"Instant Gratification of Apps"

I was at a conference recently when the CEO of a SaaS vendor threw up a slide essentially stating what customers want from his company today...."instant gratification of apps".  I love this short but simple synopsis.  This is quickly becoming the new model for both business and consumer applications.

Some attribute this desire for instant gratification to what is now referred to as the "Google Effect" or Google's simplified approach to search which is now propagating through to other, more commercial applications.  I would like to think of it as the design convergence of business and consumer application. Consumers want quick, simple applications that get to their desired state such as instant access to information, immediate purchase of goods or services, or direct connectivity to other users.

Enterprise software vendors have finally realized that those same consumers are using their business applications during the day.  Less is more and smart application companies are focusing on improving the 20% of functionality that customers actual use versus adding on to the 80% functionality that users struggle to find, understand and use.

So what does "instant gratification of apps" really mean?  Here is my 6 critical requirements:

1. Serves the need of every single enterprise user
2. Requires no training
3. Viral affect on adoption and use
4. Limited-to-no IT footprint (translation...does not require individual install and configuration of software)
5. Seamless upgrades (this assumes a more frequent upgrade cycle as well)
6. Delivers immediate value (intrinsic or otherwise)

Ironically, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, one of the most recognized venture capital firms, lists their criteria of software investment here.

Comments

[C. M. Peters]

#3 will pose the biggest headache for any software implementation. Assuring end users that your product is better and more efficient can be a daunting task. It usually takes time to run its course, something developers and marketers can't help all that much.

[Naomi Bloom]

If you mean by seamless upgrades that new releases are backward compatible as to historical entity data, reference data, business rules, workflows, etc., then I agree that your six are a very good starting point.

[Indus Khaitan]

IT footprint is one of the major areas in a large organization. If you talk to IT, their priorities are in this order:
1. Sales
2. Services & Support
3. Marketing
4. Finance
5. HR

Taking Human Resources into perspective, they are the last ones to get onto the IT radar. Thankfully, the technologies around Writable Intranet can fix ["Why the Hiring Process sucks and How Writable Intranet can fix it", read it at http://www.khaitan.org/mt/archives/000131.html ] some of the workflow and collaboration issues, easily.

Indus