Software-as-a-Service Showplace Update
News and Views about SaaS, Cloud Computing and other 'On-Demand' Solutions from THINKstrategies' Online Resource Center
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Latest Articles & Commentaries |
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| Greetings! |
Spring has sprung in the Boston area, and the flowers and trees are blossoming much like the SaaS and Cloud Computing markets are blooming.
One indication of the rapid growth of these 'on-demand' services, is the proliferation of industry events examining the business and technological implications of these trends.
I'm in the midst of a seven week period in which I will be presenting THINKstrategies' views and hearing various perspectives regarding SaaS and cloud computing at a variety of industry and corporate gatherings. SaaScon, Under the Radar and the AlwaysOn OnDemand conference brought me to Silicon Valley the past three weeks, the State of the Cloud Conference gave me an opportunity to present THINKstrategies' views in Boston. You can see the upcoming SaaS events which are on our calendar below.
THINKstrategies' recent joint survey with Datamation clearly showed the high level of interest, adoption and satisfaction with SaaS solutions. This is not only fueling the growth of SaaS, it has sparked the emergence of a broader set of cloud computing services. This trend is seriously challenging legacy software vendors, traditional channel organizations, and enterprise decision-makers.
The SaaS Showplace reflects this rapidly evolving marketplace adding over 100 new companies in 2010 alone to bring the total number of companies listed over 1300!
As a result of this 'cloud rush', SaaS and cloud computing providers are facing their own challenges convincing IT and business decison-makers that they have the finanical viabilty to offer reliable, secure, scalable, and cost-effective alternatives backed by solid SLAs.
We've recognized many SaaS companies through our Best of SaaS Showplace BoSS Awards program. THINKstrategies has also launched a new Cloud Computing Business Value (CCBV) Awards program to give similar recognition to companies delivering Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions that produce measurable business benefits for their customers.
We've also seen a tremendous jump in the number of subscribers to this newsletter in the past month, with over 300 more IT and business decision-makers, solution providers, technology investors and press adding their names to our mailing list. As a result, our newsletter subscriber base now exceeds 12,700!
We want to thank our sponsors for helping to make the SaaS Showplace possible.
Contact me if you'd like to learn more about how you can leverage the SaaS Showplace, or THINKstrategies' educational and consulting services to achieve your business objectives.
I hope you find this update valuable.
Jeff Kaplan
Managing Director
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| The Channel Implications of SaaS & Cloud Computing |
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One of the fascinating aspects of the rapidly maturing SaaS and Cloud Computing market is the role of the channel.
Traditional channel organizations, including value-added resellers (VARs) and systems integrators (SIs), generally feel threatened by today's 'on-demand' services. Channel companies are concerned that SaaS and Cloud Computing under the value of their traditional services and could commoditize their business models.
In addition, they are concerned about a wide array of new players are also entering the market to offer SaaS solutions to their customers, such as Bank of America which recently launched a new MyBusiness Center online marketplace of SaaS solutions for its customers, developed by THINKstrategies' strategic partner, Renovatix Solutions. Click here to read more about this trend.
THINKstrategies' firmly believes there is a role for channel companies in the SaaS and Cloud Computing market, but it requires a new set of skills and go-to-market strategies. I've spoken at a number of recent events regarding these opportunities and have produced a new online presentation which you can find here.
This presentation is a part of a new series of online presentations to help IT and business decision-makers within enterprise organizations, as well as IT solution providers, better understand the forces driving today's SaaS and Cloud Computing trends. The first two presentations are,
These presentations are powered by Brainshark, an easy-to-use online presentation creation and distribution platform.
You can also click here to read more perspectives about the SaaS and Cloud Computing market. Contact me if you'd like to discuss the implications of these trends, or to learn more about how THINKstrategies' services can help you determine the right way to leverage SaaS or cloud computing to achieve your business objectives. |
| Cloud9 Analytics Strategic Thinking Profile |
| One of the particularly exciting segments of the SaaS market is performance management solutions.
While there is a plethora of SaaS-based business intelligence and reporting tools available in the market, a new breed of more sophisticated, SaaS-based performance management applications promises to give a broader array of functionality, giving managers greater control over day-to-day operations so they can focus resources on optimal revenue-generating activities.
THINKstrategies has published a new Strategic Thinking Profile examining Cloud9 Analytics' unique strategies and solutions aimed at changing the way organizations utilize performance management solutions.
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| Best of SaaS Showplace Award Program |
THINKstrategies began recognizing SaaS companies that are generating measurable business benefits for their customers via our Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Awards program in January 2009. The goal of this ongoing program is to promote the tangible benefits which organizations of all sizes are gaining from SaaS and cloud computing solutions, and showcase these SaaS vendors on the SaaS Showplace.
Since launching the BoSS Awards program, we have announced over forty-five (45) winners and have more identified for recognition in the coming weeks. Click here to read more about the BoSS award winners, and to learn more about the ongoing awards program, the nomination process and selection criteria.
The success of the BoSS Awards have encouraged us to initiate a new Cloud Computing Business Value (CCBV) Awards program to recognize IaaS and PaaS vendors who are also producing measurable business benefits for their customers. Our first CCBV Award winner is Caspio. Click here to learn more about this new awards program or to nominate a cloud vendor.
Contact us if you have any questions about the awards program or if you would like to obtain a copy of the nomination questionnaire. |
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SaaS Primers for CIOs and IT Solution Providers |
| Despite growing customer demand for SaaS, THINKstrategies has found many aspiring providers of these on-demand services are still struggling to win a share of the market because of a variety of challenges.
In response, THINKstrategies has published a primer for independent software vendors (ISVs) to help them fully understand the strategy, marketing and operational challenges associated with migrating to SaaS.
The primer is based on THINKstrategies' extensive experience working with vendors making this transition. We have offered Readiness Assessment Services since 2007, aimed at helping aspiring SaaS vendors develop and execute their go-to-strategies, service delivery capabilities, and sales processes.
Since the launch of these services, we have worked with a wide array of aspiring SaaS companies, ranging from start-ups to major software vendors migrating to SaaS. Click here to see a partial list of our vendor clients.
We also work with IT/business decision-makers within large-scale enterprises, as well as small- and mid-size businesses (SMBs), who need help evaluating their SaaS needs and selecting the SaaS suppliers to satisfy their requirements. Click here to read our primer for CIOs considering SaaS.
Contact us to explore how THINKstrategies' services can help you achieve your business objectives. |
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Upcoming SaaS and Cloud Computing Events |
The SaaS Showplace and THINKstrategies are pleased to be participating in and supporting the following SaaS and cloud computing events during the coming months,
- Pervasive Software's Metamorphosis Conference: The Integration Summit, May 5-6, San Jose, CA.
- All About the Cloud, SIIA Conference, May 10-12, San Francisco, CA.(Use promo code PRMTHINK to get $100 off the SIIA non-member regisration rate. Discount does not apply to current registrants.)
- 2010 MIT Sloan CIO Symposium, May 19, Cambridge, MA. (Friends of the SaaS Showplace can get 15% discount off the registration fee by using promo code: thinkstrategies2010.)
- "The SaaSification of IT", a webinar hosted by InteQ on May 25 at 1pm ET.
- Gluecon, May 26-27, Denver, CO.
- 2nd Annual Cloud Computing World Forum, June 29-30, Olympia, London (Use promo code TStrat for a 20% discount on the conference registration. Attend Expo and Workshops free.)
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| Become a SaaS Showplace Sponsor |
| THINKstrategies' SaaS Showplace has become the largest and highest ranked online directory and best practices resource center in the SaaS market.
The SaaS Showplace is attracting a growing number of IT/network and business decision-makers, IT solution providers, investors and the press who are discovering the value of our SaaS online directory and resource center.
Contact us at info@saas-showplace.com if you'd like to gain greater industry visibility via our online directories and increasingly popular e-newsletter. |
| About THINKstrategies, Inc. |
| THINKstrategies is the leading strategic consulting services company focused specifically on the unprecedented business challenges facing IT managers, solutions providers and investors today as the technology industry shifts from a product-centric to a services-driven orientation.
The company's mission is to educate organizations about the on-demand services market--including SaaS, cloud computing and managed services--and help our clients capitalize on these trends to achieve their business objectives. We help enterprise decision-makers with their sourcing strategies, IT solutions providers with their marketing strategies, and VCs with their investment strategies.
THINKstrategies is the founder of the Software-as-a-Service and Managed Services Showplaces, the largest vendor-independent, online directories and information resource centers.
Contact us for more information about our services or Showplace sponsorship opportunities. | |
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THINKstrategies | 22 Park Avenue | Wellesley | MA | 02481 |
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