Subject: Software-as-a-Service Showplace Update
Software-as-a-Service Showplace Update
News and Views from the SaaS Resource Center
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Latest Articles & Commentaries |
The Channel Is Far From Dead in SaaS and the Cloud
Five Myths About SaaS
MSPs Must Use SaaS
Cloud Computing: Beyond Buy vs. Lease
How SMBs Can Save Money Using SaaS
Why IT Is Embracing SaaS
2009 Predictions for the On-Demand Services Market
SaaS & Cloud Computing: New Benchmarks for IT
Time is Right to Consider SaaS |
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| Greetings! |
Welcome to the April issue of THINKstrategies' Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Showplace Update.
Today's tough economic climate, escalating global competition and rapidly changing workplace are combining to fuel the growth of the SaaS and cloud computing markets. As a result, organizations of all sizes, across every industry, are adopting a widening array of SaaS and cloud computing solutions to achieve their business objectives.
However, SaaS and cloud computing vendors are also facing their own set of challenges. Growing demand has created a 'cloud rush' of players who are confusing IT/business decisioin-makers and threatening to commoditize the market.
At the same time, SaaS and cloud computing vendors are facing escalating operating pressures due to drier equity markets and tightening lending policies.
We'll talk more about how these challenges are driving SaaS and cloud computing vendors to evolve their go-to-market strategies below.
THINKstrategies launched the SaaS Showplace in 2006 to help users, vendors, investors and others learn about the exciting world of SaaS.
The SaaS Showplace now has over 1000 company listings, making it the largest and highest ranked vendor-independent, online directory and best practices resource center regarding SaaS solutions and market trends.
We launched the Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Award in January to bring greater attention to the measurable business benefits being generated by SaaS solutions and spotlight the growing array of customer success stories in the SaaS market.
In just three months, eleven SaaS companies have already been selected BoSS Award winners, and we have more nominees awaiting our selection.
THINKstrategies is proud to be a leading proponent and trusted advisor for the SaaS and broader cloud computing movement. I'm also pleased to be given the privilege of chairing IDG's new CloudWorld conference in August.
This Update includes our latest perspectives on the market, and Showplace sponsors, resources and events.
Over 11,100 IT and business decision-makers, IT solution providers, press, investors and others subscribe to our newsletters and receive our updates!
Contact me if you'd like to learn more about how you can leverage the SaaS Showplace or THINKstrategies' consulting services to achieve your business objectives.
Thanks for your support,
Jeff Kaplan
Managing Director
THINKstrategies | |
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| SaaS and Cloud Computing Channels Evolving |
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Last month we discussed how the rapid growth of the SaaS market has fueled the broader interest in cloud computing movement and proliferation of platform players.
This month's theme is channel strategies for SaaS and cloud computing. We predicted last October that 2009 would be the year of the channel.
Many industry observers believe that the on-demand services industry will ultimately 'disintermediate' systems integrators (SIs) and value-added resellers (VARs) because SaaS solutions and cloud computing services eliminate a lot of the complexity which SIs and VARs have depended upon to make a living.
While THINKstrategies agrees that much of the traditional implementation and technical support work which SIs and VAR have historically depended upon will disappear, we still believe there are still plenty of technical challenges, customization needs, training requirements and change management issues to be addressed. You can read our views about these new channel opportunities in E-Commerce Times.
We have also blogged on a series of new channel initiatives that have been unveiled by Intacct, NetSuite and others.
One of the most attractive channels to market for SaaS and cloud computing companies is the traditional telecommunications carriers, including AT&T and Verizon. Click here to read why we believe telcos have proven to be disappointing partners and service providers in this market.
Contact me if you'd like to discuss the implications of these trends, or to learn more about how our services can help you overcome these challenges and achieve your business objectives. |
| Best of SaaS Showplace Award Winners |
| THINKstrategies launched the Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Awards in January to spotlight SaaS companies that are generating measurable business benefits for their customers.
The goal of this ongoing program is to demonstrate the tangible benefits which organizations of all sizes across all industries are gaining from SaaS solutions, and showcase SaaS vendors on the SaaS Showplace.
The following companies have been designated BoSS Award winners: ActionStep, Clarizen, CrownPeak, Daptiv, NTRglobal, QuickArrow, Rally Software, Savvis, SPS Commerce, TimeTrade Systems and Xactly.
More winners are scheduled to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Click here to learn more about this ongoing awards program, the nomination process and selection criteria.
Contact us if you have any questions about this exciting new awards program or would like to obtain a copy of the nomination questionnaire.
And, stay tuned for more BoSS Award winners! |
| Showplace Sponsors, Partners, Whitepapers and Benefits |
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We would like to thank Ping Identity and NTRglobal for sponsoring the SaaS Showplace.
Ping Identity has contributed a whitepaper entitled, "Federated Identity and Software as a Service (SaaS): Single Sign-on to the Cloud", to the SaaS Showplace.
NTRglobal has posted a whitepaper entitled, "Achieving Sustainable Business Growth With A Remote Support Solution", to the Showplace.
You can also find two whitepapers on the SaaS Insights page of the Showplace produced by our partner, Trigent:
- "So You Think You Can SaaS"
- "Building and Selling Software in a Declining Market"
Click here to obtain SoftLetter's SaaS Benchmark Study and use Digital Coupon: SAAS0950JK to obtain a $50 discount on the purchase price.
You can also click here to read TripleTree's perspective on the SaaS and IT Services market.
Or, go to the SaaS Insights page and Best Practices Portal to find additional whitepapers, webcasts and other valuable material.
Click here if you'd like to learn how you can increase your visibility and add your whitepapers, webcasts and other resources to the SaaS Showplace. |
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Upcoming SaaS and Cloud Computing Events |
Don't forget to register for Tuesday's webinar hosted by Intel entitled, "Bringing Departmental SaaS Usage Under IT Governance - An Enterprise IT Perspective", at 1pm ET.
THINKstrategies is also pleased to support and I am happy to be participating in the following SaaS and cloud computing events during the coming months,
- Cloud Slam 2009, a virtual on-line conference, April 20-24.
- NetworkWorld IT Roadmap, May 6, Boston, MA
- Interop SaaS Track, May 19, Las Vegas
- SoftLetter SaaS University, June 30-July 1, Chicago, IL
Contact us if you'd like to learn how you can include THINKstrategies' perspective at your upcoming public or corporate event. |
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THINKstrategies' SaaS Readiness Assessment Services |
| 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 operational challenges.
In response, THINKstrategies has 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.
These services are based on THINKstrategies' extensive experience in the SaaS market and 'ecosystem' of business relationships.
Click here to learn more about our Readiness Assessment Services, or contact us to explore how THINKstrategies' services can help you achieve your business objectives. |
| Become a SaaS Showplace Sponsor |
| THINKstrategies' SaaS Showplace have become the top ranked site 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, 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 | | |
