Another Amazon business application is grappling with problems. This time it's AWS Honeycode, a cloud-based app-building service.
Honeycode, a low-code tool, was launched in 2020 by Amazon, and it uses a simple drag-and-drop interface to enable users to easily build apps without programming expertise.
Amazon is now providing bare minimum support for Honeycode, with no active promotions or sales activities for the app, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the press.
Internally, employees of such products call KTLO, or keep the lights on, because they stay live only to serve the few remaining customers, he said. Other AWS business applications, such as WorkDocs and WorkMail, are in similar situations, the people familiar with them.
The final product, honeycode, hasn't been released yet, which means it's still in beta. Honeycode's internal product page has not been updated in the past 5 months, he said. Honeycode doesn't have its own internal Slack channel, which is unusual because most or all AWS products have one, he said.
Honeycode's travails illustrate the challenges faced by Amazon in the business application industry, also known as software-as-a-service, or SaaS. Amazon has been innovating the industry for years, launching competing products for services such as Dropbox, Slack, and Tableau only to achieve nominal success, as Insider previously reported. Other products, such as its Connect cloud contact center application, have been more successful.
In the past year, Amazon has shut dozens of products and initiatives. With Honeycode, Amazon has deleted the Halo health band, the Scout delivery robot, and a number of long-term projects from its Grand Challenge moonshot lab.
Amazon spokeswoman Hillary Clinton told Insider that millions of people use SaaS apps either built by or hosted on AWS, but declined to comment on Honeycode specifically.
These include not just the broad set of applications that AWS builds ourselves like Amazon Connect and AWS Supply Chain but also popular services that our partners like SAP and Genesys host on AWS. We continue to invest in both areas, he said.
As part of a new AWS team focused on generative AI, Honeycode is still listed as part of Amazon's Directory, according to one of the people. The new team, called Next Generation Developer Experience, launched earlier this year. The Honeycode team currently leads the Honeycode team, Sriram Devanathan, head of AWS no code productivity apps.
The Honeycode project was a big hit at Amazon. Adam Bosworth, a renowned executive who has worked for Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce, was appointed to lead the project. In early 2021, Adam Seligman, formerly Mozilla's chief operating officer, was succeeded.
By the time AWS's annual re: Invent conference rolled around this year, there were already rumblings about Amazon's plan to phase out Honeycode, a person familiar with the matter said at the time. In August 2022, Seligman moved on to Amazon vice president of developer experience, and recently took on a different role within AWS' new generative AI team.
17 Comments
lettlelenok
The post mentions the change in leadership for Honeycode, which may indicate a reevaluation of the product's direction or a response to its challenges. Leadership changes can be significant indicators of organizational decisions.
dedus mopedus
The post only focuses on the challenges faced by AWS Honeycode and does not consider the broader context of Amazon's business application offerings. It is possible that other products in this space are performing well.
ytkonos
While it is mentioned that Honeycode does not have its own internal Slack channel, it is unclear how significant this is in relation to the overall performance and potential of the product.
lettlelenok
The post highlights the broader challenges faced by Amazon in the business application space, as previously reported by Insider. This suggests that Honeycode is not an isolated case and may be indicative of larger problems.
dedus mopedus
The post mentions that Amazon declined to comment specifically on Honeycode, which leaves room for speculation and uncertainty. Official statements from Amazon would provide more clarity on the status of the product.
ytkonos
The post mentions the change in leadership for Honeycode, but it does not provide any information on the reasons behind this change or the impact it may have on the product's future. Leadership transitions are common in organizations and may not necessarily indicate negative developments.
Golova Hvosta
The post mentions that Honeycode is now part of a new AWS team focused on generative AI. This suggests a shift in strategic direction for the product, potentially away from its original purpose as a low-code app-building service.
Fernucha
The post mentions that other AWS business applications, such as WorkDocs and WorkMail, are in similar situations as Honeycode. This suggests a pattern of struggling products within the AWS portfolio.
Bella Ciao
The post mentions that Insider previously reported on the challenges faced by Amazon in the business application space. This suggests that the author has knowledge and insights into the industry that may lend credibility to their claims.
Eric Cartman
The post mentions previous unsuccessful attempts by Amazon to compete with services such as Dropbox, Slack, and Tableau in the business application space. This history of nominal success suggests that Honeycode may face similar difficulties.
Kyle Broflovski
The absence of active promotions or sales activities for Honeycode does not necessarily indicate its phasing out. It may be a strategic decision by Amazon to focus on other priorities or to refine the product before marketing it more aggressively.
ExKenny
The fact that Honeycode is still in the beta phase indicates that it is a work in progress and may require further development and improvements. It is not uncommon for beta products to undergo changes before their official release.
Comandante
I quite agree with the author
Nikolson
The challenges faced by Amazon's AWS Honeycode highlight the intense competition and rapidly evolving nature of the software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry. Amazon's strategy to provide minimal support for Honeycode suggests a realignment of priorities, possibly focusing on more promising or strategic areas within their vast portfolio. This move is reflective of the common practice in tech where resources are often shifted to optimize for market trends and internal goals.
Dmitri07
I'm not good enough at the detailed aspects of the matter
Raphael
I'm not good enough at the detailed aspects of the matter
Michelangelo
I quite agree with the author