How Managed Software Differs from Software as a Service
Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions are still on the rise, with more companies choosing the flexibility and convenience of platforms hosted remotely by another company. While the market is maturing, the value of the SaaS industry is still expected to grow by 20% in 2017, finds Gartner.
Meanwhile, related types of cloud offerings like Business Process as a Service (BPaas), which involves managing a business process through the cloud, are also growing.
All the acronyms of cloud services can get a bit confusing, but the important thing to remember is that these offerings provide a service over the internet, generally for a subscription fee.
SaaS accounting platforms, for instance, enable you to log in from essentially any computer over the internet, whereas in the past, you may have purchased an on premise accounting platform that came on a CD, which you then installed on one computer.
SaaS has many benefits that usually outweigh those of on-premise software, and one key advantage with SaaS is that another party can remotely help you manage the software, rather than requiring a consultant to come on site.
So when choosing to use SaaS, companies should think about whether they want to manage the software on their own or also want the help of another provider.
Advantages of Self Service SaaS
Since SaaS often has a monthly subscription fee, businesses can gain assurance knowing how much they’ll spend in this area, and even when there’s a problem with the software, the vendor often helps with basic troubleshooting for free. As a result, many SaaS offerings provide valuable services for a very affordable, predictable cost.
Additionally, businesses that use self-service Software as a Software can use the software without outside influence, such as drawing their own conclusions on the analytics a SaaS platform provides. For some companies, this could be seen as a benefit if they do not feel comfortable discussing these issues with outsiders or simply do not have a need for additional expertise.
Advantages of Managed Software Solutions
Managed software solutions can encompass BPaaS to provide a full service through the cloud, such as automatically processing payroll. In other cases, managed software solutions can be more consultative, where the managed services provider works with the client to help deliver insights derived from the SaaS
Whatever the extent of the relationship is, a managed software solution provides businesses with a more thorough level of service, which can be useful for companies that do not have the internal resources to get the most out of their SaaS applications. And while there is a cost to this additional level of service, it could be less expensive to use managed software solutions rather than having to hire additional employees with expertise in using particular types of software.
Providing Choice for Energy Analytics Software
Artis Energy’s energy analytics software (EAS) is a SaaS platform that enables businesses to better understand how they consume energy and create greenhouse gas emissions, and as a result, they can take steps to improve energy management and sustainability.
Businesses have the option to either operate the platform on a self-service SaaS basis, or they can leverage our energy expertise through our managed services offering. These options enable businesses to choose the level of service that they need, rather than wasting money on a predefined service that is not a good fit.
Request a complimentary energy efficiency assessment to find out how Artis Energy’s RTIS® energy analytics platform can provide you with the visibility and insight to transform energy from a fixed cost into a distinct competitive advantage.