In February Benioff told analysts that a third of Salesforce's new business is from non-sales automation software, up from 25% the year prior.

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Siebel, the sales-automation software firm, has many terrific things going for it, including CEO Tom Siebel, who may be the best of the 1995-2000 lot.

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Ellison had been trying in vain to penetrate the lucrative market for sales-force automation software, where Siebel is the undisputed leader.

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Michael Dunne, Research VP at analyst firm Gartner, gave a refreshingly deep view into the world of sales automation systems, software designed particularly from the viewpoint of the sales process.

FORBES: The Changing Face of Sales Management

Samsung SDS is also teaming with SAP to bring SAP Business Suite software and Samsung Mobile Sales Force Automation to businesses.

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Rockwell Automation, which makes machinery and software for mostly industrial customers, said Wednesday that its first-quarter sales in Asia dropped 16 percent compared with the same period a year earlier.

NPR: Orders For US Durable Goods Fall 5.7 Pct. In March