Local governments aren’t businesses – so why are they force-fed business software? - Oracle’s repeated public sector failures prove a different approach is needed::Oracle’s repeated public sector failures prove a different approach is needed

  • aesthelete@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    There’s multiple companies that run this “database with a barely usable UI” as a service model, and they’re all somehow huge. They all get into the customers with some sort of sales blitz by promising the world, and then by the time you go to implement everything requires millions of dollars worth of customization. Then they wind up referring you to their “gold partners” who only charge you a half million to implement the two screens or whatever you need.

    There’s SAP, Salesforce, Oracle, and I’m sure more.

    Why do people buy this garbage?

    • pdxfed@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Inertia. Is. A. removed.

      Early mover advantage, and understanding how the public sector works…that is to say slowly. You sell a 10-year contract and it’s going to take them that long to train a user. Public sector employees don’t get enough exposure to technology and just try to survive learning how to use the awful tools they’re given, which is long outdated. The pain points creates a negative reinforcement to change, use and process improvement, all which could drive adoption of new software.

      Much like Apple, I despise Oracle but you have to acknowledge the absolute corner they have on lucrative, long-term sucker organizations. A 20-year-old with a few friends and a few months could create something more usable than PeopleSoft.