| SaaS does not solve all the challenges associated | | | | integration. |
| with the delivery of traditional software, but it can | | | | 2. Develop governance of SaaS applications |
| be hugely advantageous provided the problem is | | | | The next step is to create an SaaS governance |
| not too complex. It provides a solution that is | | | | model which meets the internal and external |
| quicker to implement and configure than previous | | | | needs of the organization. This should take the |
| software would allow. | | | | form of a policy document and all applications |
| However, many of the bad practices that occur in | | | | should be fully integrated into it. |
| traditional software are now working their way | | | | 3. Evaluation of vendors |
| into SaaS. A good example is shelfware, a result | | | | Organizations need to evaluate vendors based not |
| of businesses purchasing too many SaaS | | | | only on business performance, but also on |
| subscriptions. "Shelfware as a service is the | | | | financial, legal and technical aspects - in other |
| concept of paying for a software subscription | | | | words, within the context of specific application |
| that is not being accessed by an end user," said | | | | needs. It is not enough to simply consider a single |
| Mr. Cearley, vice president and fellow at Gartner. | | | | dimension; a much more comprehensive overview |
| The study conducted by the market research | | | | of the effects of SaaS deployment can be |
| firm reveals that this is more common in larger | | | | achieved by considering a vendor's full package. |
| organisations, but can still occur in companies of | | | | But the question that remains to be asked is: do |
| any size. | | | | all organisations have the means, or even the |
| So, in order to minimize the risks of this | | | | desire, to evaluate SaaS on such a level? |
| happening, Gartner analysts have offered their | | | | 4. Put an Integration Road Map in place |
| advice on best practices for SaaS at the Gartner | | | | Integration with on-premises applications and other |
| SOA & Application Development and Integration | | | | SaaS solutions presents the biggest technical |
| Summit 2010. They highlighted four important | | | | difficulty. It is therefore very important that the |
| steps to take when evaluating SaaS: | | | | application stays constantly connected to the |
| 1. Determine the value | | | | information system with which it is integrated, and |
| While it limits infrastructure overheads, lowers | | | | evolves alongside it. For example, good mapping |
| short- to medium-term total cost of ownership | | | | will ensure a smooth changeover in the instance |
| and improves levels of ROI, SaaS is perhaps less | | | | where a major organizational change, such as a |
| financially and technically viable in the long-term, | | | | merger or acquisition, takes place. |
| and for applications requiring a high degree of | | | | |