Subject: Software-as-a-Service Showplace Update
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 |
Government's Place in the Clouds
Shifting Clouds
Simplifying Cloud Computing
Making SaaS Location-Independent
Security Shouldn't Stall SaaS
How SaaS Changes the Vendor-Customer Relationship
Do Private Clouds Make Sense?
The Five P's of SaaS Platforms
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
Why IT Is Embracing SaaS
2009 Predictions for the On-Demand Services Market
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| Greetings! |
Welcome to the August issue of THINKstrategies' Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Showplace Update.
Summer is winding down in the Boston area, but the SaaS and cloud computing movement is continuing to heat up despite the tough economic climate.
The latest indication of the escalating interest in this topic was the success of the first Cloud World conference in San Francisco earlier this month, which attracted approximately 2000 attendees and a solid cross-section of speakers and sponsors.
I had the privilege of chairing Cloud World and am pleased to be playing the same role in the Cloud Futures Conference for Software Vendors in San Jose on October 5-6. I'm also on the steering committee for the SIIA's upcoming OnDemand 2009 conference in San Jose as well on October 29-30, where I'm also moderating a panel regarding the blurring line of demarcation between on-demand and on-premise applications. Next week, NetworkWorld's IT Roadmap conference will be in Dallas, TX.
These industry events are drawing an increasing number of IT and business decision-makers at a time when other conferences are struggling because organizations of all sizes are recognizing the tangible benefits which can be gained by migrating to SaaS and cloud computing.
We have been issuing a steady stream of Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Awards recognizing specific vendors who are delivering measurable business benefits and clearly demonstrating the value of their solutions.
THINKstrategies has been a leading evangelist and proponent regarding SaaS and cloud computing for the past eight years.
Our SaaS Showplace is the largest and highest ranked online directory of SaaS solutions and best practices with over 1200 companies are divided into 80 application, industry and enabling technology catagories!
Under the Radar named the SaaS Showplace "The Web's Best Directory of All Things SaaS!", and has said THINKstrategies,
"Created the most comprehensive directory of SaaS providers. If you're on the hunt for SaaS solutions - or even doing competitive research for your own needs, check it out."
Over 11,700 IT and business decision-makers, IT solution providers, press, investors and others subscribe to this newsletter!
This update includes our latest views and news regarding the widening array of opportunities as well as the lingering challenges associated with SaaS and cloud computing.
Contact me if you'd like to learn more about how you can capitalize on SaaS and cloud computing solutions, the SaaS Showplace, or THINKstrategies' consulting services to achieve your business objectives.
I hope you find this update valuable.
Jeff Kaplan
Managing Director
THINKstrategies | |
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| The Channel in the Clouds |
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Despite the direct connection between vendors and customers in the SaaS and cloud computing market, THINKstrategies has firmly believed that a viable channel opportunity existed in this environment.
Our view is being proven by a widening array of channel initiatives by leading players, such as Intacct, Salesforce.com and NetSuite, as well as start-ups like our business partner Renovatix Solutions.
Click here to read my latest views on these trends and take a look at the Renovatix's online marketplace to see an example of the exciting new channel opportunities emerging for SaaS/cloud computing vendors.
Contact me if you'd like to discuss the implications of these trends, or to learn more about how our services can help you determine the right way to leverage SaaS or cloud computing channels to achieve your business objectives. |
| The Evolution of Private Clouds |
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One of the most sensitive issues among cloud computing insiders is how the concept can be applied to meet the needs of individual organizations.
Industry purists believe that today's shared services are sufficient to satisfy the unique requirements of specific organizations. Many IT and business decision-makers disagree.
The question is whether the concept of 'private clouds' extends the value or bastardizes the ideal of cloud computing.
Click here to read my views in response to Amazon Web Services' new Virtual Private Cloud offering.
Contact us if you'd like to talk further about the rapidly evolving state of the cloud computing SaaS market, or to discuss your specific research and analysis needs. |
| Best of SaaS Showplace Award Program |
| In January, THINKstrategies launched the Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Awards program to spotlight SaaS companies that are generating measurable business benefits for their customers.
The goal of this ongoing program is to promote the tangible benefits which organizations of all sizes across a growing number of industries are gaining from SaaS solutions, and showcase these SaaS vendors on the SaaS Showplace.
Since launching the BoSS Awards program, we have announced over two dozen winners and have more scheduled for announcement over the coming weeks.
Click here to read more about the award winners, and to learn more about the ongoing awards program, the nomination process and selection criteria.
Contact us if you have any questions about the awards program or if you would like to obtain a copy of the nomination questionnaire.
Our business partner, Trigent Software, has also published a whitepaper entitled "Top Ten SaaS Best Practices", which identifies key attributes of winning SaaS solutions. |
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Upcoming SaaS and Cloud Computing Events |
THINKstrategies is pleased to be participating in and supporting the following SaaS and cloud computing events during the coming months,
- NetworkWorld IT Roadmap, September 2, Dallas, TX.
- Cloud Futures Conference for Software Vendors, October 5-6, San Jose. Use THINKstrategies' discount code, "think1633", when you register and get $200 off the standard registration fee.
- SIIA OnDemand Conference, October 29-30, San Jose, CA. Register using PRMTHI and receive for a $100 discount off the individual non-member rate only.
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 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 | | |
