To: Chuzzlewit who wrote (2662 ) 10/13/1998 8:17:00 PM From: mauser96 Read Replies (2) | Respond to
Once software has been well developed enough to do almost everything users want, it becomes a commodity, but not necessarily fungible. I mentioned word processing as an example. Most packages do anything that a user could conceivably want (in fact are so full featured that they do more than most users want.)Theoretically they are equal, but despite this there is usually one or two big winners , and lots of small losers. They aren't truly fungible because while they are functionally interchangeable, they are not user interchangeable without a new learning curve. The costs of the learning curve, and the value of having the same program as others in your office insure that one company sells the most and makes the big profits. I seriously doubt that ERP has come close to reaching the degree of similarity seen in word processors or spread sheets. However, the market perception seems to be that ERP is headed in that direction and that profit margins will shrink. As you know, in the stock market, perceptions are more important than reality, at least in the short term.Message 5993702
