Oracle Acquires Web Content Management Vendor FatWire
In a significant move, Oracle has announced its acquisition of FatWire, a US-based provider of web content management software. This acquisition, along with EMC's partnership with FatWire, highlights a growing trend towards partnering with 'pure play' web content management providers.
Oracle's decision to acquire FatWire may signify dissatisfaction with its current web content management solution, as the move can be interpreted as an admission of inadequacy in Oracle's existing offering. This is not an unusual strategy in the IT industry, where major players often collaborate with niche technology providers to enhance product portfolios rapidly and flexibly.
EMC, too, has given up on its own web content management product and is partnering with 'pure play' providers, including FatWire. This shift in EMC's web content management strategy may indicate a focus on complementing their broader enterprise software offerings with proven solutions, allowing them to provide more comprehensive content management capabilities to their customers without diluting focus or investing heavily in building these specialized systems from scratch.
Notable clients of FatWire include US retail giant Walmart, demonstrating the vendor's strength in the market. Oracle, seeking more agility and flexibility, believes that FatWire can provide the solutions it needs.
Apoorv Durga, a web content management expert at IT analyst company Real Story Group, is a testament to FatWire's appeal. The acquisition and partnerships with Oracle and EMC underscore FatWire's importance as a provider of interest for both companies' web content management needs.
The financial details of the Oracle-FatWire acquisition were not disclosed. However, the acquisition and partnerships may signal a growing demand for flexible and agile web content management solutions in the industry. It remains unclear if EMC will take further action following its partnership with FatWire.
Oracle's recognition of the inadequacy of its web publishing offering compared to other market offerings, and its subsequent acquisition of FatWire, is a clear indication of the industry's shift towards leveraging specialized web content management vendors rather than developing all capabilities solely in-house. This trend towards partnering with 'pure play' web content management providers is expected to continue, with Oracle pursuing more aggressive deals in this sector due to the acquisition of FatWire.
In summary, the Oracle-FatWire acquisition and EMC's partnership with FatWire are significant developments in the web content management landscape. These moves signal a focus on best-in-class, specialized solutions and a trend towards partnering with 'pure play' web content management providers to strengthen content management offerings, likely to focus on core competencies while integrating these specialized solutions.
The growing interest in 'pure play' web content management providers among large businesses, as demonstrated by Oracle's acquisition of FatWire and EMC's partnership, might be a response to the need for more flexible and agile solutions in the field of finance and technology. Such partnerships and acquisitions could potentially reshape the business landscape by fostering collaboration between major players and specialist providers in the industry.
