3 reasons to move to SaaS and leave behind legacy COTS

Previously, organizations were required to buy, build, and maintain their IT infrastructure despite exponential costs. SaaS has given many companies an easy alternative. Using cloud SaaS, customers can plug in and subscribe to services built on shared infrastructure using the internet.

The cloud SaaS model has flourished in recent years to cater to businesses of all sizes and types. CIOs must now leave their on-premise COTS mindset behind and focus on implementing a cloud strategy.

Advantages of cloud SaaS

1.    Affordability

One of the main concerns of CIOs while implementing traditional COTS is the rising setup cost. From an upfront cost perspective, cloud SaaS does not require an high initial capex. A company does not need to purchase and setup hardware, platforms or OS/DB software. Working on cloud SaaS applications is relatively faster than on-premise systems, once the SaaS vendor provides the customer with authenticated access. Furthermore, SaaS includes pay-as-you-go pricing models that allow enterprises to pay for only what they are using. SaaS can be beneficial for startups and mid-size businesses as it provides them with access to expensive, high-powered software, which could have been unobtainable through conventional purchasing methods. SaaS has conveniently eliminated the financial risk of investing in expensive software. Thus, the cloud SaaS business model has minimized the need for implementing and supporting application infrastructure as well as performing capacity planning. The open APIs, standards-compliant interfaces and widely used protocols utilized by cloud SaaS also contribute in providing affordable SaaS solutions.

2.    Integration and Interoperability

For an application to function optimally requires integration and interoperability. CIOs now find it difficult to integrate COTS solutions with other assets they manage. Data integrity, information sharing and on-demand reporting are high concerns amongst CIOs. Cloud SaaS addresses these challenges. SaaS solutions include visual, high-productivity models at the application layer and service architecture. They also include standards-based and REST APIs for integration. Also, common programming languages such as Python and Java are available for fulfilling an enterprise’s integration needs. Cloud SaaS providers are also building ecosystems of partners to facilitate easy integration across cloud SaaS environments.

3.    Compatibility

Legacy COTS installation methods and updates can require huge amounts of time and money. Sometimes, even version discrepancies between members of your workforce can lead to compatibility issues and wasted time. By utilizing cloud SaaS models, organizations can simply log on to already upgraded services. Software as a Service has huge potential. If used correctly, it can help your business save money, time and human resources. It reduces the problems of software maintenance and incompatibility. SaaS provides companies with streamlined focus on their product and greater productivity. However, it is important for CIOs to conduct thorough research and evaluate the options on an individual basis before implementing any cloud solutions.