Dell launches cloud-based business applications

According to Steve Felice, president of Dell's SME business unit, key benefits include: easy and affordable integration with existing software; integrated best-of-breed cloud applications tested and backed by Dell; and real-time online analytics and reporting. Accessible SaaS applications already available are an initial Dell CRM offering and salesforce.com – although the computing firm says it will provide additional SaaS applications "for marketing, accounting and other functions" next year. As for integration, Felice explains that Dell Boomi is the piece that links cloud applications with users' existing on-premise or cloud software – meaning that previous software investments and existing business processes need not be affected. Then on the real-time business visibility and analytics side, he says that Dell will provide one unified window into business performance across multiple functions, via "robust, intuitive cross-application dashboards and reports delivered as a cloud service". "Dell Cloud Business Applications is a perfect example of how Dell is delivering technology solutions – in this case SaaS – that increase productivity and the return on investment our customers' demand in today's tough economy," states Felice.