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Dell SMB Cloud Strategy: Dell Cloud Business Applications steps into the Promised Land
Announcement
Dell just announced its full intention to assist SMBs with their Cloud Computing adoption by launching Dell Cloud Business Applications, a family of integrated SaaS applications with cross-application cloud analytics supported by end-to-end Dell services specifically for SMBs.
Key benefits include easy and affordable integration with existing software; integrated best-of-breed cloud applications selected, tested and backed by Dell; and real-time online analytics and reporting across multiple business functions. Dell Cloud Business applications can solve the top pain points cited by SMB customers contemplating a move to the cloud:
- Integrating applications is expensive
- Out of the box reports are insufficient
- Moving to cloud is harder than it seems.
The total solution announced by Dell includes:
In addition, Dell’s Cloud Business Applications will be delivered through a Dell-branded cloud service complete with business grade single sign-on and security.
First such SaaS application being made available by Dell is Salesforce.com. By re-selling Salesforce's CRM offerings to its existing base of SMB customers, Dell would increase its revenues while Salesforce.com could potentially expand its available market at a lower cost
than it would on its own.
Significance of the Announcement
The announcement is significant in more than one respect. Besides taking the guesswork out for SMBs on what applications to use in the cloud, the ability to integrate across applications both in-house and SaaS as well as real-time business analytics across the
entire business is really important.
Cloud Computing has become an all pervasive terminology promising the holy grail of quick start up and low costs allowing small businesses to focus on their core competencies. We have to pause and think about the reality and outcome in five years. As SMBs increasingly adopt cloud computing and reach a new level of complexity, the very technology that had a low start-up cost for them may become too complex and expensive.
While there are many different reasons for such complexity but the two that stand out are the Complexities in Application Usage and Intricacies in
Data Integration.
Dell’s Cloud Business Applications addresses Complexity Issue Head-on
A recent Techaisle survey showed that while the average number of fee-based applications/services being used has largely remained the same over the last three years, the maximum number of applications being used has shown steady growth.
For example, for US SMBs, that number now stands at 11 applications. This increases the complexity of usage of applications in terms of: different vendors, different billing, different sign-ons and above all inability to exchange data easily.
Dell aims to provide best of breed applications to the SMBs, largely helping them to make decisions on their behalf. Cloud Business Solutions directly speaks to typical SMB questions:
Dell offerings also provide complete transparency to its SMB customers with regards to all associated costs and monthly single billing.
Dell Boomi – SMB SaaS Data Integration Made easy
As Cloud computing adoption among SMBs grows, the real issue of data integration will come into play. As we see it, there are clearly four stacks of Cloud offerings and it will become imperative for each stack to communicate with the other stack. And with increasing usage of number of SaaS applications following questions become relevant with no easy answers:
Dell Boomi addresses above questions at an affordable price point for SMBs.
While there are many niche vendors addressing each niche area, the complexity grows manifold as businesses move from one application to another, from one device to multiple devices.
One of the last things that SMBs need is a high-cost of application data integration, a cost that may become higher than the applications they are using. SMBs do not have the time or the budget for such integrations. It is a given that SMBs will continue to work in a hybrid environment with both desktop software and cloud based applications in simultaneous use.
In order to achieve data integration, ensure security and compliance and guarantee multiple device access, Dell’s integration and analytics capabilities built into its Cloud Business Application solutions will provide multiple specializations to an SMB. These very well thought out specializations and roles are:
- Consultants/Business Process analysts, advising on which cloud computing solutions to use
- Developers and Integrators, helping businesses achieve data integration
- Cloud Governance marshals, advising and auditing security and governance issues
- Data Aggregators, specializing in aggregating both internal and external data and making it actionable to businesses through the use of business intelligence applications
A good day for Dell and a good announcement for SMBs. Dell has to get the word out and not only make it a success in the US but also begin its gradual roll-out across geographies. And it cannot leave its channel partners behind. Dell cannot underestimate the usefulness of channels, more so in the emerging markets than the mature markets.
Anurag Agrawal
Techaisle
Dell just announced its full intention to assist SMBs with their Cloud Computing adoption by launching Dell Cloud Business Applications, a family of integrated SaaS applications with cross-application cloud analytics supported by end-to-end Dell services specifically for SMBs.
Key benefits include easy and affordable integration with existing software; integrated best-of-breed cloud applications selected, tested and backed by Dell; and real-time online analytics and reporting across multiple business functions. Dell Cloud Business applications can solve the top pain points cited by SMB customers contemplating a move to the cloud:
- Integrating applications is expensive
- Out of the box reports are insufficient
- Moving to cloud is harder than it seems.
The total solution announced by Dell includes:
- Access to Leading SaaS Applications (initially starting with Salesforce.com)
- Integration with Existing Software (through Dell Boomi)
- Real-time Business Visibility and Analytics
- Comprehensive Services
In addition, Dell’s Cloud Business Applications will be delivered through a Dell-branded cloud service complete with business grade single sign-on and security.
First such SaaS application being made available by Dell is Salesforce.com. By re-selling Salesforce's CRM offerings to its existing base of SMB customers, Dell would increase its revenues while Salesforce.com could potentially expand its available market at a lower cost
than it would on its own.
Significance of the Announcement
The announcement is significant in more than one respect. Besides taking the guesswork out for SMBs on what applications to use in the cloud, the ability to integrate across applications both in-house and SaaS as well as real-time business analytics across the
entire business is really important.
Cloud Computing has become an all pervasive terminology promising the holy grail of quick start up and low costs allowing small businesses to focus on their core competencies. We have to pause and think about the reality and outcome in five years. As SMBs increasingly adopt cloud computing and reach a new level of complexity, the very technology that had a low start-up cost for them may become too complex and expensive.
While there are many different reasons for such complexity but the two that stand out are the Complexities in Application Usage and Intricacies in
Data Integration.
Dell’s Cloud Business Applications addresses Complexity Issue Head-on
A recent Techaisle survey showed that while the average number of fee-based applications/services being used has largely remained the same over the last three years, the maximum number of applications being used has shown steady growth.
For example, for US SMBs, that number now stands at 11 applications. This increases the complexity of usage of applications in terms of: different vendors, different billing, different sign-ons and above all inability to exchange data easily.
Dell aims to provide best of breed applications to the SMBs, largely helping them to make decisions on their behalf. Cloud Business Solutions directly speaks to typical SMB questions:
- What can I move to the cloud?
- What solutions are best for my business?
- How will I transfer my data to the cloud?
- Who will train my employees?
- What will be my cost?
- If I move from a Capex to an expense situation as far as my IT investments are concerned, what will be the impact on my financial health?
- How does it affect my cash flow, profitability, etc.?
Dell offerings also provide complete transparency to its SMB customers with regards to all associated costs and monthly single billing.
Dell Boomi – SMB SaaS Data Integration Made easy
As Cloud computing adoption among SMBs grows, the real issue of data integration will come into play. As we see it, there are clearly four stacks of Cloud offerings and it will become imperative for each stack to communicate with the other stack. And with increasing usage of number of SaaS applications following questions become relevant with no easy answers:
- How do I move my data and information across applications?
- How do I have a single sign-on?
- How do I change vendors?
- Will I be able to change vendors?
- How do I migrate my data?
- I like applications from two different providers and I want to run them both but will they interact?
Dell Boomi addresses above questions at an affordable price point for SMBs.
While there are many niche vendors addressing each niche area, the complexity grows manifold as businesses move from one application to another, from one device to multiple devices.
One of the last things that SMBs need is a high-cost of application data integration, a cost that may become higher than the applications they are using. SMBs do not have the time or the budget for such integrations. It is a given that SMBs will continue to work in a hybrid environment with both desktop software and cloud based applications in simultaneous use.
In order to achieve data integration, ensure security and compliance and guarantee multiple device access, Dell’s integration and analytics capabilities built into its Cloud Business Application solutions will provide multiple specializations to an SMB. These very well thought out specializations and roles are:
- Consultants/Business Process analysts, advising on which cloud computing solutions to use
- Developers and Integrators, helping businesses achieve data integration
- Cloud Governance marshals, advising and auditing security and governance issues
- Data Aggregators, specializing in aggregating both internal and external data and making it actionable to businesses through the use of business intelligence applications
A good day for Dell and a good announcement for SMBs. Dell has to get the word out and not only make it a success in the US but also begin its gradual roll-out across geographies. And it cannot leave its channel partners behind. Dell cannot underestimate the usefulness of channels, more so in the emerging markets than the mature markets.
Anurag Agrawal
Techaisle
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