Byrne Tony Byrne

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The difference between software and consultingware

10-Sep-2007

Tags: Web Content and Experience Management, Marketplace at Large, Selecting Technology

I never tire of reminding people that the Web CMS marketplace is extraordinarily fragmented, with multiple tiers of established vendors and hundreds (if not thousands) of smaller, very regionalized suppliers around the world. Many of that latter group are consulting or web development firms who are in various stages of productizing web content management applications they developed for key clients. On the good side, they often forge strong relationships with their clients and may happily modify their core software to meet your needs.

But there is a downside, as James Robertson reminds us, to firms who don't follow traditional software product development and management norms. To be sure, many large vendors also fail to effectively "standardised upgrade processes" or "full regression testing for product releases." Performing due diligence on the vendor -- and not just the technology -- is an essential part of any selection process.

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