Credit Crunch Got You Down? Software as a Service May Pick You Up

The need to automate more or streamline operations, which is always a priority,
seems a lot more critical now that the economy is fragile, and it’s scary
to be thinking about adding new people. What’s a business owner to do?

For Bill, the president of a quick-service restaurant franchise, it’s
been a keep-me-up-at-night dilemma. He fears losing market share if he can’t
implement a business system that will handle critical areas like cash/credit
management and business intelligence. He has some cash in the bank, but it is
his safety net for tougher times and he’s not anxious to take on more
debt by financing.

Julie and her brother, who have taken over the family business, see a real
opportunity in a new division that could take off as companies embrace the use
of new energy technologies. They have a strong need to build up their internal
systems to handle distribution, but their traditional lending sources have dried
up so there’s limited funding for what they need.

It wasn’t so long ago that companies like Bill’s and Julie’s
were comfortable making investments. Now the world has changed, and they want
to hold on to their cash to help weather the current economic unknown and a
tightening of credit markets. But since a successful business can’t let
a little thing like an economic downturn ruin its plans, the time has come to
consider how to proceed while still being cautious and smart.

If a new system is needed, the answer may be to think outside the software
box. Fortunately, there are some good options:

Hosted Software: You can still own the software, but it is
installed at the hosting site and they are responsible for the hardware, which
saves you from investing in servers and networks. There’s also an option
where the hosting site owns the software license so all you have is a monthly
fee.

Software as a Service (SaaS): Your application is hosted
as a service and is accessed over the Internet. You might think of this as “renting”
your software since you own nothing but your data. It comes in two flavors:

• Hosted by the Software Publisher
• Hosted by a Service provider, similar to regular hosting

Software Plus Services: This is a new twist from Microsoft. It incorporates
some of the options above, but Microsoft describes it as a combination of on-premises
software, Service Provider hosted offerings, and Publisher-hosted software and
services.

For companies that have always bought their software, the thinking behind SaaS
is likely to be foreign. Accountants and business advisors will rightly recommend
that companies be sure they have good security and access to their information,
and that might be hard to swallow if your server (or your data and the software)
is all housed elsewhere. Yet, economics often drives acceptance of new ways
of doing old things. And the statistics on this so-called “foreign”
concept are already starting to reflect that the case is being made:

• Gartner predicts that SaaS spending will top out at $6.4 billion in 2008.
  They project it will more than double to $14.8 billion by 2012. The Yankee
  Group is even more bullish. They expect SaaS revenue to exceed $20 billion
  by 2011.
• IDC says the $16.2 billion spent on SaaS, or “cloud computing”
  as they term it, in 2008 will climb to a whopping $42.3 billion by 2012.

As credit tightens, SaaS and other similar options may be a sound alternative
for businesses to get the tools they need without paying as much up front using
cash or credit. You trade savings up front for monthly payments that may not
end, but you keep more cash and you may be able to get started with little or
no credit approval. It may be that this or one of its variations is not for
everyone, but if you or your clients are open to considering how to invest in
the business without using up a lot of cash or credit, here are some of the
plusses to consider about SaaS:

• You are essentially renting the software as needed.
• Pricing is usually based on number of users and may fluctuate with your
  needs.
• There’s little up-front cost, as the software investment is paid
  over time.
• There’s little or no hardware investment needed, as the software
  is housed elsewhere.
• The “hosting” entity is responsible to keep you up and running.
  This relieves the burden on your internal team and, in some cases, gives you
  round-the-clock monitoring of your system.
• Team members can access your data from any place they have Internet access,
  which makes it easier to add and support your remote employees.
• In the event of a problem, you have easy remote access for data restoration.
• You “free up” your cash to be used elsewhere in the company.
• You minimize the use of your precious credit line.

As with any solution, there are also some points business owners need to understand
before they go down this road:

• Your team will still have the same learning curve to master the software.
  Training remains essential.
• There may be limitations on what can and can’t be customized to your
  specific needs. Be sure you can live with those limitations.
• You need to be diligent in alerting your “hosting” company
  at the first sign of problems with the software.
• The amount of services provided is determined by the host company. Read
  and understand the Terms of the Agreement so you know your time commitment
  and what service work is included in your monthly fee as well as what’s
  outside the scope.
• What happens to your data if you want to end your relationship with the
  host? How do you get your final data, and what is their agreement to purge
  your information?
  • What safety precautions do they have?
  • If the Internet goes down, can your business survive knowing your business
    data would not be available to you?
  • Do your due diligence on the company delivering the SaaS.
  • Confirm the data backup schedule and how you can access the backup
    in case of an issue.

Don’t let today’s economic times make you tighten your belt so far
that you slow revenue and therefore slow your own economic recovery. Businesses
like Bill’s and Julie’s need more than ever to get better business
metrics and have tools that easily let them get answers to business questions
so good decisions can be made. If SaaS or the other non-traditional options
contribute to a win-win, it may be time to take a good look.