Rivals snipe as Peoplesoft launches Web-enabled CRM package
- Posted:
- 16:16 06 Jun 2001
- Topics:
- Customer Management
The company claims its new customer relationship management (CRM) package is the one of the company's most significant releases to date.
But analysts are saying that an impressive architecture masks poor functionality in key areas.
"In terms of architecture I think they have really made a great step forward, especially compared to other products in that area," said Gaby Dobenecker, program director at analyst organisation Meta Group. "But there is a big lack of support for all mobile users," he added.
PeopleSoft said CRM8 is the first CRM solution to run entirely on the Internet and that users can access the suite from any browser-enabled device anywhere in the world, without the need to download any software.
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Competitors, including Siebel and Oracle, have rejected the claim that PeopleSoft is first to market.
"They're playing catch-up," said Oracle director of product marketing Stephen Millard, who claimed PeopleSoft has taken an easy option to get its Internet-based product to market.
"They've gone down the simplest route and used HTML, but it won't provide the support users want," he said. "For intensive internal employee facing activity, you need Java for the functionality."
Phil Robinson, vice president of marketing at Siebel, said PeopleSoft lacked sales support, a point shared by Meta's Dobenecker.
PeopleSoft is unconcerned by the criticism, "This is a very important announcement," said Charles Grover, director of CRM at PeopleSoft. "We basically aim to maintain our second position in the market [with this product]."
The company has spent some $500m (£358m) on research and development for PeopleSoft 8, and more than 1,500 developers have worked on the project.
The company integrated code it acquired as a result of it acquisition of Vantive in 1999 to provide new business analytics within 8 CRM.
PeopleSoft 8 CRM will be available on general release from June 29.
Emma Nash
