Oracle Sales Erode as Startups Embrace Free Software

#1

Post by velodrome » Thu, Jun 11, 2015, 8:56 PM UTC

Oracle Sales Erode as Startups Embrace Free Software
bloomberg.com

Re: Oracle Sales Erode as Startups Embrace Free Software

#2

Post by r00fus » Thu, Jun 11, 2015, 11:16 PM UTC

Article fails to identify if the sales figures are limited to database or whether they include the enterprise apps (i.e., EBS/Fusion).

Regardless - the quote "Does the cloud-related business grow quickly enough to offset any long-term weakness in new software licenses? To us the answer is yes" seems to indicate that this is all sales for ORCL.

Oracle relying on cloud is pitting them against some more entrenched cloud-only vendors (e.g.: Workday, Salesforce) and disrupts the business model for their main cash cows. Typical innovator's dilemma territory if that's their play.

Re: Oracle Sales Erode as Startups Embrace Free Software

#3

Post by rbanffy » Thu, Jun 11, 2015, 11:42 PM UTC

Is it surprising startups no longer buy as many Oracle licenses as they did in the 90's?

Re: Oracle Sales Erode as Startups Embrace Free Software

#4

Post by CyberDildonics » Thu, Jun 11, 2015, 11:55 PM UTC

I don't even know how Oracle is still the juggernaut that they are. A $10,000 dollar computer running postgres can serve a ridiculous amount of queries.

I suspect the general idea is to spend huge amount of money to run incredibly inefficient SQL queries.

Re: Oracle Sales Erode as Startups Embrace Free Software

#5

Post by hkmurakami » Fri, Jun 12, 2015, 12:01 AM UTC

CyberDildonics wrote: post #4

I don't even know how Oracle is still the juggernaut that they are. A $10,000 dollar computer running postgres can serve a ridiculous amount of queries. I suspect the general idea is to spend huge amount of money to run incredibly inefficient SQL queries.

>I don't even know how Oracle is still the juggernaut that they are.

Their existing massive install base, aggressive salesforce, and being perceived as a "safe" choice by customers is a strong position to be in.

Re: Oracle Sales Erode as Startups Embrace Free Software

#6

Post by hendzen » Fri, Jun 12, 2015, 12:07 AM UTC

CyberDildonics wrote: post #4

I don't even know how Oracle is still the juggernaut that they are. A $10,000 dollar computer running postgres can serve a ridiculous amount of queries. I suspect the general idea is to spend huge amount of money to run incredibly inefficient SQL queries.

Can Postgres do distributed transactions? Oracle can.

Re: Oracle Sales Erode as Startups Embrace Free Software

#7

Post by toyg » Fri, Jun 12, 2015, 12:11 AM UTC

r00fus wrote: post #2

Article fails to identify if the sales figures are limited to database or whether they include the enterprise apps (i.e., EBS/Fusion). Regardless - the quote "Does the cloud-related business grow quickly enough to offset any long-term weakness in new software licenses? To us the answer is yes" seems to indicate that this is all sales for ORCL. Oracle relying on cloud is pitting them against some more entrenched cloud…

They seem to be approaching this by offering very reduced functionality on the cloud, so that "real" enterprise businesses will still buy apps to self-host (hopefully on Exa boxes). At least this is what I'm seeing in Middleware.

It's long been known that Database would eventually see a decline, which is why they bought loads of products to ring-fence it (as well as attacking SAP). I just wish their support was still worth the money -- in most cases it's not. That's the real problem IMHO.

Re: Oracle Sales Erode as Startups Embrace Free Software

#8

Post by ccvannorman » Fri, Jun 12, 2015, 12:14 AM UTC

From what I've heard about how Oracle treats their customers and the industry, this is good news. We need to move away from juggernauts who try to control things, and towards a more distributed, robust methodology.

Re: Oracle Sales Erode as Startups Embrace Free Software

#9

Post by chrismarlow9 » Fri, Jun 12, 2015, 12:14 AM UTC

CyberDildonics wrote: post #4

I don't even know how Oracle is still the juggernaut that they are. A $10,000 dollar computer running postgres can serve a ridiculous amount of queries. I suspect the general idea is to spend huge amount of money to run incredibly inefficient SQL queries.

So much legacy still runs on it. I've seen many projects at the top of very very large companies (think telcos) that still use Oracle DB. The cost to upgrade these systems with full end to end testing is not worth the investment. Every system I've seen that has this setup is extremely archaic in every way. We're talking java applets in the browser to show a form where you choose options that compose a query in the background and every option you would want is in the interface, however there is no direct query access. Imagine creating a UI that represents everything you can possibly do in a sql query, building it in a java applet, and powering it with a database that costs a buttload of money.

Also oracle has a very large reach with salesforce so I've seen many former employees pitch oracle products heavily. Seems like once you work there you're part of the forever cult of ellison.

Re: Oracle Sales Erode as Startups Embrace Free Software

#10

Post by bradleyankrom » Fri, Jun 12, 2015, 12:14 AM UTC

hkmurakami wrote: post #5

CyberDildonics wrote: post #4

I don't even know how Oracle is still the juggernaut that they are. A $10,000 dollar computer running postgres can serve a ridiculous amount of queries. I suspect the general idea is to spend huge amount of money to run incredibly inefficient SQL queries.

>I don't even know how Oracle is still the juggernaut that they are. Their existing massive install base, aggressive salesforce, and being perceived as a "safe" choice by customers is a strong position to be in.

That, and enterprise-grade product support is often a requirement.