If you started your career in enterprise software around the same time I did, you remember the giants. For me, that giant was Siebel Systems. From 2005 until 2013, I was a Siebel CRM developer, immersed in a world of powerful, intricate, and incredibly complex software. We built behemoths of customised systems designed to manage millions of customer interactions for large corporations. But these solutions came at a cost, not just in licensing, but in sheer implementation effort.
The challenge was foundational. To even begin building a solution for a client, a developer had to undergo extensive, costly training. We were craftsmen learning a unique and proprietary language. The tools were powerful but heavy, often requiring a small army of consultants and developers to configure the environment, write custom scripts, and integrate with other systems. The timeline for a full implementation could stretch into years, and the total cost of ownership was staggering. We were building castles, brick by expensive brick.
Then, the world began to change. A seismic shift was underway: the SaaS (Software as a Service) wave.
While we were neck-deep in Siebel scripts, companies like Salesforce were pioneering a radical new idea: What if you didn’t have to buy, install, and maintain software on your own servers? What if you could just log in through a web browser or from your mobile phone and it just worked?
This was the core of the Software-as-a-Service model. SaaS wasn’t about selling a product in a box; it was about selling a subscription to a service. This shift had monumental implications:
No More Hardware: Clients no longer needed massive server rooms and IT teams just to run their CRM.
Automatic Updates: The software vendor handled all updates and maintenance. You’d log in on a Tuesday morning and find new features waiting for you, without a single hour of downtime for an upgrade.
Lower Barrier to Entry: Suddenly, sophisticated tools weren’t just for Fortune 500 companies. Small and medium-sized businesses could access enterprise-grade technology.
This wave didn't just change how software was delivered; it changed the entire philosophy behind it. The focus moved from immense power and customization for a few to accessibility and usability for the many.
The SaaS model evolved into platform plays. Companies began building ecosystems where their core product could be extended with apps and integrations. And into this new world emerged a company with a different philosophy entirely: HubSpot.
HubSpot didn’t just sell a CRM; it championed a methodology—Inbound. It was about attracting, engaging, and delighting customers rather than interrupting them. The CRM was the free, central hub that powered this entire approach, seamlessly connecting marketing, sales, service, and operations.
Having built solutions in both eras, the difference isn't just technological; it's philosophical.
Implementing Siebel Felt Like Heavy Construction:
Specialized Tools: You needed deep, specific training to wield the proprietary tools effectively.
Lengthy Timelines: Projects were marathons. A "quick win" could take years.
High Cost: It required a team of expensive experts to build and maintain.
Developer-Centric: The system was built to be powerful for the builder, often at the expense of the end-user's ease of use.
Implementing HubSpot Feels Like Agile Design:
Accessible Tools: The core platform is intuitive. The learning curve for basic configuration is dramatically lower, allowing me to focus on strategy and advanced workflows, not just plumbing.
Incredible Speed: What took months in Siebel can often be accomplished in HubSpot in weeks to months. The drag-and-drop editors, pre-built templates, and vast App Marketplace mean I don't have to build everything from scratch.
User-Centric: The platform is designed for the marketer, the sales rep, and the service agent. My job as a developer/partner is to enhance and customize their experience, not to build the entire experience for them from the ground up.
Focus on Value: Instead of spending cycles on server maintenance and complex data migration scripts, I can focus on what actually matters: creating automated workflows that nurture leads, building personalized customer journeys, and integrating systems to create a single source of truth.
The potential today is breathtaking. As a HubSpot partner, I’m no longer just a developer; I’m a strategist and an architect. I use a powerful, accessible platform to help businesses grow faster by solving their actual problems, not just wrestling with complex software. We’re building sleek, efficient, and intelligent growth engines, not just castles.
And from where I sit, having seen both sides of the evolution, that’s not just progress, it’s a revolution.