Company-wide SaaS
It hasn’t been that long since we were selling client-server software applications with per-user licenses. In the blink of an eye, we moved from web-based applications to cloud computing, with Software as a Service (SaaS) as the flagship model. Even the traditional “Data Center” has evolved and is now known as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Yes, everything changes—but one thing remains constant: technology plays a crucial role in the business environment, especially when it comes to productivity and collaboration.
The way we work has fundamentally changed. Today, what truly matters is not whether employees are physically present in the office, but whether they are accessible—able to communicate with colleagues and customers anytime, anywhere, and from any device. Technology already makes this possible, providing businesses with enormous commercial agility that must be fully leveraged. As a result, market reach expands and the number of potential customers grows significantly.
Another key factor is the phenomenon of consumerization, a process through which employees and users push their companies to adapt and innovate. Smartphones, tablets, phablets, and even smartwatches are now part of everyday life. 2014 marked the year of devices, as technology became accessible to virtually everyone, breaking down the boundaries between online and offline environments. We are already witnessing entirely new business models and services designed specifically for mobile-first ecosystems. “The future is already here—I realized it not when my Xbox greeted me with ‘Hello Carmen!’ as I sat on my couch, but when I smiled back.”
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as businesses in general, are increasingly aware that technology is not an end in itself, but a means—a strategic tool to become more efficient and productive. We have moved from executives who viewed IT departments as cost centers to a new generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders who recognize IT as a source of strategic value. Thankfully, the IT professional’s role has evolved beyond merely “tinkering” and “updating antivirus software.” With a bit more glamour, if you’ll allow it, their mission now includes optimizing business resources and results through deep knowledge of the technological landscape.
All of this comes without forgetting the significant cost savings that can be achieved in infrastructure. Companies are increasingly demanding pay-as-you-go models through cloud computing. They also seek to optimize hardware usage via Infrastructure as a Service, covering servers, data storage, and backup solutions.
If this economic crisis has brought anything positive, it is the accelerated demand for business model transformation driven by cloud computing and the information technology market. This shift allows companies of any size, as well as independent professionals, to access the same tools and capabilities as large enterprises—at an affordable price and with ease of use.
In today’s landscape, competition among providers is fierce. Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and others all want to be part of this ecosystem, offering highly competitive solutions. So how do you choose the right one? Ultimately, all applications run on infrastructure, making interoperability and integration essential. Key decision factors include the provider’s experience in enterprise environments, trusted partners, confidentiality agreements, data protection measures, geo-replication capabilities, and service level agreements (SLAs).
Sources: Gartner (leading IT market research firm), Strategy Analytics, ABI Research, Yankee Group.