Summer has finally arrived in the Boston area, and the SaaS movement is also heating up despite the economy and typical summer-time duldroms.
The clearest indication of the escalating activity in the SaaS arena is the latest round of announcements from Google and Microsoft. While many have categorized these as 'cloud computing' initiatives, they are fueled by the continuing success of SaaS.
Last month, Siemens AG selected SuccessFactors' SaaS-based on-demand performance and talent management solutions to support its worldwide operations of approximately 420,000 users across 80 countries in 20 different languages even though SAP has historically supported much of Siemens' back office operations.
Earlier this month, Sunoco's CIO, Peter Whatnell, also advocated on behalf of shifting corporate operations to SaaS and cloud computing alternatives to address today's unprecedented corporate challenges during his keynote address at NetworkWorld's IT Roadmap conference which made its latest stop in Philadelphia, PA.
In addition to speaking extensively about this topic at industry events like the IT Roadmap, I continue to consult with a widening array of vendors, users and investors seeking to leverage the growing power of these 'on-demand' services.
Traditional research firms are still raising questions about the viability of SaaS and cloud computing. You can read my views about their efforts to derail the SaaS movement below.
THINKstrategies has been a leading advocate on behalf of SaaS for the past eight years, and is increasingly being recognized as a vocal proponent of the broader cloud computing market opportunity as well.
The most recent example is the alliance which THINKstrategies has established with Cloudbook, a rapidly growing online resource center regarding the latest trends, ideas and events in the cloud computing arena. We are very pleased to be supporting this new site and providing our perspective to its visitors.
I'm also chairing next month's CloudWorld conference in San Francisco next month and moderating a keynote panel entitled, "Assessing the Real Market Opportunities and Obstacles for Making Cloud Computing Mainstream."
Today, the SaaS Showplace is the largest and highest ranked online directory of SaaS solutions and best practices with over 1100 companies are divided into 80 application, industry and enabling technology catagories!
"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."
In addition, our Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Award program continues to recognize more SaaS vendors that are delivering measurable business benefits to their users.
Over 11,600 IT and business decision-makers, IT solution providers, press, investors and others subscribe to this newsletter, a jump of over 200 in the last month alone!
I hope you find this update valuable.
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'll also support my Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) ride to to combat cancer on August 1-2. Click here to learn more about why I'm participating in this important fundraising event and how you can contribute to this great cause.
Thanks for your interest and continued support of our efforts,
Earlier this month, Google unveiled its plans to launch a new computer operating system (OS) in the second half of 2010.
Click here to read our perspective regarding the long- and short-term implications of Google's attack on Microsoft's OS monopoly, and what Google must do to be successful.
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 to achieve your business objectives.
Gartner Gets It Wrong
Gartner recently issued an announcement regarding the findings of a December, 2008, customer satisfaction survey that raised questions about the quality of these solutions.
Click here to read our opinion of Gartner's findings, and why we think their interpretation conveys the wrong impression of the quality of today's SaaS solutions and views of SaaS customers.
Click here to read our research and analysis regarding the SaaS market, customer satisfaction and preferences.
Contact us if you'd like to talk further about the state of the SaaS market or to discuss your specific research and analysis needs.
THINKstrategies Teams With Renovatix To Create SaaS Marketplace
Last month, THINKstrategies and Renovatix Solutions announced a strategic alliance to create an exciting new channel to market for SaaS solutions.
THINKstrategies is also working with Renovatix to encourage additional SaaS companies to add their solutions to the online marketplace, and educate other companies about the value of leveraging Renovatix Solutions' marketplace platform to better serve their customers so they can achieve their corporate objectives.
Contact us if you'd like to learn more about how your company can capitalize on Renovatix Solutions' online marketplace capabilities.
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 named nearly 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.
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,
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.
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@thinkstrategies.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.
