COUPA
he says . “ Removing complexity is where you can optimise the outcomes for your business .”
Customer-driven development As much as Coupa helps its customers to find increased success , Michael is quick to emphasise how the input of its customers helps the company develop effective software solutions . It invests around 17 % of revenue a year in research and development to improve its offering , which benefits the whole customer base as Coupa operates on a high configuration model rather than as a customised system .
“ What you want in a tech company is successful customers that are renewing because they recognise the continued value that they create out of the platform ,” he explains . “ That allows us to constantly innovate and drive more value out of the platform for our customers by constantly bringing in new features .”
He sees the relationship between Coupa and its customers as a perfect synergy or technical know-how and knowledge from the business world .
“ Our customers really tell us where to go ,” he says . “ And that is fundamentally different from how a lot of other software companies operate today .”
The use of AI in procurement is another subject that fascinates Michael , as he reflects on how Coupa has essentially been reaping the benefits of the technology for more than a decade when it was known as community intelligence .
118 September 2024