Stories by Marc L. Songini

SAP upgrades flagship ERP suite

SAP Tuesday unveiled an upgraded version of its flagship ERP suite that boosts corporate training capabilities, and adds features targeted specifically at the utility, telecommunications and retail industries.

RFID won't deliver, says wireless expert

If you haven't yet developed a radio frequency identification (RFID) technology strategy, don't rush.

New program boosting Wal-Mart's online fortunes

Wal-Mart Stores last week announced that its three-month-old program that lets customers order products online and pick them up at its brick-and-mortar stores has been spread to 3,300 stores in the U.S.

Salesforce.com dismisses Microsoft hosted CRM effort

Executives from hosted CRM pioneer Salesforce.com are shrugging off Microsoft's belated entry into its core business.

MS WPC - Microsoft finally launches hosted CRM offering

Years after nimble upstarts like Salesforce.com broke ground in the on-demand CRM business, Microsoft is finally set to launch its own, much anticipated hosted offering Tuesday at its Worldwide Partner Conference in Denver.

E-tailers failing in worldwide Web marketing efforts

The expansion of the Internet has in fact not made the world flat for global e-tailing giants, as author Thomas Friedman claims in his recent book, The World is Flat.

SAP admission prompts mixed reaction

SAP Tuesday admitted that its TomorrowNow services subsidiary made some "inappropriate downloads" from an Oracle Web site but contended that SAP personnel did not access the material.

On-demand software firm files IPO

On-demand ERP and CRM apps provider NetSuite on Monday filed plans for an initial public offering, a move that could be a milestone for the hosted software industry, according to industry observers.

European retailer set to upgrade RFID system

Massive European retailer Metro Group intends to plug a relatively untried device into its already considerable radio frequency identification (RFID) network to improve efficiency in its inventory distribution and receiving operations.

US gov't seeks builder for military robot

Creative scientists have until next week to submit proposals for creating a shape-shifting military robot that can shrink and then reconfigure itself to normal height and shape.

Data breaches could take a toll on e-commerce

Faced with security breaches and personal data hemorrhages from retailers and a variety of educational and medical facilities, consumers are now becoming more skittish about the potential dangers of e-commerce.

NetSuite targets midsize firms with hosted ERP update

NetSuite has unveiled upgrades to its online ERP offering that promise to ease installation, broaden support for business processes and let executives view financial data in multiple currencies.

MIT researchers complete wireless electricity test

The day may be coming when PCs, cell phones and many other devices will be run without a battery or electrical cord.

Retailers fume over PCI security rules

Several retailers this week bristled at having to comply with the Payment Card Industry's Data Security Standard, complaining that they carry an unfair burden in securing credit card data.

Survey: RFID adoption hobbled by lack of trained staff

A shortage of trained personnel continues to hamper companies' use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, according to a survey by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).