PSA software market: Key capabilities, vendor differentiation

SearchITChannel (TechTarget)

...Appirio Inc., a San Francisco-based cloud services provider, has managed its business using PSA since its 2006 launch. The company, which helps clients navigate Salesforce.com andGoogle Apps implementations, built its own PSA system using Salesforce.com's Force.com platform, noted Glenn Weinstein, Appirio's chief information officer.

Weinstein said Appirio decided to create a home-grown system to track its Salesforce and Google consulting activities. Eventually, Appirio commercialized its PSA, listing it on theSalesforce AppExchange. The company then migrated from the home-built PSA to the commercial version.

Appirio sold its PSA offering to FinancialForce.com in 2011. Weinstein said the product business, which grew beyond the company's expectations, proved too much of a diversion from Appirio's cloud services core. The company continues to use the PSA software, which is now called FinancialForce PSA.

"Other than email, it is our most mission-critical system," Weinstein said.

...Appirio's Weinstein said PSA solutions, over time, have pushed forward into sales and marketing while becoming more tightly integrated into back-end financial systems. At Appirio, FinancialForce PSA ties into not only Salesforce.com, but also Workday Inc.'s financial management application...

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