http://www.crmoutsiders.com/2008/02/08/sugarcon-2008-day-3-the-sales-learning-curve/ Former analyst and journalist discuss CRM from the vendor-side Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:30:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.crmoutsiders.com/2008/02/08/sugarcon-2008-day-3-the-sales-learning-curve/comment-page-1/#comment-71 John S. Wolter Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:50:30 +0000 http://www.crmoutsiders.com/?p=142#comment-71 Open Source relies on the idea of being Open. The benefits accrue when the so called network-effect helps the software users through using the software with the likes of discussion forms. The forms have information for the users but importantly also for the developers of the Open Source software. Forms are an emotional experience, emotional is how people make choices. Emotion is part of every sale. Forms are free emotional marketing information, does this community feel like a community, can help be found in the wilderness, can I Trust these people with my business. It' always good to here the BAD, it makes you stronger. I'm trying to get at the idea that Open is a two way street in this simple forms example. Given a trusted Open Source process and community, progressing to a non-Open version may be more likely but not a sure thing. Take the example of the SugarCRM forms, I think they need more attention to give the feeling of a Trustable community. When problems are identified within the Open Source versions fast fixes or acknowledgment of a problem at a minimum builds Trust. That Trust could result in a level of Trust to sell a non-Open version or an Online service version subscription. As of now I'd say further improvements to improve Trust are need starting with the Open forms. The next item would be the User Manual. Open Source relies on the idea of being Open. The benefits accrue when the so called network-effect helps the software users through using the software with the likes of discussion forms. The forms have information for the users but importantly also for the developers of the Open Source software. Forms are an emotional experience, emotional is how people make choices. Emotion is part of every sale. Forms are free emotional marketing information, does this community feel like a community, can help be found in the wilderness, can I Trust these people with my business.
It’ always good to here the BAD, it makes you stronger. I’m trying to get at the idea that Open is a two way street in this simple forms example. Given a trusted Open Source process and community, progressing to a non-Open version may be more likely but not a sure thing. Take the example of the SugarCRM forms, I think they need more attention to give the feeling of a Trustable community. When problems are identified within the Open Source versions fast fixes or acknowledgment of a problem at a minimum builds Trust. That Trust could result in a level of Trust to sell a non-Open version or an Online service version subscription. As of now I’d say further improvements to improve Trust are need starting with the Open forms. The next item would be the User Manual.

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