Software as a Service (SAAS)

OpSource is a Santa Clara, California-based technology firm that helps Software as a service (SAAS) and web companies more effectively develop and deploy applications. Since it was founded in 2002, OpSource has expanded beyond the U.S. to include operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and India. Today, in order to ensure ongoing success, the company balances an aggressive growth plan with tight operational budgets.

Software as a service (SAAS) represents a model for software delivery where a service provider licenses an application to a consumer or corporate entity to use as a service on demand. In practice, SaaS is often considered synonymous with "hosted services." SaaS providers may host such applications on their own Web servers, or they may contract service operations to third parties who operate Web servers on their behalf. Either way, using SaaS may also require downloading some software to client devices to interact with those servers and provide necessary proofs of identity and paid-up status before access will be permitted. SaaS offerings cover the spectrum of today's software and services, and include everything from customer relationship management (CRM) to line-of-business applications (payroll, accounting, inventory management) to messaging and Web security, information and device management and more.

However, more and more companies are finding their technology infrastructure is an obstacle to growth because it lacks the flexibility to adapt quickly and grow as their needs change. Software as a service (SAAS) is an increasingly attractive option for companies facing these challenges.

Taleo, provider of Software as a service (SAAS), was reaching $120 million (USD) and had more than 600 employees. Yet, in finance, the company was not quite so dynamic. The new director of finance recognized the need to move to a financial reporting system that featured technology advances. Find out about the online analytic processing (OLAP) server Taleo chose as part of its businessModify performance management strategy.

• On-premise software
• Internal hosting via Web services
• On-demand (for example, Software as a service (SAAS) )

Many small to medium businesses (SMBs) do not have experience with Software as a service (SAAS), but are looking to adopt SaaS solutions soon. According to studies, 2009 will be the tipping point, with a majority of companies aiming to adopt SaaS this year. But these companies must be cautious, as the old rules for on-premise software analysis and purchase don't apply. Discover the new rigorous criteria you should use.

It does offer several LCMS features such as a catalog, document filing, a shareable content object reference model (SCORM) content manager with tools to disaggregate and reaggregate courses, and some version control tools. Meridian offers a course library of up to 15,000 e-learning courses available through third-party vendors like SkillSoft and others. The product is available as Software as a service (SAAS) . The company also offers Meridian Anywhere Mobile LMS.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications provide a base to ensure that data is coherent in its use across the enterprise. In the new technology and business era, companies need advanced software to make sure that the addition of the new layer of software and functionality - business technology - is safely integrated into the existing IT enterprise systems. Software as a service (SAAS) helps managers integrate business technology, adopt new practices, and enable innovative innovative business processes without adding IT complexity in the short run.

Many enterprises have already adopted Software as a service (SAAS) for non-critical applications-more than three-quarters of U.S. organizations by the end of 2009, according to IDC.1 Now some are beginning to examine the case for introducing SaaS for core business applications, such as accounting and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Research by Saugatuck Technology with members of the Financial Executives International (FEI) found that SaaS adoption for core financial accounting will rise from 15% of all enterprises in 2008 to 22% in 2010 and 27%-more than one in four-shortly thereafter.2

The options for companies looking to outsource some or all of their IT needs have increased as suppliers look for innovative ways to offer software products such as Software as a service (SAAS) or on-demand and hosted IT offerings. However, for as long as there has been IT, it has been common to ‘in-source' or bring in external third party consultants and support staff to work alongside the in-house IT personnel. At one time the approach would have been to just hire technically adept ‘bodies' from consultancies, but now broader skills have become important (Figure 1).

1. Small and medium sized business (SMBs) that have limited in-house IT skills
2. Independent software vendors that are moving to a Software as a service (SAAS) based delivery model

Given the serious security issues that consumer IM invites, this paints a grim picture of what's wrong with using it in a business setting. Does this mean that IM is inherently unsuited for business use? Numerous tools that can secure IM are available to effectively counter vulnerabilities and exposures. In particular, Software as a service (SAAS) implementations used to filter and screen IM traffic can be incredibly effective-they not only secure consumer-grade IM software in the Enterprise, they also route all IM traffic through filtering and policy control mechanisms designed to meet compliance requirements, avoid exposure and counter specific vulnerabilities.

When it comes to merchant and especially payment processing services, many of which get licensed to Web site hosting companies, business, corporations and other legal entities, it's not unusual for such capabilities to be offered as a Software as a service (SAAS) . Companies that provide SaaS typically handle payment processing services for large numbers of customers. Consequently their network security arrangements, which include various forms of intrusion detection and prevention in addition to firewalls, routinely exceed base-level requirements established in the PCI DSS. Most payment networks operate in total isolation from other networks to add more protection and separate access control.

The latest and greatest thing to hit midmarket ERP is on-demand delivery of ERP applications. AMR said, "New pricing and deployment models, such as Software as a service (SAAS) , are starting to gain acceptance. We expect most of the ERP vendors will begin offering on-demand in addition to on-premises options in the near future." Application hosting and the subscription-based pricing of an SaaS solution will be particularly appealing to midmarket organizations with minimal IT budgets and on-site resources. They can also help organizations react more quickly and with less disruption to structural changes within the company and changes in the market.

For IT departments drowning in complex and expensive software maintenance chores, the Software as a service (SAAS) model promises to ease the burden dramatically. SaaS reduces complexity by outsourcing most of the infrastructure required to run software applications (to the software vendors themselves) and reduces costs by charging only for what is consumed.

Plex Systems, Inc. is the developer of Plex Online, a Software as a service (SAAS) solution for manufacturers. Plex Online includes over 350 functional modules to manage operations from the shop floor to the top floor, including manufacturing execution system (MES) modules such as quality management and machine integration, enterprise resource planning (ERP) modules such as accounting and finance, customer relationship management (CRM) modules such as order entry and tracking, and supply chain management (SCM) modules such as supplier quality and traceability. Plex Online's SaaS model delivers reduced cost of operations, faster implementations and a continuously improving feature set.

On-demand ERP solutions, commonly referred to as Software as a service (SAAS) ERP systems, are increasingly attractive to the enterprise that welcomes the ability to extend scarce IT resources.

Over the last decade, the innovative Software as a service (SAAS) delivery model has evolved to let manufacturers move beyond traditional enterprise software.

• This paper summarizes the five features a medical device manufacturer must have in its ERP software.
• Benefits of an integrated ERP solution include comprehensive supply chain management, precise production tracking and visibility, electronic document management, and more.
• By obtaining all of the features it must have in one Software as a service (SAAS) solution like Plex Online, a medical device manufacturer will optimize the performance of its entire enterprise.

• This paper summarizes the benefits an ERP solution provides to the entire manufacturing process "from shop floor to top floor."
• Included are key features in a Software as a service (SAAS) solution to help a manufacturer optimize performance throughout the enterprise.

Plex Systems, Inc. is the developer of Plex Online, a Software as a service (SAAS) solution for manufacturers. Plex Online includes over 350 functional modules to manage operations from the shop floor to the top floor, including manufacturing execution system (MES) modules such as quality management and machine integration, enterprise resource planning (ERP) modules such as accounting and finance, customer relationship management (CRM) modules such as order entry and tracking, and supply chain management (SCM) modules such as supplier quality and traceability. Plex Online's SaaS model delivers reduced cost of operations, faster implementations and a continuously improving feature set.

That's why it's important that whichever Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software system manufacturers utilize, they should ensure their system has been specifically designed to work with barcodes. In island systems, the barcode printer has no direct interaction with the rest of the manufacturing enterprise; but when it is part of a "barcode-aware" ERP system, the printer can take direction from other processes and print and encode data automatically when the server directs it to. Better yet, today's manufacturer should consider utilizing a Software as a service (SAAS) solution which includes fully integrated applications for virtually every operation.

That is why Software as a service (SAAS) is becoming an increasingly attractive choice for manufacturers. The SaaS provider's IT experts handle it, while your company gets back to doing what it does best.

• Software as a service (SAAS) solutions can be a strategic advantage to businesses, letting companies avoid costly hardware, software licenses and complex version upgrades.

Many firms see Software as a service (SAAS) as having a cost advantage over on-premise in the short run due to its quick implementation times and pay-as-you-go pricing. But many firms question the long-term value of SaaS, wondering if the rent-versus-own model has a cost crossover point? Discover how some firms have obtained long-term value with SaaS solutions as SaaS has moved into larger, more strategic deployments.

Software as a service (SAAS) is known for its relative speed to implementation and low upfront costs for acquisition and deployment. As a result, SaaS is widely adopted for a variety of business and IT functions. Discover the advantages of moving to a SaaS model for improving business operations, and to better meet the challenges of growth, competition, and regulatory compliance faced by smaller and midsized businesses.

Business intelligence (BI) Software as a service (SAAS) has gained traction in recent years. The reduced cost and feature-rich nature of the offerings make SaaS BI appealing to large and small businesses alike. Now, independent software vendors (ISVs) are also finding significant advantages to on-demand BI. Learn how SaaS BI solutions are helping ISVs reduce time to market, and accelerate the software development process.

Ten years ago, very few managers would consider “subscribing” to their mission critical technology solutions over the Internet, as they would subscribe to cable television or telephone services. Today, these same managers are realizing the substantial cost savings and productivity increases that the Software as a service (SAAS) deployment option can bring to their organizations.

Human resource management systems (HRMS) and payroll vendors are entering the Software as a service (SAAS) market en masse. Though much as been written about the benefits of SaaS, only now are the short and long term ramifications of SaaS being discussed. As long as the purchaser is fully informed, then a decision can be made that best meets the needs of the enterprise.

Stable revenue and stronger customer relationships are what software companies want, and more are turning to Software as a service (SAAS) platforms to reach these goals. Building an SaaS infrastructure is complex, and you need operations and engineering experts to manage your infrastructures. Start by following a step-by-step process—thus helping to increase your revenue and strengthen your customer network.

Market trends are reshaping financial management approaches for companies of all sizes, especially small to medium businesses (SMBs). That's why many SMBs are exploring alternatives to Intuit's QuickBooks, which many young companies rely on in their initial stages. And although Software as a service (SAAS) is emerging to address real-time financial management requirements, can SaaS really satisfy your needs?

In today's economic climate, you need to ensure you keep your business and operational costs down while delivering world-class customer service. Conventional stand-alone business software applications do not enable you to do this. The business benefits of Software as a service (SAAS) applications are leading many smart companies to use SaaS to help cut costs, improve operational productivity, and increase efficiency.

Software as a service (SAAS) has considerably changed the ways vendors deliver technology, and how companies use it. Ideally, SaaS applications should scale to your business size, optimize your resources, and speed your return on investment (ROI). But it's important to make sure that your SaaS provides "real" SaaS benefits—and what to do if it doesn't—so that your business performance doesn't suffer the consequences. Find out more.

• Rather than develop a mix of best-of-breed solutions, most midsize firms are looking for providers whose systems offer broad functionality, from basic backroom financial capabilities, to operational tasks such as sourcing, product development, and logistics.
• ERP systems can no longer be purely internal IT tools. They must allow companies to extend their supply chains to link with customers, suppliers, service providers, and all other transaction partners.
• Midsize companies prefer to work with IT companies that have specific expertise in their industry, and consequently, most providers in this space tend to specialize functionally, such as in manufacturing or distribution, or vertically, as with food or chemical industries. Midsize companies will definitely seek ERP applications configured with industryspecific functionality.
• Many midsize firms, especially at the smaller end of the spectrum, are turning to providers that offer hosted on-demand systems or Software as a service (SAAS) packages. This approach allows for a wide range of ERP capabilities without large up-front investments or big IT staffs.

Sample TCO Calculation for a Software as a service (SAAS) vs. Traditional BI Implementation

Software as a service (SAAS) is known for its relative speed to deployment and low up-front cost. Less well known are the business advantages of SaaS for enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, especially for small and midsized businesses. Learn how a fully integrated SaaS solution can help you improve your business operations, as well as better meet the challenges of growth, competition, and regulatory compliance.

In the past, companies were tied to installing new solutions and applications at their own sites, putting a strain on budgets and increasing the burden on already overworked IT personnel. But today, the landscape is changing as more and more organizations opt for ondemand solutions, also known as| Software as a service (SAAS) . With on-demand solutions, companies can “rent” a software application that is hosted at a third-party provider's site, and easily access it via the Internet.

Businesses of all sizes must manage an increasing diversity of remote users and devices. The tasks involved range from keeping systems running to ensuring security, compliance, and more. Under this sort of pressure, IT managers and managed service providers must have flexible access to powerful tools and an ability to share the data those tools rely on. Software as a service (SAAS)-based tools can help—find out how.

IT infrastructure software has a well-established track record for experiencing frequent cost overruns and missed deadlines. Expensive software and extensive customization are the key contributors to increasing identity management costs to four or five times more than the price of the initial identity software license. Learn how Software as a service (SAAS) can reduce the cost and complexity of IT infrastructure.

When considering major purchases, most people ask, “Why rent when you can buy?” But with IT systems, the reverse may be true. Software as a service (SAAS) offers many advantages over traditional software, especially in terms of the on-going costs of maintaining and upgrading systems. Learn how passing those burdens on to a SaaS vendor can help your company focus on optimizing efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

The on-demand model of Software as a service (SAAS) is a key enabler in retooling the enterprise workspace to meet the needs of today?s Web-enabled workers.

In the small to midsized business (SMB) market, most businesses don't want to give up the security and reliability of having an in-house server just to save a fraction of their enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation costs. Although Software as a service (SAAS) solutions are typically not customizable—and integrating SaaS with on-site applications can be a challenge—there is an ideal solution. Learn more.

Integrative Software as a service (SAAS) business systems are a way of transforming your finance operations. SaaS can position finance as the nexus of standardized, real-time information. Finance executives should investigate SaaS solutions and providers, so that finance and IT can work together to enable a cost-effective transformation of finance to a stronger leadership role and improve finance's value to your company.