I’ve been suggesting for a while that the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) industry is moving into a new stage in which inter-enterprise applications are becoming the focus. At the same time, the lines of demarcation between software, business and information services are blurring. Two announcements today exemplify these trends.

The first is Dun & Bradstreet’s (D&B) new alliance with Informatica to broaden its recently announced set of Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) solutions, called D&B360. Under this agreement, D&B will utilize Informatica’s Cloud integration platform to permit enterprise software vendors to more easily embed D&B data into their applications. The data from D&B’s information services can significantly enhance the value of the applications provided by independent software vendors (ISVs) and strengthen their position in an increasingly competitive software marketplace.

The second is Rearden Commerce’s acquisition of Ketera which gives Rearden a fuller lifecycle of online spend management capabilities to combine with its existing eCommerce network. Patrick Grady, … Read More »

Few technology trends have captured as much popular attention as Cloud Computing. The level of hype associated with the ‘Cloud’ hasn’t been seen since the hoopla created during the Dot.com era. As a result, there has been plenty of debate about whether the Cloud Computing phenomenon is headed to a similar demise.

Of course, I can point to plenty of proof-points which clearly demonstrate the differences between the false promises of the Dot.com era and the tangible benefits of today’s Cloud Computing solutions. However, the recent Comcast outage raises an even more serious concern — are businesses moving to a far less reliable operating platform when they turn to Cloud services to support their corporate operations?

I was confronted with a similar question after giving a keynote presentation at the Connecticut Venture Group’s Software Industry 2010 meeting. A member of the audience suggested that the rapid adoption … Read More »

THINKstrategies announced today that Informatica has been named the latest winner of the Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Awards program, which is aimed at promoting the measurable business benefits being delivered by today’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions.

The BoSS Awards is an ongoing program which recognizes SaaS companies that are producing tangible business benefits for specific user organizations. These benefits can include increased sales, lower costs, higher customer satisfaction, faster operations and greater profitability.

Informatica is a leading provider of data integration solutions which enable users to access, integrate and secure their information assets in traditional enterprise, off-premise and Cloud environments.

Click here to read about the measurable business benefits which Informatica’s customers have gained from the company’s SaaS solutions which earned it a BoSS Award.

Click here to learn more about the BoSS Award program and to apply for an Award.

Based on the success of the BoSS Awards program which focuses on SaaS … Read More »

Organizations of all sizes across nearly every industry are putting aside their legacy, on-premise applications in favor of a new generation of Web-based, on-demand, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Cloud Computing alternatives.
 
This escalating trend is attracting a new breed of software providers and forcing established independent software vendors (ISVs), as well as in-house software developers, to re-think how they design, develop and deliver business applications.
 
THINKstrategies has published a whitepaper, on behalf of SoftServe, which examines how Cloud-based, SaaS applications differ from traditional on-premise software products, and how specialized software development firms can help ISVs and in-house developers meet users’ changing expectations and achieve their business objectives.
 
Click here to obtain a copy of THINKstrategies’ whitepaper. I hope you find it helpful.

Despite the growing examples of organizations gaining tangible and measurable business benefits from Cloud-based, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions which THINKstrategies profiled in its recent report entitled, “Measuring the Business Benefits of Today’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Solutions”, many corporate decision-makers remain apprehensive about adopting these Cloud-based services because of data privacy and security concerns.

Companies outside the U.S. are particularly concerned about using services delivered by U.S.-based providers because of the ominous language contained in the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, commonly referred to as the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

This regulation appears to permit U.S. law enforcement agencies to unilaterally access private customer records stored on corporate servers worldwide if they are suspected of holding data which could pertain to terrorist threats or other criminal activity. These fears have made organizations especially hesitant to consider SaaS-based … Read More »

THINKstrategies announced today that SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence (BI) OnDemand solution has been named the latest winner of the Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Awards program, which is aimed at promoting the measurable business benefits being delivered by today’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions.

The BoSS Awards is an ongoing program which recognizes SaaS companies that are producing tangible business benefits for specific user organizations. These benefits can include increased sales, lower costs, higher customer satisfaction, faster operations and greater profitability.

SAP BusinessObjects BI OnDemand is an intuitive, turnkey business intelligence solution that allows business people with no prior experience to explore, report and share information inside or outside the company.  Because it’s on demand, SAP BusinessObjects BI OnDemand can be acquired and setup in minutes, without a long technology project.  It’s available standalone or can integrate with existing on-premise or on-demand investments, delivering improved productivity and greater insight for more informed decision-making.

Click here … Read More »

At its core, the fundamental value proposition of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is risk management because it promises to enable companies to better manage resources, focus on core capabilities and minimize the cost of extensive IT infrastructures.

But anecdotal evidence suggests that many potential buyers believe SaaS entails other forms of risk – and that this belief often stalls purchase decisions, especially among C-suite executives.

Grant Thornton is eager to test, measure, clarify and perhaps erase perceptions that challenge greater business adoption of SaaS solutions by conducting an industry survey to see how these risks are impacting SaaS success.

THINKstrategies is pleased to be supporting Grant Thornton’s SaaS Business Sector Risk Management Survey, and would like to encourage SaaS, other independent software vendors (ISVs) and as well as those who are involved with the delivery of SaaS solutions to participate in this research project.

Grant Thornton’s goal … Read More »

THINKstrategies announced today that Bill.com has been named the latest winner of the Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Awards program, which is aimed at promoting the measurable business benefits being delivered by today’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions.

The BoSS Awards is an ongoing program which recognizes SaaS companies that are producing tangible business benefits for specific user organizations. These benefits can include increased sales, lower costs, higher customer satisfaction, faster operations and greater profitability.

Bill.com is a leading provider of a SaaS-based, paperless bill management and payment solutions for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and CPA firms. Bill.com users can receive, route and pay invoices electronically with multiple options including PayPal and e-payments.Invoices can be emailed, scanned or faxed into Bill.com, and relevant information is automatically integrated into the Bill.com system. Digital images of invoices are then routed electronically for approval, ensuring a complete audit trail and eliminating lost or mishandled paper.

Click … Read More »

Dell’s acquisition of Boomi today is the latest example of the tech industry’s herd mentality.

In the same way that Dell followed HP’s example when it purchased Perot Systems after HP acquired EDS, Dell is now copying IBM’s acquisition of Cast Iron Systems with its own move into the integration business.

Besides trying to keep up with other ‘systems’ vendors, Dell is also attempting to fortify its Cloud Computing capabilities which hinge on helping potential customers cost-effectively migrate and integrate data from various legacy applications and databases into a new set of cloud services.

Dell indicated at an analyst briefing in Boston last week that it wants to ‘move up the stack’ and build a platform which can help enterprises and independent software vendors (ISVs) develop and deliver applications. Dell can’t compete with the other major Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) vendors — including Salesforce.com, Google and Microsoft … Read More »

THINKstrategies announced today that Mimecast has been named the latest winner of the Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Awards program, which is aimed at promoting the measurable business benefits being delivered by today’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions.

The BoSS Awards is an ongoing program which recognizes SaaS companies that are producing tangible business benefits for specific user organizations. These benefits can include increased sales, lower costs, higher customer satisfaction, faster operations and greater profitability.

Mimecast is a SaaS-based Unified Email Management (UEM) company which provides cloud-based email security, continuity, policy control and archiving which requires no customer hardware, software or capital expense. The typical stack of email technologies; gateways, anti-spam systems, email archives, continuity facilities, email marketing, policy control and virus protection, are all replaced by the Mimecast service, hosted in the cloud.

Click here to read about the measurable business benefits which earned Mimecast the lastest BoSS Award.

Click here to read more about … Read More »