“Microsoft expects half of all Exchange e-mail customers to subscribe to a software-as-a-service version within five years” - InformationWeek, NY - May 22nd, 2008
“Microsoft Takes Another Step Toward Software As A Service” - InformationWeek - Mar 8, 2008
“Oracle Corporation will be hosting an exclusive industry summit focused on how companies can adopt the Software as a Service (SaaS) delivery model” - Forbes - Jan 18, 2008 |
These headlines are pointing toward the inevitable - The exodus from the world of PC based business applications to a world of platform independent, hosted software.
Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, HP, Symantec, and Sun are some of the many big names in the ICT sector making rapid changes to their thus far, legacy systems to accommodate for the future.
The browser is the next operating system and the future is open - Looking at the way Google is launching one SaaS innovation after another, it is no surprise that the others are following suit.
In a Software as a Service scenario, as a business, your cost of ownership of an application is almost 85% cheaper in the long run. Instead of buying software licenses (from a store or online) you simply subscribe to a service. As your business grows you simply upgrade your subscription and your subscription gets expanded to accommodate your growth. What’s best is that you don’t need to make any changes to your existing IT infrastructure - no matter how big or small. No need to hire additional staff to manage your business applications, no expensive maintenance bills, no additional hardware purchases.
Being a service, everything is provided to you as a turn-key solution. Simply log in and you are ready to go.
So how does this actually work?It may be hard to fathom, but Software as a Service providers generally have a tens or hundreds of powerful web servers in various geographical locations that are servicing multiple user sessions simultaneously.
Some SaaS providers are so proactive that depending on the geographical location of a particular user session the nearest web server is used for optimum performance. With the increasing user uptake of high speed (ADSL) broadband services, speed and efficiency are both within reach.
Through the concept of virtual computing or cloud computing it is now possible for your business users to be logged into hundreds of scattered servers that host the actual application you are trying to use.
For instance, if you use Google’s Spreadsheets and Docs product then you will know how Software as a Service works. You simply sign-in to the Google webpage using your Google account and start using the software from and computer anytime, anywhere.
Your neighbor who also uses the same application might be connecting to a server in Florida while you might be using the application from one of Google’s servers in Arizona. That’s the thing - location doesn't matter anymore. This Software as a Service opens up a new realm of border-less communication on demand.
How can SaaS help my business?Currently Genesis Interactive offers two SaaS applications built, maintained and supported by our development team.
LiveCRM and Maxmail, as their names suggest one is a CRM application and the other a email application. Both are accessed online via a good browser (we strongly suggest Mozilla Firefox) and an adequate Broadband connection.
Rather than try to tell you the benefits of SaaS, we'd like to show you - both of these applications come with a FREE 15 day no-obligation trial. Sign up is painless we promise and our support staff will contact you to answer any questions you have.
It really is the easiest way for you to evaluate and understand the impact SaaS can have on your business.
For more information or to take up the trial offer click on the links at the top of the page. If you would like to talk to us about SaaS solutions, you can call us toll free in New Zealand on 0800.823.328.
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