Who Will Be the Next VisiCalc?
I found a really interesting tool called MyOwnDB. It is a web-based, multi-user database that does not store data locally. Instead, all information is stored on a remote server, based on Amazon’s Simple Storage Service (S3) infrastructure. You can access the information from any web browser and you don’t need any drivers to access the information (my guess is that access via web services won’t be out of the question in the future). While MyOwnDB is clearly not an enterprise-ready tool, I think it gives a great indication of where things may be heading in the medium- to long-term.
Most of the data tools (databases, ETL, etc.) on the market are very powerful and very mature. For many years, they had a value proposition that was very difficult to beat. However, recently we have seen a real emergence both of open source tools, truly disruptive innovations in that market. All of the sudden software is free. How can you compete directly with that?
I say, you don’t. Instead, disrupt things yet again. A well-run web service (like Salesforce.com, DoubleClick or even Google Calendar) can be even cheaper than a free software license, as it radically reduces the cost and effort of supporting things internally. The emergence of S3 and utilities like it will only make web businesses cheaper and accellerate the acceptance of using web tools for core business functions. Couple this with the high cost of maintaining data-related systems (DB, ETL, BI, etc.) and I think we are on to something.
July 20th, 2006 at 7:24 am
Boy I like this topic. Great article. We have developed a Software as a Service platform for Enterprise Data Warehousing that encompases from the source to the view. The challenge always was if you build it will they come.
The other item you get by using a well-run web service is some best in class experience and infrastructure that you would never be able to get as a smaller organization or an organization expirementing with the chosen application or technology.
I think more of these web based apps like dabbleDB will open doors where there were non for people as well as push the encumbents to a new level.
July 20th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Stephen,
I hadn’t really thought of it that way. A lot of times I am really leery of the “best practices” movement, as that normally just translates to “do things my way and don’t ask questions.” However, if things are malleable enough (like with web services) then you really have the best of both worlds, access and flexibility.
Morgan
July 20th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
[…] I think that this is solid recognition that data as a service is not only possible, but probably for the enterprise. Also, a nice move by Informatica to keep its products towards the leading edge. At the same time, I wonder if we are trying to teach an old dog new tricks. After all, Cast Iron Systems sells EAI appliances that are also integrated with Salesforce.com. Probably not, as the really profitable customers of ETL tool vendors are probably not the same ones looking at appliances. […]
August 21st, 2006 at 5:41 pm
[…] Putting on my prediction hat, I would say on the back-end of the information architecture web 2.0 will have an impact similiar to that of Linux. That is, it will displace some really expensive, customized solutions, free up resources for real innovation, and push everyone forward about 10 years at no cost. You see, the really interesting thing that web 2.0 applications do for the enterprise is to dramatically reduce costs for existing processes. For next-generation tools like Basecamp you don’t need hardware, software, drivers, or an administrator. You need an intern and a scripting language. As a long-time ETL guy, I have to say that is huge. It strips away all the barnacles of the information architecture, leaving only the actual work that needs to be done. […]
August 22nd, 2006 at 7:34 pm
For enterprises, doesn’t the data still need to be managed somewhere and by someone? For consumer oriented tools, I buy that this issue is of less concern. But what about for enterprises? And aren’t things like Salesforce.com just software as a service? A new way of offering hosted software? But even then, they need to manage all of that data somewhere. And larger organizations are going to want to manage and control their own data. So isn’t web 2.0 for the enterprise really about providing some thin veneer to hide the complexity of the underlying enterprise systems…which still need to exist though?
August 23rd, 2006 at 4:05 am
Marc,
Good point. I think that for very large enterprises that these tools are going to be a stretch, and for any size organization you are still going to need people to integrate it all. However, over time I think the “stretch” is going to become less and less until it joins the mainstream.