BT and NetSuite have joined hands to bring web-based on-demand software to the telco’s 1.6 million business customers. BT has been offering NetSuite’s business management applications and will also soon offer customer relationship management (CRM) software from SugarCRM.

The tie-up concentrates on SMEs and will, as reported by BT, permit them to keep up with the speedy adoption of on-demand software - or software as a service as it is also known - in larger companies. BT works with the on-demand software companies to provide not only service support but also software that can be customised as per individual business needs.

Both sets of software are targeted at boosting client relationships. As surveyed by BT Business research, 43 per cent of UK SMEs feel that customisation is the most critical factor for success. NetSuite software provides a single system for a diversity of purposes like enterprise resource planning, CRM and ecommerce. Customers will have the option of integrating the CRM applications with existing communications and data systems.

Presently, NetSuite generates 18 per cent of its revenue from outside the US. It surely hopes to expand its reach beyond its home country substantially. BT is also studying a number of other business applications to explore the possibility of future partnerships.