From the April 18, 2005 CRN by Rochelle Garner CRN

Mitch Cannady is diversifying. A longtime solution provider of Best Software’s CRM software, he’s recently branched out to offer Microsoft’s MS-CRM software. This month, he’s poised to enter his next new relationship—with San Mateo, Calif.-based NetSuite, which offers CRM, ERP and e-commerce software to small businesses.

His reasons are twofold: The software-as-a-service sector represents the future, and the selection of Adam Ross as NetSuite’s new vice president of channel sales is key. Ross previously headed the channel efforts for Best’s SalesLogix CRM software.

“Adam grew up with the channel, and his mind is focused on the channel’s needs,” said Cannady, president and CEO of Spinnaker Solutions, Irvine, Calif. “If NetSuite has Adam responsible for the channel, I see it as a strong sign that they’re planning to be very channel-friendly. Their bringing Adam on board made us interested in them.”

Ross said he aims to do a better job promoting NetSuite’s channel to potential customers. “We are also looking to update the lead-registration portion of the Web site to include pieces on how customers heard of us and whether they’re working with any NetSuite business partners,” he said.

Last month the company also unveiled NetFlex, new software that adds integration, customization and application-building capabilities to NetSuite’s self-named applications. Slated to be out of beta testing in late April, NetFlex offers three primary capabilities. Its new SOAP-based, Web services API lets NetSuite partners and customers import and export data between NetSuite-resident data and other applications. With NetFlex Customization, customers can configure the software by adding fields, changing names and personalizing the layout. And NetFlex AppBuilder lets nonprogrammers build entirely new applications on top of the NetSuite platform