|
The California-based company delivers enterprise applications as an on-line service. Its European headquarters is to be located in Enniskerry, Co.Wicklow, and will be headed by former Managing Director of Oracle Ireland, John Appleby.
Salesforce.com has also launched its software automation product in Ireland and the UK. The company is aimed at SMEs employing over 30 people, and allows users to access, manage and share their company's sales information on-line. Salesforce.com is one of the biggest players in the pay-as-you-use software market: customers do not have to buy the software needed, but pay usage fees for the functionality they need.
"We have a completely different cost model to other software companies. Small to medium enterprises only have to pay around EUR55 per month to use our software. It's a very different approach to the market place, and quite a radical one," Fergus Gloster, Vice President of Marketing at Salesforce.com Europe, told ElectricNews.Net.
Gloster, who was also formerly with Oracle, explained that there were a few reasons why Salesforce chose Ireland as the location for its European headquarters, with its favourable corporate tax environment as a major factor.
"Ireland is also perceived as a good place for high technology firms, and it is closer in proximity to the US than the rest of Europe. Also the fact that it is an English-speaking European country makes it very attractive to US multi-nationals," said Gloster.
Salesforce.com has an outlet in Japan and employs a total of 170 people on a global scale. It has a subscriber base of over 25,000 organisations, most of which are American. However, the company is aiming heavily at building up an Irish and European customer base.
"Already some Irish-based companies have signed up with us, including NewWorld Commerce, Wolfe Systems and Berlitz," said Gloster.
It has already recruited 15 of the 50 people ear-marked for the Irish plant. The jobs will consist of multi-lingual sales and marketing positions.
|
