Comments on: What is Software as a Service? http://blog.e-conomic.co.uk/what-is-software-as-a-service/ dialogue on the e-conomic accounting system Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:17:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Mark Davies http://blog.e-conomic.co.uk/what-is-software-as-a-service/#comment-113 Mark Davies Tue, 05 May 2009 10:27:35 +0000 http://blog.e-conomic.co.uk/?p=95#comment-113 John Patterson of online CRM provider Really Simple Systems has suggested the "Touring Test" - a nice play on words (see <a HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_test" rel="nofollow">Turing Test</A>). He suggests that it is the acid test of whether an application is a true SaaS offering: "<em>Next time you are on holiday, walk into the hotel lobby and log on to your application using whatever machine and browser they have. If you can access all the data and all the functionality in your SaaS application immediately, without having to download any extra software, it’s a true SaaS product."</em> What a nice, simple idea. How about logging on to the application via the browser on your mobile phone? The app may not be designed for mobile access, but if you can get into it, that's another indication that it's true SaaS in action. You can see John's original post on his personal blog <a HREF="http://contrarythinking.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/the-touring-test/" rel="nofollow">Contrary Thinking</A>). John Patterson of online CRM provider Really Simple Systems has suggested the “Touring Test” – a nice play on words (see Turing Test). He suggests that it is the acid test of whether an application is a true SaaS offering:

“Next time you are on holiday, walk into the hotel lobby and log on to your application using whatever machine and browser they have. If you can access all the data and all the functionality in your SaaS application immediately, without having to download any extra software, it’s a true SaaS product.”

What a nice, simple idea. How about logging on to the application via the browser on your mobile phone? The app may not be designed for mobile access, but if you can get into it, that’s another indication that it’s true SaaS in action.

You can see John’s original post on his personal blog Contrary Thinking).

]]> By: Mark Davies http://blog.e-conomic.co.uk/what-is-software-as-a-service/#comment-6 Mark Davies Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:59:04 +0000 http://blog.e-conomic.co.uk/?p=95#comment-6 That's a really helpful video! Like many buzz words, SaaS tends to be sorrounded by a fog of marketing hype, so it is nice to be able to watch something like this and clear away any confusion. Some time ago Gartner published their definition of SaaS in a <a HREF="http://www.crmdirectory.com/index.php/20070306790/News/Reports-&-Analytics/Gartner-Says-Service-Providers-Must-Prepare-Now-for-the-Software-as-a-Service-Wave.html" rel="nofollow">press release</A>. They said: “SaaS is hosted software based on a single set of common code and data definitions that are consumed in a one-to-many model by all contracted customers, at any time, on a pay-for-use basis, or as a subscription based on usage metrics.” The most important point is this: There is only <strong>one copy of the software</strong> that's used by all customers. That's the fundamental difference between what we're doing and what some software vendors do when they "web-enable" their applications with something like a browser-based front end. One copy of the software means that everything we do is available for the benefit of all customers at the same time - and we invest a great deal of effort in creating e-conomic, making it secure, maintaining it and adding enhancements. All customers get immediate access to improvements as part of the service, there's no need to re-install, upgrade or pay an extra fee. For most SME's, it makes a great deal of sense to go down the SaaS route rather than having to install and maintain their own software and back up their data. Of course, there are the added benefits of using a web-based application, such as being able to log on from anywhere at any time, working in conjunction with your colleagues and business partners, collaborating together from wherever you are. But even before considering those benefits, SaaS provides the perfect solution for businesses that don't want to burden themselves with expensive software and costly IT maintenance. That’s a really helpful video! Like many buzz words, SaaS tends to be sorrounded by a fog of marketing hype, so it is nice to be able to watch something like this and clear away any confusion.

Some time ago Gartner published their definition of SaaS in a press release. They said:

“SaaS is hosted software based on a single set of common code and data definitions that are consumed in a one-to-many model by all contracted customers, at any time, on a pay-for-use basis, or as a subscription based on usage metrics.”

The most important point is this: There is only one copy of the software that’s used by all customers. That’s the fundamental difference between what we’re doing and what some software vendors do when they “web-enable” their applications with something like a browser-based front end.

One copy of the software means that everything we do is available for the benefit of all customers at the same time – and we invest a great deal of effort in creating e-conomic, making it secure, maintaining it and adding enhancements. All customers get immediate access to improvements as part of the service, there’s no need to re-install, upgrade or pay an extra fee.

For most SME’s, it makes a great deal of sense to go down the SaaS route rather than having to install and maintain their own software and back up their data. Of course, there are the added benefits of using a web-based application, such as being able to log on from anywhere at any time, working in conjunction with your colleagues and business partners, collaborating together from wherever you are. But even before considering those benefits, SaaS provides the perfect solution for businesses that don’t want to burden themselves with expensive software and costly IT maintenance.

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