Forrester Research grabbed some headlines on the news services this week with a report titled: "Oracle's Dilemma: Applications Unlimited Versus Oracle Fusion Applications".
In true tradition of headline grabbing reports, Forrester claims, that Oracle's customers are confused about Fusion applications and that 65% of them do not plan to upgrade.
![]()
And in true Oracle tradition, the company published a rebuttal later in the week, criticizing some of the Forrester findings, methodology and statements. No surprise. The 2nd wave of comments from bloggers is out - and I like Dennis Howlett's here and ORCLville.
But it made me think - is it such a bad thing if Oracle application customers do not know about Fusion? Only if Oracle would actively marketing, selling - in short pushing - Fusion. In this case it would be bad marketing, futile sales efforts and probably a value proposition that is challenged.
But as we all know, Oracle is not pushing Fusion. Then it's not bad thing Oracle Application customers do not know about Oracle Fusion Applications. Au contraire. Here are 5 reasons why:
![]()
MyPOV: I think the executives in 500 Oracle Parkway know what they are doing. The co-existence of 'Application Unlimited' products and Fusion products has served Oracle well. If Oracle was in dire application license revenue pressure - then Oracle would need to 'push' fusion and that message we would all hear loud and clear, rest assured.
In true tradition of headline grabbing reports, Forrester claims, that Oracle's customers are confused about Fusion applications and that 65% of them do not plan to upgrade.
And in true Oracle tradition, the company published a rebuttal later in the week, criticizing some of the Forrester findings, methodology and statements. No surprise. The 2nd wave of comments from bloggers is out - and I like Dennis Howlett's here and ORCLville.
But it made me think - is it such a bad thing if Oracle application customers do not know about Fusion? Only if Oracle would actively marketing, selling - in short pushing - Fusion. In this case it would be bad marketing, futile sales efforts and probably a value proposition that is challenged.
But as we all know, Oracle is not pushing Fusion. Then it's not bad thing Oracle Application customers do not know about Oracle Fusion Applications. Au contraire. Here are 5 reasons why:
- They are happy with their existing applications. At least happy enough to not look for alternatives to their existing application. Otherwise they would invariably know about Fusion.
- Oracle 'Applications Unlimited' program must be working. The functional enhancements and roadmaps Oracle has put out, must create enough value (or 'stickiness') to keep customers happy.
- It also seems that the support and maintenance services vs payments seem to be in balance enough for existing Oracle application customers. They are not looking for alternatives. And a certain percentage of customers using 3rd party support keeps Oracle honest.
- There is none of the typical pressure tactics to force customers to upgrade, namely to end support and maintenance for older products or older versions, which forces the installed base to upgrade or even purchase a new license (from the incumbent or a competitor). You can bet the news services and blogsphere would be all over this when it happens - rightly so.
- It's also a good thing for Oracle as it gives their product development teams enough time to enhance, mature, extend and develop the Fusion Applications. [Watch for a post on this in the near future.]
MyPOV: I think the executives in 500 Oracle Parkway know what they are doing. The co-existence of 'Application Unlimited' products and Fusion products has served Oracle well. If Oracle was in dire application license revenue pressure - then Oracle would need to 'push' fusion and that message we would all hear loud and clear, rest assured.