The combined forces of the Software-as-a-Service deployment model, the role of Salesforce.com as the master data aggregator and integration point, buying habits of marketing departments and cooperative efforts among vendors have created a situation in which IT plays almost no role in supporting the use of marketing technologies.
With global appliance demand stagnant, the fourth quarter will be challenging but additional marketing promotions and new model launches should help offset the situation.
Further examination divulges the reality that this situation is much more than a traditional case of two companies marketing their respective proposals.