Marc Benioff asks “Why isn’t all enterprise software like Facebook?”. And Charles Zedlewski of SAP responds a better question should be “Why isn’t all enterprise software like amazon?”
Hey, it is good that enterprise software is looking to more consumery technology for inspiration. About time enterprise software became more intuitive, did not need hefty user manuals and expensive training courses?
But can I suggest they also look at their customers and non-tech industry players for inspiration?
My book profiles the 2009 BMW 7 Series which leverages a whole bunch of ways to interface with its users – the driver and the passengers. It supports features like:
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- Lane Departure Warning, which vibrates the steering wheel if you change lanes without using the turn signals
- Navigation with all the usual features, plus a 3-D map view that enhances guidance through mountainous or hilly country.
- Hands free calling with speech recognition via the Bluetooth microphone
- Active Blind Spot Detection, which senses vehicles up to 200 ft behind and flashes on the screen and vibrates the steering wheel if you put the turn signal on
- Rear Passenger entertainment system which allows Internet access
You have to compliment BMW and others…
(Read this and other articles @ Deal Architect)
I disagree – I think bmw is exactly like enterprise software – overly complicated, expensive, non intuitive. Germans like lots of buttons, and layers of features just like enterprise software. Difference, the car is fun to dirve, and discovering what all the buttons do while your sitting board in traffic is sort of fun – trying to figure out how to use enterprise software, is not fun or productive.