While twittering about last week, someone I follow noted "Business Insider article titles make him laugh".  So of course I had to click into This Ex-Salesforce Exec Wants To Save The Planet – And Kill Oracle, SAP in the Process.

Pretty bold title but it's actually worth the read.  Tien Tzuo, CEO of Zuora, provider of subscription billing solutions, reflects back to a time when products were made to last and how this basic principle can be resurrected and carried forward into the future.  Zuora is putting a stake in the ground for the subscription based-business model to lead us into a sustainable product world.

"Cloud based software from the likes of Zuora and Salesforce.com is different.  Also known as software as a service, or SaaS, these first' products make money by keeping customers happy enough to keep paying for it every month.

But Zuora is also a tool for creating what Tzuo calls 'the subscription economy.' This is a world where people don't buy products – they buy services."

With a focus on a greener world, easier to maintain systems and long term value from purchases, Zuora will certainly be a company to watch in the coming years.

What’s your take?  Are you as a consumer, or your company moving more toward subscription-based purchasing models?  What’s driving the change?

Send me with your thoughts at [email protected] or post your comments below to keep the discussion going.

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