Software as a Service (SaaS) is being viewed by many as every CIO’s dream – a low cost, convenient application of software that enables a company to focus on its core business by outsourcing all its IT. But can this model support mission-critical systems effectively? And will the one size fits all approach work for companies looking to differentiate themselves with distinctive products and services?
One of my client companies, Exaxe, recently published a white paper which examined the use of SaaS within the life and pensions industry. While recognising the benefits of SaaS in terms of economies of scale, a usage-based cost, outsourcing maintenance and the appeal of ‘anywhere’ access, it highlights the fact that in order to maximise benefits, users are restricted to the range of possibilities that are provided by the software and its standard configurable options.
The paper argues that the primary benefit of SaaS wihin a life and pensions organisation comes from removing only utility support systems from the internal IT department, allowing them to concentrate on the core mission-critical systems.
The white paper, “Software As a Service – A Model For Life Assurers?” is available here (PDF, will open in a new browser window).
