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The article discusses the shift from conventional Material Requirements Planning (MRP) software to integrated systems by manufacturing companies. Topics noted includes the features and growing sales of MRP and MRP II systems, and the inadequacy of MRP systems in addressing profitability issues. Industry observers cite that a key problem with MRP and MRP II systems is its lack of integration with non-manufacturing functions like customer order status, and shipment tracking.

The article focuses on the implications of the plan of Scientific Data Systems (SDS) to separate the price of the hardware from the price of the COBOL-65 software program in 1966 for the U.S. electronic data processing industry. The program enables Sigma 7 computers to handle time-sharing as well as business and scientific data processing. It discusses the risks associated with separating prices, such as losing some software revenues to independent specialists.

The article explains why the top 10 percent decline in software sales is the most important figure in the earnings report of computer services company IBM in the second quarter of 2015. Data provided shows the decline of IBM shares and software sales and revenue from the company's software business. The potential effects of the transition of IBM to a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business model and its underperform rating on the company's financial results are discussed.

The article reports on the rising Blackberry software sales while sales of smartphone declines. Topics covered include rise in first quarter of 2015 (Q1 2015) software and technology revenue of Blackberry to 137 million dollars indicating a 153% increase in year-to-year sales as compated to 2014. Also mentioned are the Blackberry purchase of software companies including Secusmart, Movirtu and WatchDox.

The article reports on the drop in the net worth of U.S. billionaire Larry Ellison after shares of Oracle dropped by 2.9 percent in September 2012. According to the company, new software sales increased by 6 percent, while hardware sales dropped by 24 percent. Oracle said that Ellison increased the number of shares he pledged for collateral from 40 million a year ago to 139 million.