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 |
Getting Ready for the Google Generation
Redefining the Value of the Cloud
Hardware Vendors Heading in Wrong Direction
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 November issue of THINKstrategies' Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Showplace Update.
While the economy continues to flounder, the SaaS and Cloud Computing market is hotter than ever as organizations of all sizes across nearly every industry are increasingly exploring ways to leverage these on-demand alternatives to meet their business needs.
An indication of the growing interest and adoption of these web-based services is the continuous stream of industry events aimed at educating IT and business decision-makers, as well as software and system executives, about how they can capitalize on these powerful alternatives.
I have been spending plenty of time this Fall on the road participating in many of these events, as well as one-on-one consulting engagements, discussing the business implications of these important trends.
Over the past few weeks, my travels have taken me from Copenhagen to California, Washington DC to Washington state, and Orlando.
As you are reading this update, I'm in Phoenix participating in a one-day Entrepreneurship conference. And next week, I'll be back in San Francisco for salesforce.com's Dreamforce gathering.
Next month, I will be chairing the CloudFutures conference for software vendors migrating to SaaS in San Jose. And, back in San Francisco for NetworkWorld's IT Roadmap.
Between these travels, THINKstrategies continues to expand its ecosystem of partner relationships. Our most recent alliance is with RepFolio, a new online service which links sales professionals with SaaS and Cloud Computing companies seeking to broader their channels to market.
THINKstrategies is also pleased to be teaming with with FVG Virtual Channel, Inc. to produce an online, digital production on Economist.com, called "Cloud Computing Set to Unleash a Perfect Storm in Business".
We are also proud to be working with Renovatix Solutions to offer an online marketplace as a part of the SaaS Showplace.
We continue to publish and post whitepapers on the Showplace, and participate in webinars aimed at helping organizations, vendors and investors better understand the opportunities and challenges associated with SaaS and cloud computing.
In addition, our Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Awards continue to recognize SaaS companies who are delivering measurable business benefits to their customers and clearly demonstrating the value of their solutions.
The SaaS Showplace remains the largest and highest ranked online directory of SaaS and cloud computing solutions and best practices, with over 1200 companies divided into 80 application, industry and enabling technology catagories!
It is for these reasons Under the Radar named the SaaS Showplace "The Web's Best Directory of All Things SaaS!", and said THINKstrategies has,
"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."
Nearly 12,000 IT and business decision-makers, IT solution providers, press, investors and others now subscribe to this newsletter!
This update includes our latest views and news regarding the widening array of opportunities, as well as the important challenges associated with SaaS and cloud computing.
You can also hear my views about these market trends in a new video recorded at last month's SIIA OnDemand conference.
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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| Sorting Through SaaS and the Clouds |
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The SaaS and cloud computing markets are becoming a mainstream phenomenon.
Gartner recently named cloud computing the top strategic technology for 2010. And, the research firm tends to be a lagging indicator of new trends, like cloud computing!
Rather than continue to resist these trends, IT professionals are recognizing the ability of SaaS and cloud computing to help them better support the needs of their business users and corporate executives.
Service providers and technology vendors are also banding together, both here and in Europe, to encourage greater adoption of these on-demand services and ensure the quality of these web-based alternatives.
SaaS and cloud computing providers are also rapidly expanding their channels to market to broaden their reach and extend the capabilities of their solutions.
While some governments are still trying to understand the implications of cloud computing, the Obama administration in the U.S. is quickly putting new cloud computing programs in place, with state and local governments beginning to follow suit. You can click here to read more about these varying approaches.
User organizations and vendors alike are also trying to understand the new levels of value which can be gained from SaaS and cloud computing as a proliferation of players threatens to commoditize the escalating array of new offerings.
You can find valuable resources, including whitepapers and webcasts, in the SaaS Showplace to help you better understand these trends and capitalize on these on-demand alternatives.
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. |
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THINKstrategies' SaaS Primers |
| 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.
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. |
| Best of SaaS Showplace Award Program |
| Since January, THINKstrategies has been recognizing SaaS companies that are generating measurable business benefits for their customers via our Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Awards program.
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 thirty winners and have more identified for recognition 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. |
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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 weeks,
- "SaaS & the Cloud - What are the IT Decision Makers Saying?", a breakfast roundtable hosted by the Massachusetts High Technology Leadership Council, Tuesday, November 17 at 8-9:30am ET. Get a 50% off the non-member rate by using discount code SaaSCIO50.
- Dreamforce, "The Integration Cloud: The Foundation for SaaS Success", November 17-20, San Francisco, CA.
- "How The Planet and Proofpoint Accelerated Growth in Europe by Outsourcing Data Center Requirements to a European Specialist", a webinar hosted by TelecityGroup, Wednesday, November 18 at 2pm ET.
- Cloud Futures Conference for Software Vendors Migrating to SaaS, December 7-8, San Jose. Use THINKstrategies' discount code, "think1633", when you register and get $200 off the standard registration fee, or contact us if you are an ISV and would like a special discount.
- NetworkWorld IT Roadmap, December 10, San Francisco, CA.
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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| 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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