PeopleSoft's goal: Fast and focused

PeopleSoft wants its software and services to be fast and focused.

The Pleasanton, California-based software firm unveiled today a program designed to get small and midsize firms in a variety of industries up and running quickly on PeopleSoft's software.

The new program is the latest addition to PeopleSoft Select, a program that offers users a one-stop shop for hardware, software, and services to quickly implement PeopleSoft software.

Like the rest of its business, PeopleSoft is organizing the program along specific industries. The company announced today programs designed for manufacturing and distribution businesses, service industries, local government, and higher education.

PeopleSoft also announced that it is expanding the number of platforms available for the program to include Unix systems from Compaq's Digital division, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Sun, as well as IBM hardware for Microsoft's Windows NT operating system.

Currently, PeopleSoft Select is only available on Intel-based Compaq or HP machines running NT with Microsoft's SQL Server or an Oracle database.

Steve Bonadio, analyst with the Hurwitz Group in Framingham, Massachusetts, said PeopleSoft has to provide these quick implementation services to stay competitive since SAP and Oracle have similar programs. But to make it a more attractive offer to customers in the coming years, PeopleSoft will need to add some more meat to the program, including expanding to international markets, adding AS/400 platforms, and expanding the NT offerings.

However, Bonadio does credit PeopleSoft for being forthright with customers about who should and should not use this program.

"They are the first ones to say up front that, 'If you require a lot of customization, then you don't want to go through Select,'" Bonadio said. "But companies are fine if they are going to implement this software and not customize it at all."