SaaS – It’s a Win-Win for Business
For many years now – (over 8), I have been involved in the Sale and Implementation of HR Software Systems. What an experience it has been. I have learnt a lot… Programming Languages, Workflow, Integration, Project Management, Data Analysis, Data Upload, System Customisation, Business Process and so on. If you are reading this and have been involved in the Selection and Implementation of a HRIS/Payroll system, you are probably thinking to yourself… Cost, Headache, Complexity, Cost, Cost, Cost… Too Hard, and if your not, your a Software Salesman, CEO of a Software Company.
The fact is, the world of Software has been changing, is continuing to change and quickly. The thought process, ideas and know-how are there. We are seeing sophisticated On-Demand SaaS providers emerging all the time, usually taking the lead form SalesForce. You may be thinking to yourself, not SalesForce again, were tired of hearing about SalesForce and how successful they are, though the fact of the matter is they are proof the the SaaS (On-Demand) model works: if done the right way.
Why would you buy a Software Application for say $10,000.00 +, have to purchase supporting servers/infrastructure, then have to put additional back-up procedures in place, have to administer another Database/s and have a dedicated internal resource to set-up and manage the whole thing. What about Carbon Footprint? What about the power running your internal Servers? Because that’s only way it can be done, you might say. Because spending truck loads of cash on software (which you may own, but your don’t really cause you don’t own the IP) means the system is good doesn’t it?
Evolution is a wonderful thing. Innovation and Invention are also wonderful. Why? Because they usually means that someone, somewhere is going to save time, money, become more productive and successful. This is what is happening to the Software game at the moment. You the consumer, can, are going to experience a much more flexible, affordable, cost-effective means of utilising solutions that provide all the business benefits your require without all the headache and expense.
By Evolution or rather should I say Revolution, I mean:
- No Software to Purchase (Pay-as-you-go. By-the-Month – Save $15,000.00)
- No Maintenance/Upgrade Cost (Part of your Subscription Fee – Save $2,000.00)
- Immediate Delivery of your system, at the click of a button. (No Installation – Save $2,000.00)
- No Hardware. (Part of the SaaS cost – Save $4,000.00)
- No Network or Software conflicts (Platform Independent SaaS – Save $3,000.00)
- Access anywhere anytime (All your need is and Internet Connection and a Web Browser: IE, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Chrome.
- Customise 60% of your system using API. No Programming Skills (Flexibility and Scalability – Save $5,000.00 +)
- No Customised Data Upload (Intelligent Upload tool. Validation Included – Save $3,000.00)
- No Capex. (Money for Subscriptions comes from Operating Budget)
- Quicker ROI. (Greatly reduced TCO)SAVINGS = $34,000.00
Even though these figures are rough approximations, they are minimum estimates based on the amount of money you will save on SaaS. It’s a win-win. You Save Money on using solutions that make you money.
There will be heated debate in the coming months and years about SaaS v’s In-house. A few areas are definite. You can’t argue with the numbers. You can’t argue with the flexibility. You can’t argue with the accessibility. Probably, the only sure thing you can argue/debate about is whether you can take a old code base and turn it into Pure-Play SaaS and if so how long it will take.