--- title: "Selecting Cloud Applications: It’s NOT About the Features" description: AltaFlux Corporation is a global services provider, helping companies solve their business challenges and deliver transformational results leveraging cloud technologies. Since 2006, AltaFlux's recognized ability to deliver impactful value is directly correlated to effectively partnering with our clients to understand their business and to evaluate, advise, seamlessly deploy and integrate SuccessFactors Cloud solutions. As an SAP Recognized Expert in HR Cloud Solutions with over 100+ successful deployments, we do not consult you on what to do - we make sure you get there. image: http://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn1.hubspot.com/StockImages/Laptop%20Work/7K0A0129.jpg --- [![AltaFlux Logo](https://www.altaflux.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AltaFlux%20Logo_Blue.jpg?width=183&height=50&name=AltaFlux%20Logo_Blue.jpg "AltaFlux Logo")](https://www.altaflux.com) - [Home](https://www.altaflux.com/) - Services - Resources - Company - [Schedule a Call](https://www.altaflux.com/contact) # **Selecting Cloud Applications: It’s NOT About the Features** By [AltaFlux Corporation](https://www.altaflux.com/blog/author/altaflux-corporation), May, 26 2015, in [SaaS](https://www.altaflux.com/blog/topic/saas), [News](https://www.altaflux.com/blog/topic/news), [HR Tech](https://www.altaflux.com/blog/topic/hr-tech), [SAP SuccessFactors](https://www.altaflux.com/blog/topic/sap-successfactors), [Onboarding](https://www.altaflux.com/blog/topic/onboarding) Over the last 2 years as a **SuccessFactors Value Added Reseller**, I have had the opportunity to participate in numerous cloud HCM evaluations/selections with small and mid-size businesses (SMBs). As I look back and assess them, a few common themes emerge: - The HR team tends to focus on specific features in a particular module of the cloud application, at the expense of overlooking the benefit of the integrated nature of the suite of modules. - The IT team tends to focus on how the cloud application will integrate with legacy 3rd party applications, versus focusing on the cloud vendor’s framework for quickly establishing integration with 3rd party “partner applications” and non-partner applications. - The key stakeholders and economic buyers focus too much on the initial cost for the subscription and implementation, versus a longer term analysis of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), which includes the cost of customization, ongoing enhancements, and building unique integrations to 3rd party applications. ![Laptop Work-3](http://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn1.hubspot.com/StockImages/Laptop%20Work/7K0A0129.jpg) When advising SMBs, I begin with the following guidance: - **Take a long-term view**.  While today’s priority might be, for example, a Learning Management solution, what will be the next 5 HR priorities and related initiatives over 3-5 years?  How will your vendor of choice be capable of delivering on those priorities? - **Focus on suite integration versus modular feature set**.  The AltaFlux Team recently worked with a Healthcare company whose immediate priority was **[Recruiting](https://www.altaflux.com/expertise/successfactors/recruiting/)** and [**Onboarding**](https://www.altaflux.com/expertise/successfactors/onboarding/).  They said they had a roadmap of future HR initiatives that covered the entire Talent Management Suite of processes.  Nevertheless, they picked a niche Recruiting vendor that offered nothing beyond just Recruiting, saying they liked the UI better and the initial implementation was cheaper.  The 3 year TCO was roughly equal to [SuccessFactors](https://www.altaflux.com/expertise/successfactors/) for Recruiting, but they still chose the niche vendor.   Unfortunately,this short-term tactical decision will cost them dearly over the next 3 years as they begin to focus on initiatives beyond Recruiting. - **The vendor/ecosystem is paramount**.  When a company chooses a cloud application, they are also choosing a product vendor and ecosystem of partners that will serve their needs well into the future. Smaller, niche vendors are less likely to have the R&D capacity to continuously enhance their applications over time.  Similarly, vendor with large partner ecosystems include partner firms that “step into the void” and build/support complementary solutions to address any gaps that the primary vendor doesn’t want to focus on. Evaluating, selecting, and implementing cloud applications is the future for all SMBs.  They would serve themselves well if they focused less on features and more on strategic success criteria based on TCO.  0 [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/464827/f184984d-cca0-498d-99a0-dce70798fd72.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/464827/f184984d-cca0-498d-99a0-dce70798fd72) [Previous SuccessFactors Release Highlights - March 2015 ![SuccessFactors Release Highlights - March 2015](https://www.altaflux.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AF_SFSF_ReleaseHighlights.png?width=150&name=AF_SFSF_ReleaseHighlights.png)](https://www.altaflux.com/blog/successfactors-release-highlights-q2-2015) [Next SuccessFactors FYI - Employee Profile Upgrade](https://www.altaflux.com/blog/successfactors-fyi-employee-profile-upgrade) ###### **Solutions** [Process Automation](https://www.altaflux.com/hr-transformation/process-transformation) [Connect Applications](https://www.altaflux.com/cloud-consulting/dell-boomi/integrations) [Migrate Applications](https://www.altaflux.com/cloud-consulting/dell-boomi/data-migrations) [Provide Project Governance](https://www.altaflux.com/hr-transformation/implementation-roadmap)   ###### **Our Expertise** [SAP SuccessFactors Implementations](https://www.altaflux.com/services/successfactors-consulting) [SAP SuccessFactors Support](https://www.altaflux.com/successfactors-support) [Dell Boomi Integrations](https://www.altaflux.com/cloud-consulting/dell-boomi/integrations) [Dell Boomi Master Data Management](https://www.altaflux.com/services/successfactors-integration-data-migration) ###### **Quick Links** [Request a Demo](https://marketing.altaflux.com/successfactors-demo-request) [Request Support](http://support.altaflux.com/support/login) [Contact Us](https://www.altaflux.com/contact) ###### **About AltaFlux** AltaFlux Corporation is an enterprise cloud technology consulting services firm. We help clients to automate, transform, and optimize their business processes. We have expertise in leading Enterprise Cloud Platforms, such as SAP SuccessFactors, Dell Boomi, Microsoft PowerBI, WorkForce Software, and Benefitfocus. [Learn more about AltaFlux (+)](https://www.altaflux.com/about) ###### **Contact Us** Troy | Charlotte |  Chennai + 1 248-850-2298 infoaltaflux.com ### We're Social [Privacy Policy](https://www.altaflux.com/footer/privacy-policy/)   |   [Terms of Use](https://www.altaflux.com/footer/terms-of-use)   |    [Immigration Notices](https://www.altaflux.com/footer/immigration)  © Copyright 2015-2025 AltaFlux Corporation. Featured logos are trademarks of their respective owners. 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