OAuth Beginning to Rock the World
OAuth, or Open Authentication is “an open protocol to allow secure API authorization in a simple and standard method from desktop and web applications”. Basically it’s a way to allow one web application to utilize another without the need for users to worry about pesky authentication keys or the like. It also allows for data [...]
Zoho Invoice Frees Its Own Data
I’ve often talked about my personal desire for accounting software to emerge from it’s constrained place within either a desktop app or a SaaS dashboard and to be exposed where, and when, a user wants it to be. Earlier this year I was very positive about Youcalc, in part because it gives businesses the ability [...]
Your Business Cloud – Holy Grail Anyone?
I’m a cloud evangelist from what I believe is a totally pragmatic perspective – I believe the cloud in general, and SaaS in particular, deliver significant added value merely by virtue of the fact that they’re connected, connectable and able to leverage aggregate knowledge. I’m not however completely dogmatic. While I understand the arguments for [...]
Pastel My Business Online – Review
Accounting 2.0 at CloudAve In an ongoing series of reviews and analysis pieces, CloudAve will be taking a deep look into accounting software for the new world. See the other posts at this tag Introduction & Background SoftlinePastel is a South African software house owned by Sage PLC. Pastel was founded in 1990 by Steve [...]
Software+Services…. Intuit Bets that Desktop Software Ain’t Dead Yet
Considering CloudAve’s core thesis is the move to cloud computing, and given this authors penchant for cloud applications, one would have thought any development in the desktop software space would be dismissed. The truth is somewhat different however. I’m a major user of web apps but I’ve also got installed software on my machines – [...]
SaaS and Coffee – They’re Both All About Granularity
It seems fitting for a morning post to include coffee themes – no doubt many are reading this post with a brew in hand, and in that spirit I’ll admit that I’m writing it with a supreme C4 Coffee long black sitting next to me. Xero (disclosure – Xero is a past client) announced yesterday [...]
IntuMint – What an Intuit Owned Mint Could Mean
Image via CrunchBase Wow… exciting. Eagle eyed CloudAve stalwart Krishnan posted about the reported purchase of Mint.com by Intuit (disclosure – the Intuit Partner Platform is a consulting client but I had absolutely no previous knowledge of this deal nor any insight into Intuit’s plans). Many of us in the SaaS and personal/business finance software [...]
Finding the Hub – A Common Data Model
A couple of weeks ago I roused myself at 1:30am to moderate a radio show in my ongoing series for VoiceAmerica “Kepes in the Clouds”. This time I had the pleasure of speaking with Sunir Shah, Chief Handshaker from FreshBooks, and Alex Chriss, Business Lead for the Intuit Partner Platform (disclosure – the IPP is [...]
The Challenge of Offline Saas Revisited
Paul Michaud wrote a post here a couple of days ago on the challenge of allowing offline usage in a Saas based system. In his comprehensive discussion, he used the example of a Saas based contact management system and the complexities involved in allowing users to take their data, manipulate it offline, and then synchronise [...]
30 Days With Xero
Yes, we have finally done it! After approximately 2 years of to-ing and fro-ing, we have moved our business accounting system to a fully Cloud based service. In this instance, we have chosen to go with Xero Accounting after evaluating a few online options. Ben Kepes has already done a review of Xero on this [...]
On Pricing, Demand and Critical Mass
Recently I received a press release from SaaS accounting vendor e-conomic (CloudAve review here) announcing the release of a new pricing structure. Their various pricing plans are dropping by a few pounds a month. Meanwhile they’ve increased the maximum transaction number to allow more companies to work within their small business plan. Commenting on the [...]
Finding the Magic Penny, Intuit Partner Platform Goes OpenSource
Aroha is love if you give it away, give it away, give it away Aroha is love if you give it away, ‘cos it comes right back to you. It’s just like a magic penny, hold on tight and you won’t get any Lend it, spend it, give it away, and it comes right back [...]
KashFlow Scores SE Asia and Moves Locations
Lots of exciting news for KashFlow this week – a shift of location and a new partnership. Firstly they’re announcing a shift from Essex to London (that’s in England for the US readers ), at the same time they’ve appointed two new directors to the board. Lord Young, (yes, that’s a real Lord) a major [...]
Installed Apps for SaaS Vendors
I’ve never been a fan of dogma – I’ll be the first to admit that I use some installed applications where I deem it necessary, this despite being an evangelist for all things cloud-y. I’m a solution focused kind of a guy and if an installed app fulfils my needs, I’ll use it. There’s nothing [...]
Leveraging Platforms
Disclosure – I was assisted in attending the recent Enteprise 2.0 conference in Boston by Intuit – however, while they are mentioned in the post, this is not a look at Intuit in particular, rather generally at platform plays. After spending time talking to Intuit about it’s Partner Platform a few weeks ago, and getting [...]
