White Paper. Are SaaS and Cloud Computing Your Best Bets?

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "White Paper. Are SaaS and Cloud Computing Your Best Bets?"

Transcription

1 White Paper Are SaaS and Cloud Computing Your Best Bets? Understanding SaaS and Cloud Computing and Service Delivery Options for Real Estate Technology Solutions Joseph Valeri, MBA, MS President, Lucernex Technologies

2 Executive Summary Today, real estate companies have many options to consider when selecting software. Of course, the first step is gaining a good understanding of how the technology solution will help them manage their operational activities, control their costs, and reduce their risks. These benefits can then be compared with the total costs of ownership, which is usually the first place business leaders tend to focus. As the technology offerings have matured and the Internet has become more stable and secure, there are many other factors that need to be considered as well. These include whether to buy or build the application, own or lease the software, or use existing IT resources and equipment. Joe Valeri, President of Lucernex Technologies, has prepared a series of discussion documents on these three critical decision factors: 1) Is SaaS and Cloud Computing Your Best Bet? 2) To Build or To Buy That Is the Question 3) Single Technology Platform Versus Multiple Technology Solutions This article looks at the major technology changes impacting the licensing and delivery of real estate software solutions. It discusses how to evaluate these new options in order to make the best decision for your computing needs and a decision that fits within your corporate culture. While the focus of the discussion is on real estate technology and solution providers, the concepts are applicable across industries. Contents Introduction Definitions o Cloud Computing o SaaS Applications and Licensing o Perpetual Licensing What s Happening and Why o History of Cloud Computing o Today s Computing Infrastructure What s Not Happening and Why Not o All or Nothing? o Security Perceptions o Changing Licensing Agreements o Vendor Readiness o Changing Role for IT Conclusion Page 2

3 Introduction The world is experiencing a major technology shift. As short as five years ago, SaaS application delivery and Cloud computing were considered technology trends that were not yet business ready. Most vendors were struggling with how to incorporate these new technologies into their design and development. Most companies were not eager to consider housing any of their data outside the walls of their own data center. Today, it is a different story. Vendors have figured out how to design software solutions that capitalize on the flexibility of SaaS delivery and Cloud hosting. In turn, businesses have begun to recognize that these alternatives provide cost effective and reliable solutions for housing and managing some data and software applications. Making the decision, whether you are the business or technology leader, can be daunting. It can be very confusing determining what, how, and when to incorporate one of these technologies into your IT platform. This paper discusses SaaS applications and Cloud Computing by providing information on: Basic definitions Why the switch to Cloud Computing is gaining so much momentum Pros and cons of perpetual vs. SaaS application licensing Decision considerations for evaluating and selecting a new technology solution Definitions Cloud Computing, also referred to as Utility Computing is a shared IT infrastructure. It is a data center that: is typically external to your company or exists inside your company as a unique, segregated component of a larger data center utilizes virtualization technology has been designed from the top down to most effectively and efficiently manage data and application provides an incredibly high level of security Cloud Computing allows companies to access a wide variety of software applications without having to endure the expense and long wait times of getting internal IT departments to procure equipment, install software, and configure applications within their network. Cloud computing is used for many different reasons including document storage, off- site backup, collaboration applications (i.e. Google Apps or LiveOffice) as well as business applications such as salesforce.com. Page 3

4 The promise of Cloud computing is cheaper, faster, and more secure data and systems management. It is now being considered by IT and business thought leaders alike as the future delivery infrastructure for all software applications. Cloud computing can be offered in several different forms: Private cloud: an infrastructure that is created within a company to house all applications, programs and data in a central repository accessible via the internal network. Public cloud: an infrastructure that allows a company to rent space in a public, secure cloud center. Hybrid cloud: an infrastructure that combines the benefits of the public and private cloud and provides flexibility for each particular application Software- as- a- service (SaaS), also referred to as on- demand a software is application software that can be delivered to end users via a web browser rather than through software that is stored on desktops. Rather than being owned, SaaS software is licensed as a subscription service or through lease fee. These types of fees are typically paid annually and, in total, far less than comparable software delivered using the perpetual or traditional software model. Because SaaS applications can be delivered through a web browser, it is often considered the same as Cloud Computing, but it is not the same thing. Some SaaS products are offered in the Cloud and some are delivered via the software provider s network. Perpetual licensed software is software that is installed on a company server and/or user desktop and is purchased rather than leased. In addition to the one-time purchase, which can be quite large, there is a smaller annual maintenance fee. What s Changing and Why In October of 2005, Bill Gates sent a memo to Microsoft s top management sounding the alarm that the rise of utility computing threatened to destroy its core business. Microsoft, at the time, was a pure perpetual software vendor, selling all their software to be installed on a customer computer or server, and charging large fees up front with a small annual maintenance fee. Page 4

5 Microsoft was not alone as a perpetual software vendor; this was, and continues to be, the way virtually all vendors in the retail real estate space provide software. The costs of such software are not limited to the one- time ownership fee, but also to the purchase of expensive hardware, such as multiple servers, for the internal data center behind the corporate firewall. The alternative that spurred Microsoft to action was utility computing. In his book, The Big Switch, Nicholas Carr makes the case that the business model of providing perpetual software licenses simply cannot survive much longer. Mr. Carr begins by discussing how the introduction of the electricity grid dramatically shifted competition. Electricity became available to all companies, even those that could not or would not invest in a costly power infrastructure. Companies who had relied on an internal infrastructure to produce their electricity lost a significant economic competitive advantage. Mr. Carr goes on to draw a telling analogy about how utility computing will cause the same Big Shift. The costs and benefits of implementing and maintaining an internal data center can and will be replaced by Cloud Computing centers that will be available to all companies. Much like electricity, companies that embrace the utility computing grid can provide their products far cheaper. Companies that lagged behind in adopting the electricity grid were driven out of business. With utility/cloud computing, the same shift has already started. It is already impacting software pricing in the real estate software industry. More support for Mr. Carr s argument can be seen by the rapid growth and success of Salesforce.com. Salesforce.com entered the Customer Relationship Management market as a SaaS application and has taken over that industry. While brilliant business execution played a major role in Salesforce growth, its success can also be attributed to a shift in user attitude. For example, many of you reading this article right now are in a company that uses Salesforce. Ten years ago, you would have been using Seibel, which was sold under a perpetual license model. As Salesforce rapidly stole market share, it became clear that Seibel could not compete with Salesforce in cost and implementation ease, and their best option for survival was through acquisition by Oracle in September of Large technology vendors are making investments to ensure that the move to cloud computing can and will continue. Google, IBM, Microsoft and Amazon, as well as several others, have invested billions in infrastructure and have thousands of server farms already up and running all around the world to support a massive cloud infrastructure. If you use GMAIL, Hotmail, Live Office, YahooMail, Flickr, Facebook or most other major sites on the Internet, you are already using the cloud and may not realize it. Page 5

6 What s Not Changing and Why Not So if technology companies are building the platform, and the cost / benefit of SaaS and Cloud computing is a reality, why are so many companies still investing in technology the old way? Several factors are still at play: Notion of it must be all or nothing Misconceptions about data and application security Understanding the change in licensing agreements and new cost/benefit models Readiness and stability of SaaS vendors Changing Role of IT It s All or Nothing Companies are beginning to realize that it is not an all or nothing decision. The emerging thought leadership is suggesting a rule of thumb - - if you can find a product that meets your functional and security requirements, move to the Cloud. Of course, a major part of this reasoning is based on costs. Buying applications under a perpetual licensing model will continue to have a higher cost structure when considering the total cost of ownership purchase price, data center infrastructure, annual support and maintenance for software and hardware and the ongoing IT staffing costs. This rule of thumb does not apply, however, to those systems that contain (and manage) the DNA that makes the company special and unique. For the most part, these are systems that have been internally developed or highly configured or customized. These systems truly cannot be replicated in the open market, and are better suited for delivery via in- house data centers or in a private cloud. Security Perceptions There is still a concern that a Cloud infrastructure is not as secure as an internal data center. While we recognize that security is a critical component of any system, the fact is that most companies cannot match the time, resources and sophistication of technology that cloud computing centers devote to this issue. Cloud software providers typically use a third party Cloud hosting center a center whose core competancy is providing high performance networks and protecting data. It would be hard to find an internal IT department that can provide more security than a company whose core competency is data security. Data protection IS their business. Harkening back to Mr. Carr s analogy, the exact same argument was made by many now defunct companies when the electricity grid came online no one can produce the amount and quality of electricity I need as well as I do. One way to evaluate a Cloud Computing or SaaS vendors focus on security is to review their ISO 9001 certification or a SSAE 16 audit. These are indicators of a Page 6

7 dedication to customer satisfaction as well as to the ability to secure your application and data. Changing Licensing Agreements There is a great deal of confusion and many misconceptions around the differences between cost structures for SaaS and perpetual software licensing models. And, much of this confusion seems to be introduced by the real estate software vendors themselves. Many of these vendors are selling products that are based on a perpetual software license, installed behind the client firewall. However, they are offering these solutions under a subscription pricing model so that the solutions have the feel of a SaaS model. Software delivered via the perpetual or traditional software model are typically installed inside the client firewall. When comparing costs, it is important to remember that perpetual systems require a very large upfront effort, which manifests as high costs and long implementation times. It takes a lot to get a large enterprise system running inside a company s firewall and on a company s unique combination of technologies. The lists below describe the requirements for installing software under a perpetual software licensing and a SaaS licensing. Perpetual software requires: A large upfront software fee for the vendors product Third party software fees for separate but required products (for real estate it is typically reporting, workflow, analysis and demographics solutions) An investment in hardware within the client firewall An investment in a large IT project by the customers staff An often large implementation fee to retrofit the vendor product into the clients unique combination of technologies Months of business resources time spent on the IT project instead of on mission critical business needs Annual maintenance of 18% to 22% of the initial software fee Cost example: In the lease administration software space, one of the market leaders, requires a minimum of 5 servers and several third party licenses costing over $100,000 BEFORE the customer even pays for internal IT costs, the vendors software, maintenance or implementation fees. SaaS solutions require: An annual subscription to the vendors SaaS cloud delivered service. This fee is typically 1/5 to 1/3 of a comparable perpetual product license cost, Page 7

8 An implementation fee for a typically 4 to 16 week project focusing on data conversion and client process design. No time spent on fitting vendor architecture into the clients network. SaaS requires no third party licenses, no hardware, no internal IT project and no long implementation. The subscription fee for a SaaS Lease Administration solutions will typically be half of the cost of a perpetual license BUT with: no upfront fees no internal IT cost an implementation focused solely on getting the clients data and processes into the system with no time spent figuring out how to get it to work in the clients data center and network When you add in all actual upfront costs of buying a perpetual solution, it will often be 3 to 5 times the cost of a SaaS solution in the first year and 2 to 3 times the cost over 5 years. Clearly, there is a major difference in the costs between vendors who can provide a true SaaS and Cloud- delivered solution. In an effort to compete, the vendors who license their products under a perpetual model providers are dropping their software prices and making up their profit on services fees. One must ask whether this is a business model that can be sustained. Vendor readiness and stability It is important to keep in mind that Cloud Computing is not a pricing model; it is a delivery model. True Cloud vendors have embraced the utility computing model and have redesigned their products and platforms (no small undertaking) to be optimally delivered via the Cloud. In doing so they have taken advantage of the cloud utility grid, like the electricity grid, and have dramatically driven down operating costs. In evaluating a vendors SaaS and Cloud Computing readiness, it might be helpful to look at the Microsoft timeline. Microsoft began a process of moving their products to the Cloud after the Bill Gates pronouncement in (You can already see this in their push for Microsoft OfficeLive, which provides all the benefits of Microsoft Office in the Cloud, including file storage and free upgrades to new version of Office without the stress of loading it on your computer. ) It took Microsoft almost 5 years to convert to this new infrastructure, and they have near unlimited resources. Page 8

9 Keeping scale in mind, try to consider how long it might take for a vendor who is still operating in a perpetual platform and design to move to the Cloud. Another consideration when evaluating SaaS solutions and vendors is looking at the delivery infrastructure. While some SaaS products are offered in the Cloud, some are delivered via the software provider s network. These networks may not be as secure and or as diligently maintained as those in a Cloud Center. Vendor business model stability When looking at a perpetual license versus a SaaS license, companies today would be better served to focus on vendor business model stability.. It is not clear how long software vendors who are providing solutions via a perpetual licenses will be able to remain competitive and viable. For some real estate software companies, the inability to redesign their software to allow for a more flexible delivery platform has meant losing control of their product, either because they have gone out of business or have been taken over by a venture capital group or other non- real estate solution provider. In either case, the impact on the original product is unclear and uncertain. A collapse might mean they go out of business but it will more likely come as a takeover by a Venture Capitalist, or private equity group or by the likes of Oracle or IBM who may kill the product and convert clients to their, non- real estate, non- retail focused platforms (which are also still Perpetual models!). Changing Role for IT Another part of the discussion about Cloud or non- Cloud speaks to the ability and maturity of the IT departments. As IT departments become more able to understand and translate the risks and rewards of new application delivery methods, there will be increased movement to the Cloud. As an example, an IT Director at a major retailer recently explained that they are changing their focus as the purpose of IT is shifting. Recognizing the power of SaaS solutions in enabling growth and mitigating risk, he has been able to realign his team to focus on systems that are unique to their business, such as merchandising management, and are part of the company s core competency. To ensure this understanding and alignment, they are moving many IT resources away from the data center and infrastructure and onto the business units, not only to provide better service, but to help the business leaders in their software decision making including assisting with the selection of SaaS providers. This is representative of the change coming to the role of in- house IT in most companies. Instead of the majority of IT staff being utilized to maintain hundreds or thousands of internal servers and systems, IT will focus its attention on how to optimize and improve core systems that make the company unique. IT management Page 9

10 will also be better equipped to represent the business units in selecting the right SaaS solution. IT will be even more important is turning technology expenditures into quantifiable company performance gains. This change also means that business users will be able to implement technology faster as the lighter project load on IT means truly critical systems will get done faster while systems better delivered via a vendor SaaS product can be implemented quickly outside the firewall using vendor or consulting resources. Another reason for the reluctance to move to SaaS and Cloud computing comes from the IT departments, who continue to recommend perpetual license models. As the designated guardians of data and applications, many of these groups have not had the time or taken the time to investigate the pros and cons of moving to the cloud. In addition, some of the IT leaders have not looked strategically at the value of shifting their focus from routine data center management to technology that can more directly impact the revenue and profit of the business. Conclusion Cost containment and corporate agility are key factors for success in today s shifting economy and business environment. Cloud- delivered SaaS applications support the flexibility that businesses need while also establishing lower, predictable costs. This type of technology infrastructure allows companies to transfer hardware ownership and maintenance costs to a vendor who can provide these services e more economically, efficiently and securely. Use of SaaS/Cloud solutions also allows companies to redeploy their IT staff to focus on their core business to understand and automate key processes, provide operational intelligence and manage the corporate knowledge bank. All of these activities will provide a competitive advantage and let the company respond more quickly and accurately to a rapidly changing business environment. Real Estate has traditionally been a lagging adopter of new technology; however, we are seeing a tremendous increase in the interest and demand for Cloud- based solutions among real estate companies of every size. We are proud to be one of the first vendors in this industry to respond to these needs and offer a robust and secure computing environment to manage the life cycle of real estate for retailers and corporate leaders. In addition to the value of Cloud delivery, our products are also built on one platform with one database and one user interface. To understand how this design adds to your corporate agility, please read our White Paper, Point Solutions versus Integrated Solutions, the second in this series of articles. Page 10

11 About Lucernex Founded in 2000, Lucernex Technologies provides real estate professionals with powerful software tools to guide them through the real estate development process while also managing any size portfolio of leased and owned properties. It is the only solution designed by retailers for retailers. For nearly a decade, Fortune 500 companies in the commercial real estate, hospitality, retail, construction and engineering industries, both in the United States and Europe, have been utilizing Lucernex Technologies software solutions every day to ensure compliance, mitigate risk and empower effective growth. As an innovative leader in retail real estate solutions, Lucernex continues to grow its customer base by applying its Web-based software expertise and real estate development insight to provide advanced tools and services for business. Page 11

The Cloud at Crawford. Evaluating the pros and cons of cloud computing and its use in claims management

The Cloud at Crawford. Evaluating the pros and cons of cloud computing and its use in claims management The Cloud at Crawford Evaluating the pros and cons of cloud computing and its use in claims management The Cloud at Crawford Wikipedia defines cloud computing as Internet-based computing, whereby shared

More information

The Small Business Guide to Cloud Computing PRESENTED BY. www.keymethods.net/cloud 888.860.2074 info@keymethods.net

The Small Business Guide to Cloud Computing PRESENTED BY. www.keymethods.net/cloud 888.860.2074 info@keymethods.net The Small Business Guide to Cloud Computing PRESENTED BY You ve undoubtedly heard the term cloud computing being used over the past couple of years, and you may be wondering what all of the buzz is about.

More information

All can damage or destroy your company s computers along with the data and applications you rely on to run your business.

All can damage or destroy your company s computers along with the data and applications you rely on to run your business. All can damage or destroy your company s computers along with the data and applications you rely on to run your business. Losing your computers doesn t have to disrupt your business if you take advantage

More information

The Cloud Has Finally Landed.

The Cloud Has Finally Landed. RevITup TM TechEd Webinar Series The Cloud Has Finally Landed. Should Your Company Head In? Ilene Rosoff, CEO The Launch Pad About Me & The Launch Pad The Launch Pad provides managed, fixed-fee technology

More information

Processing invoices in the cloud or on premises pros and cons

Processing invoices in the cloud or on premises pros and cons WHITE PAPER Purchase-to-pay by ReadSoft. Automated account payables processing software Author: Wille Dahl March 2012 Copyright ReadSoft - www.readsoft.com Processing invoices in the cloud or on premises

More information

No matter the delivery model private, public, hybrid the cloud has the same core attributes:

No matter the delivery model private, public, hybrid the cloud has the same core attributes: Private and Public Clouds Powered by SimpliVity Solution Brief SimpliVity s OmniCube is the market-leading hyperconverged infrastructure platform, delivering the best of both worlds: x86 cloud economics

More information

INTRODUCTION THE CLOUD

INTRODUCTION THE CLOUD INTRODUCTION As technologies rapidly evolve, companies are responding with creative business models and exciting ways to reach new markets. But major technology shifts and the influx of information that

More information

Outline. What is cloud computing? History Cloud service models Cloud deployment forms Advantages/disadvantages

Outline. What is cloud computing? History Cloud service models Cloud deployment forms Advantages/disadvantages Ivan Zapevalov 2 Outline What is cloud computing? History Cloud service models Cloud deployment forms Advantages/disadvantages 3 What is cloud computing? 4 What is cloud computing? Cloud computing is the

More information

A discussion on Does cloud computing payback? Another in Inecom s series of Insight white papers to help improve your business process

A discussion on Does cloud computing payback? Another in Inecom s series of Insight white papers to help improve your business process INSIGHTS A discussion on Does cloud computing payback? Another in Inecom s series of Insight white papers to help improve your business process One of the issues with discussing cloud solutions, is trying

More information

Is a Cloud ERP Solution Right for You?

Is a Cloud ERP Solution Right for You? Is a Cloud ERP Solution Right for You? By Spencer Arnesen, CPA There s been a lot of hype recently about how cloud software solutions are the wave of the future. In the consumer environment, you can use

More information

WHITE PAPER TAKING THE NEXT STEP IN CTRM CLOUD SOLUTIONS

WHITE PAPER TAKING THE NEXT STEP IN CTRM CLOUD SOLUTIONS WHITE PAPER TAKING THE NEXT STEP IN CTRM CLOUD SOLUTIONS Introduction IN THE LAST DECADE, A QUIET REVOLUTION HAS OC- CURRED WITHIN THE E/CTRM (ENERGY/COMMODITY TRADING AND RISK MANAGEMENT) SOFTWARE CATE-

More information

Is Cloud ERP Really Cheaper?

Is Cloud ERP Really Cheaper? Is Cloud ERP Really Cheaper? A Simple Guide to Understanding the Differences Between Cloud and On- Premise Distribution Software This guide attempts to outline all of the principal considerations that

More information

Cloud Computing Flying High (or not) Ben Roper IT Director City of College Station

Cloud Computing Flying High (or not) Ben Roper IT Director City of College Station Cloud Computing Flying High (or not) Ben Roper IT Director City of College Station What is Cloud Computing? http://www.agent-x.com.au/ Wikipedia - the use of computing resources (hardware and software)

More information

7 Deadly Sins of the DIY Cloud

7 Deadly Sins of the DIY Cloud 7 Deadly Sins of the DIY Cloud Uncovering the Hidden Impact of Custom App Development in the Cloud The Do-It-Yourself Cloud Revolution Cloud computing has brought a revolution to application development.

More information

Service Models Comparisons & Total Cost of Ownership by Coupa Software

Service Models Comparisons & Total Cost of Ownership by Coupa Software Service Models Comparisons & Total Cost of Ownership by Coupa Software Procurement software enables organizations to save time, money, and effort throughout the procure- to- pay cycle. It offers a direct

More information

1.2. The key benefits of the shift to the cloud... 3. 1.3. The emergence of No-code metadata driven application platforms... 4

1.2. The key benefits of the shift to the cloud... 3. 1.3. The emergence of No-code metadata driven application platforms... 4 Table of Contents 1. Fundamental shifts driving imminent change for Enterprise Software Applications... 3 1.1. The emergence of the Cloud Computing paradigm... 3 1.2. The key benefits of the shift to the

More information

UNLOCKING THE COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL IN YOUR CLOUD SOFTWARE

UNLOCKING THE COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL IN YOUR CLOUD SOFTWARE UNLOCKING THE COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL IN YOUR CLOUD SOFTWARE By Aidan Gallagher HOW INISHTECH S SOFTWARE POTENTIAL SERVICE HELPS WINDOWS AZURE APPLICATION DEVELOPERS MONETIZE THE CLOUD. loud computing is

More information

4/7/2012. Software (and data) accessed via the internet; not on your local computer

4/7/2012. Software (and data) accessed via the internet; not on your local computer Presented By: Lauren Nathanson Extra Space Storage What does Cloud mean? Benefits and challenges of cloud applications Case study: Extra Space Storage s NetDocuments implementation Tips on how to protect

More information

What are the benefits of Cloud Computing for Small Business?

What are the benefits of Cloud Computing for Small Business? Cloud Computing A Small Business Guide. Whilst more and more small businesses are adopting Cloud Computing services, it is fair to say that most small businesses are still unsure of what Cloud Computing

More information

Achieve Economic Synergies by Managing Your Human Capital In The Cloud

Achieve Economic Synergies by Managing Your Human Capital In The Cloud Achieve Economic Synergies by Managing Your Human Capital In The Cloud By Orblogic, March 12, 2014 KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER C LOUD S OLUTIONS A RE P RACTICAL AND E ASY TO I MPLEMENT Time to market and rapid

More information

ABS Information Systems Inc. 307 Lesmill Rd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3B 2V1 Phone: 416-449-4141 Email: sales@absinfosys.com

ABS Information Systems Inc. 307 Lesmill Rd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3B 2V1 Phone: 416-449-4141 Email: sales@absinfosys.com How can small and midsize businesses that are relentlessly challenged by technology complexity and rapid technology obsolescence utilize a private cloud solution to thrive? Introduction 1 Growing with

More information

The Future of Cloud Computing:

The Future of Cloud Computing: The Future of Cloud Computing: Is The Cloud the Next Revolutionary Change for IT? Q3/Q4 2009 Pulse Survey In partnership with: Table of Contents Introduction.......................................................

More information

ITSM Software: Is SaaS the Model for You?

ITSM Software: Is SaaS the Model for You? ITSM Software: Is SaaS the Model for You? By Kai Holthaus, ITIL v3 Expert and Director for Third Sky, Inc. Software as a Service (SaaS) has gotten a lot of attention recently. Many companies and IT organizations

More information

How To Understand The Benefits Of Cloud Computing

How To Understand The Benefits Of Cloud Computing Issue in Focus: Assessing the Cloud PLM Opportunity Evaluating Benefits, Requirements, and Considerations Tech-Clarity, Inc. 2012 Table of Contents Introducing the Issue... 3 The Cloud Meets PLM... 3 Evaluating

More information

MOVING TO THE CLOUD: Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership

MOVING TO THE CLOUD: Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership MOVING TO THE CLOUD: Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership The most significant cost of owning and managing software applications is tied up in operating and maintaining the software, along with the

More information

Rootstock Software White Paper How Cloud Computing is Changing the Manufacturing ERP Landscape

Rootstock Software White Paper How Cloud Computing is Changing the Manufacturing ERP Landscape Rootstock Software White Paper How Cloud Computing is Changing the Manufacturing ERP Landscape By Pat Garrehy Executive Summary The introduction and success of cloud computing in recent years has dramatically

More information

Cloud for Credit Unions Leveraging New Solutions to Increase Efficiency & Reduce Costs Presented by: Hugh Smallwood, Chief Technology Officer

Cloud for Credit Unions Leveraging New Solutions to Increase Efficiency & Reduce Costs Presented by: Hugh Smallwood, Chief Technology Officer Cloud for Credit Unions Leveraging New Solutions to Increase Efficiency & Reduce Costs Presented by: Hugh Smallwood, Chief Technology Officer Plan. Prepare. Protect. About Us Formed by a Group of DC Metro

More information

Overview. The Cloud. Characteristics and usage of the cloud Realities and risks of the cloud

Overview. The Cloud. Characteristics and usage of the cloud Realities and risks of the cloud Overview The purpose of this paper is to introduce the reader to the basics of cloud computing or the cloud with the aim of introducing the following aspects: Characteristics and usage of the cloud Realities

More information

Cloud Computing; What is it, How long has it been here, and Where is it going?

Cloud Computing; What is it, How long has it been here, and Where is it going? Cloud Computing; What is it, How long has it been here, and Where is it going? David Losacco, CPA, CIA, CISA Principal January 10, 2013 Agenda The Cloud WHAT IS THE CLOUD? How long has it been here? Where

More information

Understanding the Microsoft Cloud

Understanding the Microsoft Cloud Understanding the Microsoft Cloud by Ken Withee 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Lync, Microsoft Dynamics, SharePoint, Windows, and Windows Azure are trademarks of the Microsoft

More information

CLOUD COMPUTING An Overview

CLOUD COMPUTING An Overview CLOUD COMPUTING An Overview Abstract Resource sharing in a pure plug and play model that dramatically simplifies infrastructure planning is the promise of cloud computing. The two key advantages of this

More information

Software as a Service Offers Broadening Appeal for Small and Medium-Sized Discrete Manufacturers

Software as a Service Offers Broadening Appeal for Small and Medium-Sized Discrete Manufacturers Software as a Service Offers Broadening Appeal for Small and Medium-Sized Discrete Manufacturers WHITE PAPER Sponsored by: SAP Simon Ellis November 2010 IDC MANUFACTURING INSIGHTS OPINION Software as a

More information

SELECTING BUSINESS APPLICATION SOFTWARE: BUILD VS. BUY

SELECTING BUSINESS APPLICATION SOFTWARE: BUILD VS. BUY WHITE PAPER SELECTING BUSINESS APPLICATION SOFTWARE: BUILD VS. BUY Guidance for Associations Evaluating Software Technology Solutions Build or Buy? It s a recurring and timely question for associations

More information

HRG Assessment The Cloud Computing Challenge

HRG Assessment The Cloud Computing Challenge HRG Assessment The Cloud Computing Challenge What is Cloud Computing? Cloud Computing can be described as application services provided to end users through the web and managed by a third party. The services

More information

Cloud Computing Trends

Cloud Computing Trends UT DALLAS Erik Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science Cloud Computing Trends What is cloud computing? Cloud computing refers to the apps and services delivered over the internet. Software delivered

More information

Cloud vs. On Premise: Is there a Middle Ground?

Cloud vs. On Premise: Is there a Middle Ground? Cloud vs. On Premise: Is there a Middle Ground? Building Multi Channel Business Applications without Re Coding Magic Software March 2010 Magic Software is a trademark of Magic Software Enterprises Ltd.

More information

Everything You Need To Know About Cloud Computing

Everything You Need To Know About Cloud Computing Everything You Need To Know About Cloud Computing What Every Business Owner Should Consider When Choosing Cloud Hosted Versus Internally Hosted Software 1 INTRODUCTION Cloud computing is the current information

More information

Market Maturity. Cloud Definitions

Market Maturity. Cloud Definitions HRG Assessment: Cloud Computing Provider Perspective In the fall of 2009 Harvard Research Group (HRG) interviewed selected Cloud Computing companies including SaaS (software as a service), PaaS (platform

More information

The cloud - ULTIMATE GAME CHANGER ===========================================

The cloud - ULTIMATE GAME CHANGER =========================================== The cloud - ULTIMATE GAME CHANGER =========================================== When it comes to emerging technologies, there is one word that has drawn more controversy than others: The Cloud. With cloud

More information

Realize More Success with Software-plus-Services. Cloud-based software from Microsoft Dynamics ERP

Realize More Success with Software-plus-Services. Cloud-based software from Microsoft Dynamics ERP Realize More Success with Software-plus-Services Cloud-based software from Microsoft Dynamics ERP Cloud computing is Internet-based development and use of computer technology. Large central data centers

More information

Building a High Value SaaS Business

Building a High Value SaaS Business Building a High Value SaaS Business White Paper Contents PAGE The SaaS Imperative New Buyer Sentiment Agile Development Decreasing Capital Requirements What s Different About SaaS? SaaS Is All About the

More information

The Cost and Benefits of On-Demand vs. On-Premise Procurement Software

The Cost and Benefits of On-Demand vs. On-Premise Procurement Software The Cost and Benefits of On-Demand vs. On-Premise Procurement Software A Coupa Executive White Paper Executive Summary Procurement software enables organizations to save time, money, and effort throughout

More information

Insight. Microsoft Channel Partners Feel the Pain and Ecstasy of the Cloud. Summary. Analysis. The Commitment to the Cloud

Insight. Microsoft Channel Partners Feel the Pain and Ecstasy of the Cloud. Summary. Analysis. The Commitment to the Cloud Microsoft Channel Partners Feel the Pain and Ecstasy of the Cloud Summary Microsoft is changing itself from the tried and true model of selling software product licenses, to a cloud company. While, this

More information

IJRSET 2015 SPL Volume 2, Issue 11 Pages: 29-33

IJRSET 2015 SPL Volume 2, Issue 11 Pages: 29-33 CLOUD COMPUTING NEW TECHNOLOGIES 1 Gokul krishnan. 2 M, Pravin raj.k, 3 Ms. K.M. Poornima 1, 2 III MSC (software system), 3 Assistant professor M.C.A.,M.Phil. 1, 2, 3 Department of BCA&SS, 1, 2, 3 Sri

More information

Cloud Computing. Chapter 1 Introducing Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing. Chapter 1 Introducing Cloud Computing Cloud Computing Chapter 1 Introducing Cloud Computing Learning Objectives Understand the abstract nature of cloud computing. Describe evolutionary factors of computing that led to the cloud. Describe virtualization

More information

Cloud based Contact Center: Does it Make Sense for Your Business?

Cloud based Contact Center: Does it Make Sense for Your Business? Cloud based Contact Center: Does it Make Sense for Your Business? Donna Fluss Founder & President DMG Consulting Joe Staples CMO Interactive Intelligence Table of Contents Q: As companies consider moving

More information

Cloud Computing Readiness - Background

Cloud Computing Readiness - Background IT Best Practices Audit Cloud Computing Readiness - Background Cloud based offerings are maturing and finally taking off after a long period (e.g. Software as a Service offerings have been available for

More information

cloud Development Strategies - Part 1

cloud Development Strategies - Part 1 for a successful shift to the cloud May 2014 1 CONTENTS Introduction Challenge 1: Application security Challenge 2: Complexity Challenge 3: Applications not optimized for cloud Challenge 4: Cost Challenge

More information

Software-as-a-Service: Managing Benefits for SMBs

Software-as-a-Service: Managing Benefits for SMBs Software-as-a-Service: Managing Benefits for SMBs A research report prepared by: Publication sponsored by: TABLE OF CONTENTS SaaS and SMBs: A Beneficial Combination Key Benefits of SaaS Solutions for SMBs

More information

Cloud Computing Impact on the Future

Cloud Computing Impact on the Future Cloud Computing Impact on Business & Outsourcing December 2010 The need to remain agile and competitive in the difficult economy, has forced firms to evaluate cloud as a solution. Amazon, Google and Microsoft

More information

On-Demand Versus On- Premise CRM. Are There Performance Differences?

On-Demand Versus On- Premise CRM. Are There Performance Differences? Call Center/Telesales Effectiveness Insights 2005 State of the Marketplace Review On-Demand Versus On- Premise CRM Are There Performance Differences? Jim Dickie Partner, CSO Insights Boulder, Colorado

More information

Cloud Computing. Cloud computing:

Cloud Computing. Cloud computing: Cloud computing: Cloud Computing A model of data processing in which high scalability IT solutions are delivered to multiple users: as a service, on a mass scale, on the Internet. Network services offering:

More information

How To Make A Software Revolution For Business

How To Make A Software Revolution For Business The Software Revolution Salesforce.com Feb, 2000 There is a software revolution going on. This software revolution will fundamentally change the way organizations view enterprise software. This software

More information

The Keys to Successful Cloud Migrations

The Keys to Successful Cloud Migrations Moving Federal Agencies to the Cloud The Keys to Successful Cloud Migrations A WHITE PAPER PRESENTED BY: September 2014 PREPARED BY MARKET CONNECTIONS INC. 14555 AVION PARKWAY, SUITE 125 CHANTILLY, VA

More information

MOVING BEYOND QUICKBOOKS: Why now s the time to graduate to professional financial management software

MOVING BEYOND QUICKBOOKS: Why now s the time to graduate to professional financial management software MOVING BEYOND QUICKBOOKS: Why now s the time to graduate to professional financial management software Summary Most small businesses begin their financial lives using Intuit s QuickBooks, which with an

More information

On Premise Vs Cloud: Selection Approach & Implementation Strategies

On Premise Vs Cloud: Selection Approach & Implementation Strategies On Premise Vs Cloud: Selection Approach & Implementation Strategies Session ID#:10143 Prepared by: Praveen Kumar Practice Manager AST Corporation @Praveenk74 REMINDER Check in on the COLLABORATE mobile

More information

USE OF CLOUD COMPUTING BY SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

USE OF CLOUD COMPUTING BY SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES 1 USE OF CLOUD COMPUTING BY SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES Introduction Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the drivers of a nation s economy SMEs are leading the way for entering new global markets

More information

Cloud Computing for SCADA

Cloud Computing for SCADA Cloud Computing for SCADA Moving all or part of SCADA applications to the cloud can cut costs significantly while dramatically increasing reliability and scalability. A White Paper from InduSoft Larry

More information

CLOUD COMPUTING: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

CLOUD COMPUTING: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW CLOUD COMPUTING: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW There is hardly a topic creating more of a buzz in software industry, than the Cloud. Cloud computing is a dramatic shift in the way we think about providing computing

More information

CRM Total Cost of Ownership: Fees, Subscriptions and Hidden Costs. Chris Bucholtz

CRM Total Cost of Ownership: Fees, Subscriptions and Hidden Costs. Chris Bucholtz CRM Total Cost of Ownership: Fees, Subscriptions and Hidden Costs Chris Bucholtz Contents Executive Overview...3 Vendor Pricing Analysis...4 Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011...4 Microsoft Dynamics CRM...4 Microsoft

More information

Customer Engagement & The Cloud

Customer Engagement & The Cloud Customer Engagement & The Cloud Silverbear Membership Customer Engagement & The Cloud There has been a lot of talk and hype recently surrounding this new phenomenon called the Cloud". A lot of senior business

More information

Shaping Your IT. Cloud

Shaping Your IT. Cloud Shaping Your IT Cloud Hybrid Cloud Models Enable Organizations to Leverage Existing Resources and Augment IT Services As dynamic business demands continue to place unprecedented burden on technology infrastructure,

More information

Computing? These days, small business owners and executives are asking lots of questions about Cloud Computing: something we ve done before?

Computing? These days, small business owners and executives are asking lots of questions about Cloud Computing: something we ve done before? What is Cloud Computing? These days, small business owners and executives are asking lots of questions about Cloud Computing:» What is Cloud Computing?» Is it something new, or just a new version of something

More information

Elastic Private Clouds

Elastic Private Clouds White Paper Elastic Private Clouds Agile, Efficient and Under Your Control 1 Introduction Most businesses want to spend less time and money building and managing IT infrastructure to focus resources on

More information

Cloud, On-premises, and More: The Business Value of Software Deployment Choice

Cloud, On-premises, and More: The Business Value of Software Deployment Choice Cloud, On-premises, and More: A research report prepared by: Publication sponsored by: TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction: Choices, Limits, and Adaptability Isn t Everything Cloud? The Importance of Architecture

More information

Greener IT Practices. Anthony Suda Network Manager

Greener IT Practices. Anthony Suda Network Manager Greener IT Practices Anthony Suda Network Manager marketing + technology 701.235.5525 888.9.sundog fax: 701.235.8941 2000 44th st s floor 6 fargo, nd 58103 www.sundog.net In our world today, individuals

More information

WHITE PAPER. 5 Ways Your Organization is Missing Out on Massive Opportunities By Not Using Cloud Software

WHITE PAPER. 5 Ways Your Organization is Missing Out on Massive Opportunities By Not Using Cloud Software WHITE PAPER 5 Ways Your Organization is Missing Out on Massive Opportunities By Not Using Cloud Software Cloud software allows your organization to focus on its strengths and outsource tough data storage

More information

Taking a Closer Look: Time and Attendance in an On-Demand Environment

Taking a Closer Look: Time and Attendance in an On-Demand Environment Taking a Closer Look: Time and Attendance in an On-Demand Environment Attendance on Demand, Inc. Farmington Hills, Michigan www.attendanceondemand.com Companies of all types and sizes are considering web-hosted

More information

Cloud Computing INTRODUCTION

Cloud Computing INTRODUCTION Cloud Computing INTRODUCTION Cloud computing is where software applications, processing power, data and potentially even artificial intelligence are accessed over the internet. or in simple words any situation

More information

2013 Cloud Computing Outlook: Private Cloud Expected to Grow at Twice the Rate of Public Cloud

2013 Cloud Computing Outlook: Private Cloud Expected to Grow at Twice the Rate of Public Cloud Private Cloud Expected to Grow at Twice the Rate of Public Cloud In This Paper Security, privacy concerns about the cloud remain SaaS is the most popular cloud service model in use today Microsoft, Google

More information

How to Evaluate a CRM System

How to Evaluate a CRM System How to Evaluate a CRM System Implementing an effective Customer Relationships Management (CRM) software system is becoming increasingly necessary for companies struggling to weather the recession to build

More information

Cloud vs On-Premise Software: And the Winner is

Cloud vs On-Premise Software: And the Winner is Cloud vs On-Premise Software: And the Winner is QR Code Presenters: Moderator, Micah Myers, Information Technology Director, City of St. Cloud, MN Speakers: Greg Jonsen, SaaS Leader, State of Minnesota

More information

Grow Your Business with Confidence

Grow Your Business with Confidence Grow Your Business with Confidence Keep Your Business Going and Growing Whether you make widgets, sell services, or move merchandise, you depend on your people, and your people depend on the tools you

More information

High Performance Computing Cloud Computing. Dr. Rami YARED

High Performance Computing Cloud Computing. Dr. Rami YARED High Performance Computing Cloud Computing Dr. Rami YARED Outline High Performance Computing Parallel Computing Cloud Computing Definitions Advantages and drawbacks Cloud Computing vs Grid Computing Outline

More information

www.alliancetechnologies.net

www.alliancetechnologies.net Corporate Headquarters 400 Locust Street Suite 840 Des Moines, Iowa 50309 Phone: 515-245-7777 Cedar Rapids Office 5925 Council Street NE Suite 180 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402 Phone: 888-387-5670 x7717 Alliance

More information

Five Core Principles of Successful Business Architecture. STA Group, LLC Revised: May 2013

Five Core Principles of Successful Business Architecture. STA Group, LLC Revised: May 2013 Five Core Principles of Successful Business Architecture STA Group, LLC Revised: May 2013 Executive Summary This whitepaper will provide readers with important principles and insights on business architecture

More information

Moving Network Management from OnSite to SaaS. Key Challenges and How NMSaaS Helps Solve Them

Moving Network Management from OnSite to SaaS. Key Challenges and How NMSaaS Helps Solve Them Moving Network Management from OnSite to SaaS Key Challenges and How NMSaaS Helps Solve Them Executive Summary In areas such as sales force automation and customer relationship management, cloud-based

More information

Cloud Computing. By the end of 2013, more than 75% of UK businesses will be using at least one type of cloud service. (Source: Cloud Industry Forum)

Cloud Computing. By the end of 2013, more than 75% of UK businesses will be using at least one type of cloud service. (Source: Cloud Industry Forum) Cloud Computing What if you could access all the computing power you need without actually owning it? That is the promise of cloud computing a new approach to IT for businesses large and small alike. Cloud

More information

Cloud Services. More agility. More freedom. More choice.

Cloud Services. More agility. More freedom. More choice. Cloud Services More agility. More freedom. More choice. What is cloud computing? No longer on the horizon: the cloud has come to business computing. Why consider moving to a cloud model? Why now? Cloud

More information

C LOUD E RP: HELPING MANUFACTURERS KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES

C LOUD E RP: HELPING MANUFACTURERS KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES June 2013 C LOUD E RP: HELPING MANUFACTURERS KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES MORE I NNOVATION, L ESS C OST W ITH S AAS E RP Data Source In late 2012 and early 2013 Mint Jutras collected more than 475 qualified

More information

THE APPEAL OF SAAS ERP

THE APPEAL OF SAAS ERP May 2015 THE APPEAL OF SAAS ERP Data Source In this report, Mint Jutras references data collected from its 2015 Enterprise Solution Study, which investigated goals, challenges and status and also benchmarked

More information

Maximize strategic flexibility by building an open hybrid cloud Gordon Haff

Maximize strategic flexibility by building an open hybrid cloud Gordon Haff red hat open hybrid cloud Whitepaper Maximize strategic flexibility by building an open hybrid cloud Gordon Haff EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Choosing how to build a cloud is perhaps the biggest strategic decision

More information

5 Essential Benefits of Hybrid Cloud Backup

5 Essential Benefits of Hybrid Cloud Backup 5 Essential Benefits of Hybrid Cloud Backup QBR is a backup, disaster recovery (BDR), and business continuity solution targeted to the small to medium business (SMB) market. QBR solutions are designed

More information

Remote Infrastructure Management Emergence of the Cloud-based Helpdesk

Remote Infrastructure Management Emergence of the Cloud-based Helpdesk Remote Infrastructure Management Emergence of the Cloud-based Helpdesk A leadership perspectives white paper Recommended next steps for business and industry executives Issue 11 in a series Executive Summary

More information

Cloud Technologies for SMBs

Cloud Technologies for SMBs Cloud Technologies for SMBs How to Cut Costs, Improve Productivity, Provide Automated Disaster Recovery, and Be Free to Work Anywhere Presented by Cloud Technologies for SMBs 1 About ArcSource 2 The Cloud:

More information

Cloud Computing. Chapter 1 Introducing Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing. Chapter 1 Introducing Cloud Computing Cloud Computing Chapter 1 Introducing Cloud Computing Learning Objectives Understand the abstract nature of cloud computing. Describe evolutionary factors of computing that led to the cloud. Describe virtualization

More information

CLOUD COMPUTING. A Primer

CLOUD COMPUTING. A Primer CLOUD COMPUTING A Primer A Mix of Voices The incredible shrinking CIO CIO Magazine, 2004 IT Doesn t Matter, The cloud will ship service outside the institution and ship power from central IT groups to

More information

CDW PARTNER REVIEW GUIDE SOFTWARE LICENSE MANAGEMENT

CDW PARTNER REVIEW GUIDE SOFTWARE LICENSE MANAGEMENT CDW PARTNER REVIEW GUIDE SOFTWARE LICENSE MANAGEMENT UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLICATIONS OF SOFTWARE LICENSE MANAGEMENT When it comes to an organization s total budget, the largest piece of the pie goes to

More information

SaaS-Based Budget Planning

SaaS-Based Budget Planning SaaS-Based Budget Planning Advantages over Traditional Models Author: Tom Olson Tom Olson is President and CEO of MyBudgetFile Inc. and former Associate Superintendent of Business and Finance for the Parkland

More information

Computing in a virtual world Cloud Computing

Computing in a virtual world Cloud Computing Computing in a virtual world Cloud Computing Just what is cloud computing anyway? Skeptics might say it is nothing but industry hyperbole, visionaries might say it is the future of IT. In realty, both

More information

Cloud: It s not a nebulous concept

Cloud: It s not a nebulous concept WHITEPAPER Author: Stuart James Cloud: It s not a nebulous concept Challenging and removing the complexities of truly understanding Cloud Removing the complexities to truly understand Cloud Author: Stuart

More information

Below are several selections from Fridman s list.

Below are several selections from Fridman s list. Below are several selections from Fridman s list. To summarize the advantages of the MCenter MGuide surgical system September 2014 >> Volume 7, Issue 7 Corporate Profile: A Division of Farran Media, LLC

More information

Cloud benefits for the IT service management market

Cloud benefits for the IT service management market SOLUTION WHITE PAPER Cloud benefits for the IT service management market By Jeff Moloughney, Principal Solution Marketing Manager, BMC Software TABLE OF CONTENTS COST SAVINGS 1 GREATER BUSINESS EXPOSURE

More information

How To Understand The Economics Of Cloud Computing And Saas

How To Understand The Economics Of Cloud Computing And Saas Business Case Analysis Cloud Computing Economics and SaaS 4 th Session Georg Singer Refresher What did we do during the last 3 sessions? What is cloud computing? What is SaaS? Examples? Agenda License

More information

Bringing the Cloud into Focus. A Whitepaper by CMIT Solutions and Cadence Management Advisors

Bringing the Cloud into Focus. A Whitepaper by CMIT Solutions and Cadence Management Advisors Bringing the Cloud into Focus A Whitepaper by CMIT Solutions and Cadence Management Advisors Table Of Contents Introduction: What is The Cloud?.............................. 1 The Cloud Benefits.......................................

More information

Cloud Computing: A Brief Introduction

Cloud Computing: A Brief Introduction Cloud Computing: A Brief Introduction LAD ENTERPRIZES, INC. www.ladenterprizes.com 610-429-3122 February 20, 2010 By: David Burford, CFA, MBA, MCP Cloud Computing: A Brief Introduction Numerous surveys

More information

CRM s Dirty Little Secret: How to Avoid CRM Sticker Shock

CRM s Dirty Little Secret: How to Avoid CRM Sticker Shock Whitepaper CRM s Dirty Little Secret: How to Avoid CRM Sticker Shock An Analysis of Fees, Subscriptions and Hidden Costs Contents Executive Overview 3 Vendor Pricing Analysis 5 Microsoft Dynamics CRM 5

More information