When it comes to the software-as-a-service (SaaS) market, Stanford graduate Zach Nelson is the smartest guy in the room, as well as one of the most experienced. Perhaps you recognize him, as InternetNews.com did, as one of the Top 10 Visionary CEOs of 2008. Or as CRM Magazine did in 2006 when they named him a CRM Influential Leader. You may not have realized that he was the one who promoted and popularized mainstays of the IT industry, such as the McAfee.com portal or the Sun Solaris operating system, before becoming my youngest-ever VP of Marketing at Oracle. Our paths would cross again when NetSuite – called NetLedger at the time – needed a CEO to take it out of the incubator and into the battlefield.
Zach joined NetSuite in 2002, a rough time for software vendors of all stripes. Through a period when weaker software companies have had to sell out or close up shop, his leadership has made NetSuite a growing, thriving success—a company that is defining the shape and direction of SaaS and the “one system” model for running an entire business. Zach is flashy when it's right to be flashy, incisive when it's necessary to be incisive, but focused on the needs of his employees and his customers above all else. In short, I respect Zach Nelson's capabilities so much that I hired him twice. You can't say that about many people.
Larry Ellison is Chief Executive Officer, Oracle Corporation
The risks of cloud computing have been completely turned on their head in the past year. Previously, businesses were wary of the cloud due to issues like security and reliability. Now, with cloud vendors having pushed beyond those obstacles, the risk is waiting too long. Many businesses are learning the hard way that the cloud is a competitive advantage for those who aggressively embrace it, but a distinct competitive impediment for those who sit on the sidelines.
NetSuite CEO Zach Nelson describes challenges businesses face running core applications on-premise, and many of the advantages derived by running on NetSuite's cloud.
The Cloud makes it economical to deliver business management software to the "Fortune 5 Million"-mid-sized companies between 10 and 1,000 employees. But it doesn't solve the problem of integrating the various applications these enterprises use to run their businesses. Software suites do - and even better, they offer the best platform for developing new industry-specific applications targeting a variety of vertical markets. But how do you pick the right one? Zach Nelson, CEO at NetSuite, a leading on-demand business software provider, shares his ideas about how software developers can capitalize on the last great market for new business applications.
The CEO of NetSuite, Zach Nelson, discusses how using cloud-based application technologies has revolutionized private sector business technology infrastructure and can do the same for government based systems.
Thought Leaders give insights into the SaaS Industry. Steve O'Deegan, Managing Partner at The Laurel Group Byron Deeter, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners Bob Moul, CEO at Boomi John Girard, CEO at Clickability Adam Miller, CEO at Cornerstone On Demand Michael Braun, CEO at Intacct Lyle Fong, CEO & Co Founder at Lithium Technologies Maynard Webb, Chairman & CEO at LiveOps, Inc Zach Nelson, CEO at NetSuite Gordon Ritter, General Partner at Emergence Capital Partners Brian Jacobs, General Partner at Emergence Capital Partners Josh James, President & CEO at Omniture Mark Gorenberg, Managing Director at Hummer Winblad Venture Partners Kevin McClelland, Managing Director at JMP Securities Quentin Gallivan, CEO at PivotLink Tien Tzuo, Founder & CEO at Zuora
NetSuite's CEO talks about how the NS-BOS development platform is an application unlike Force.com's database and how Daston DCAA built an On-Demand solution for government contractors using NetSuite.
As the market for on-demand and SaaS products takes off, it is critical to recognize what characteristics will distinguish the next generation of leading vendors.
A top-notch IT infrastructure is essential for any business to be competitive. Get an expert's take on how with a little planning and foresight, it's now possible to appear big while paying little.
SMBs have finally embraced Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and customer relationship management has been the leading application service they're turning to. CRM might have actually help prove the value of SaaS. Zach Nelson, CEO of SaaS pioneer Netsuite, talks about the dark days of SaaS, the turning point in bringing it back from the brink, and why SMDs should be jumping in with both feet to grow their businesses.
As the market for on-demand and SaaS products takes off, it is critical to recognize what characteristics will distinguish the next generation of leading vendors.
In this installment of the Voices of CRM podcast series, Zach Nelson talks about NetSuite's beginnings, the CRM market and the importance of integration between ERP, CRM and e-commerce systems. Nelson also discusses how NetSuite's CRM approach differs from Salesforce.com, RightNow, SAP and Siebel.
It is functionality, not channel, which sells customers - and more importantly to those of us who have built our business on this subscription model, keeps customers. People buy software to solve their business problems, not because it is trendy.
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