The On-Demand Zone brings you market research about business software solutions available on-demand, which is a rapidly growing model for selling software.
The various categories listed alongside include links to software companies that provide solutions via the on-demand delivery model. Such solutions are now available for most categories of business software. In most cases, brief descriptions of the features of each solution have been included. In some cases, there may be a brief background of the company. This is important to know, since many of the companies are young, some may still be at risk in terms of long term profitability, and you may want to consider what that risk means to you before you commit to using their solutions.
Businesses of all sizes, from very small, mid-sized, to large enterprises, are finding on-demand software solutions attractive for their needs, for various reasons. To reiterate the key benefits of this method of solution delivery:
- There is no software or hardware to buy, install, maintain, or upgrade. You simply use the latest version, usally on the web. This means dramatically lesser upfront investment compared to traditional business software solutions, and allows more focus on your business rather than the technology required to run it. This specially helps smaller businesses who need to be very focused with limited resources.
- Pay-as-you-go pricing, usually based on monthly subscription fees per user or volume of use. You don't have to build fixed costs into your business, and you can increase or reduce your expense depending on the volume and seasonality of work you need to get done.
- Quick implementation - you can get started with using the solutions and seeing their benefits pretty quickly. That also helps save on consulting fees for software implementation. You do have to take into account time to move your existing data, figure out how to use a system most effectively and train users. Simple implementations can take under a week, and even complex ones get done in 3-4 months.
- Low risk. You can usually unsubscribe if it does not work for you.
- Almost all on-demand solutions are delivered online through web browsers, which makes them simpler to learn.
Things you should keep in mind before you commit to using an on-demand solution:
- They may not always cost lesser than buying the software in the long run, especially if you plan to use it for several years. It may be useful to do this evaluation upfront if you are concerned about long term costs. On the one hand, with on-demand you have to keep renting your software, while on the other hand, with on-premise software, you have to incur the costs of maintaining and keeping up with new technology. Its like leasing a car versus buying one. What is better for you may depend on your lifestyle and unique situation, and in this case, on the life-stage and requirements of your business.
- If you need to roll out a solution for a new business unit/start-up, on-demand solutions can help conserve time and resources in the short term. As an option, its useful to evaluate at interim points if you should install software on-premise or continue using it on-demand. Not all on-demand service providers may give you an option to buy. With those companies, you'll have to switch to another on-premise solution. So it helps to think through your needs at the outset.