010 is “Evolve Your CRM.” Conference keynotes, tracks and sessions will offer practical advice on how companies can take advantage of the big trends – cloud computing, social networking and open source – impacting how companies attract and retain customers. SugarCon 2010 sponsors include Microsoft, Angel.com, DataSync, iNet Process, Knowledgetree, Pardot, Plus Consulting, Red Hat, Talend, Levementum, WebApp VM, SalesElement, SierraCRM and Zend.
SugarCRM CEO Larry Augustin said open cloud innovation will be primary focus for the new year. The company has partnered with Microsoft to provide SugarCRM applications on Windows Azure, Microsoft's cloud platform. The company also released its Community Edition on Amazon EC2, allowing developers to access, test, and develop Sugar code. Augustin said the company is starting the year with plans to "accelerate innovation in the CRM industry."
The first CRM Acceleration will take place in Sydney, Australia on February 9, followed by events in Melbourne, Australia; Mumbai and Bangalore, India, and concluding in the U.S. cities of Atlanta and Boston.
ALT-Invest announces the first integration between SugarCRM and MailChimp: SugarChimp ListSync. The module provides a much-needed solution as it allows users to sync data in SugarCRM software with the email marketing capabilities from MailChimp, an Atlanta-based technology provider.
Prior to joining SugarCRM, Coulson was vice president of business development for Parature, Inc., a privately held provider of on-demand customer service software, where he was responsible for the company’s channels, alliances and strategic partnership programs on a global basis. Previously, Coulson was senior director, business development and field operations at SAP, a publicly traded subsidiary of SAP AG, the world’s largest business software company.
2009 was very good for open-source businesses. Sure, there was the very public news of Red Hat's gravity-defying year, along with Novell's SUSE Linux business climbing each quarter, but what of the still-private open-source companies? It turns out they had much to celebrate, too. SugarCRM announced a "record year in terms of revenue, subscriptions and users, adding over 2,000 commercial customers" to bring its total customer base to over 6,000 organizations scattered across 75 different countries.
I have over fifteen years experience in systems and network configuration and support. For most of that time I have been working with Open Source Software, and believe that Open Source software provides the best solutions for business, educational and personal use.
