TheOpenAnalyst

Four years after it was launched, SugarCRM now counts 4,000 customers of its commercial open source software. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company recently held its annual SugarCon conference for customers and developers. We caught up with CEO John Roberts, who discussed how SugarCRM is approaching cloud computing and open source applications in the cloud, mobile CRM, and the use of open source software in a recession.

SearchCRM.com: First of all, can you give us an update on the company?

John Roberts: It’s kind of a surreal time in that things are going real well for us, but the world economy isn’t doing so good. With all recessions, you get the 20% of companies that actually do incredibly well. For us, the global recession has really put a focus on two things. One is companies re-evaluating their information technology costs, and two, now more than at any time since the Great Depression, competitive advantage has been the most important thing for companies.

We’re seeing a big shift here to commercial open source as a more efficient and innovative method [of delivering applications]. This recession is certainly highlighting our value proposition versus our competitors. We’ve seen our product surge since Q3 of last year.

SugarCRM CEO: ‘In a way, open source and the cloud are the same thing’

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