SaaS ERP Has Buzz, But Who Are the Real Players?

CIO - SaaS ERP: It's what Aberdeen Research, in 2007, called the "Last Bastion of Resistance to SaaS."

Much has changed since then, including the number of vendors that offer their own flavor of SaaS (or on-demand) ERP packages. But as is the case with nearly every technology du jour, sometimes it's hard to pin down a vendor on just what exactly it is they offer and if that product actually qualifies as, say, SaaS ERP.

In a recent report, Aberdeen VP of research development and ERP expert Cindy Jutras lists nine SaaS ERP vendors in business today, noting that the number grew from six in 2008 to nine in 2009. "While the options are still relatively limited," she writes, "they are expanding."

Here is Jutras's list (in alphabetical order):

Activant: ERP for distribution available as both SaaS and on-premise.

Epicor 9: Broad solution across many verticals, available as both SaaS and on-premise.

Everest Software Available as both SaaS and on-premise.

Glovia On Demand: Glovia's solutions are also available as both SaaS and on-premise.

Infor Syteline: Available as both SaaS and on-premise.

NetSuite: Available only in SaaS environment; targets non-manufacturing and light manufacturing companies.

Plex Systems: Available only in a SaaS environment; extends beyond traditional ERP, targeting manufacturers.

QAD: Available as SaaS, on-premise, and preconfigured on a hardware appliance and managed remotely.

SAP: Business ByDesign is available exclusively as SaaS but not yet generally available.

(For a completely different take on ERP vendors' names, including Epicor, NetSuite and SAP, see Rating ERP Vendor Names: Good, Bad and the Ugly.)

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