You might also be interested in
Replies (10)
Please login or register to join the discussion.
Easy Swipes, but real benefits
Some good points are made here.
It's easy to point out some big-boy outages such as those at Google a few months ago, but the benefits of cloud use are very strong when compared with alternatives. It's amazing how many "server in cupboard" and "we take daily backups" stories we hear. Backups where the tape travels across to the other side of the office, or to the top shelf, are numerous. Another classic is lack of going through the restore process regularly to ensure a server can really "be brought back". Only after a problem is it found not to be possible.
A hosted approach dramatically decreases the risks compared with home-spun IT. Professional hosters typically provide regular SAN-based backups and backups to secure off-site storage as well as secure local storage. It makes it easy for companies accounts systems to be hosted in a secure and well managed data centre (We host multiple Sage systems for different customers for example). Not only this but solution vendors supplying services can provide their services as on-line cloud services (example www.ivici.ie).
I think that we'll see not only increasing use of cloud services but also more "hardening" of existing systems through the move for placement of internal servers into online virtual servers (very low price with all the benefits of cloud-based dedicated servers). This supplements the continuing move to hosted dedicated servers - companies securing their data and operations, and limiting their liabilities through improved diligence.
Very interesting times.
Disclosure - we are a professional hosting house, also providing some SaaS. We are agnostic on Accounting and CRM/ERP solutions we host - it's important that any solution matches the real customer requirements. Our business is in keeping your business performing and online at all times.
--
Jon Williams,
www.perceptive-online.com
[email protected]
SaaS/Cloud Uptake considerations
Acceptance of new systems is generally the outcome of sufficient critical mass (significant takeup) to ensure new people feel comfortable with the technology
This is where a sucessful launch of Sage Live could have done wonders for the whole perception of SaaS/Cloud because it would have reinforced the credibility all round and by association brought many more to the market; it was just disappointing that it did not go as planned.
Of course there are detractors but generally they fall into one of two camps - either those with existing desktop software who feel threatened or those in the media who sometimes feel obliged to file a cautionary note. There is nothing really wrong with the latter because they provide a few caveats nevertheless there are limits to constantly knocking SaaS/Cloud and after a time it becomes rather repetitive.
Certainly for SME's the benefits of hosted approach are considerable in terms of cost, maintenance and worry. Futhermore to offload their accounting, human resources (HR) etc. problems allows them to concentrate on why they started the business in the first place and not spend all their time maintaining their systems.
On balance SaaS/Cloud is the way forward for the future and the pace of this technology is increasing at an ever increasing rate.
James Chrimes
Managing Director
SureBooks Online Accounting & Human Resources
http://www.surebooks.co.uk
you can talk it up till your blue in the face thats what Mandy
your analogy with trains and canals is absolutely wrong and typical of the huff and puff
it is perfecty reasonable for people to want to work on their hard drive as opposed to online software especially as not everybody wants constant upgrades etc
i am not convined that it will win out in the long term tho it will ceratinly win in a lot of specific areas
nEW tecknology
you no, with sum upgrades on your systim, you cud have spoll checker and even a CAPITALS key, but I suppose that would be just a little too much progress.
Oh and punctuation, there's another modern invention.....
;OP
Trains and Canal Boats
You are so right in your article. So many people decry new technology and then wonder where their business went. I remember companies who refused to allow salemen to have mobile phones and then wondered why customers went somewhere else. I remember companies who refused to invest in e mail and look where that got them when they relied on snail mail. We live in a world of online collaboration. Online systems allow clients to collaborate with their clients in real time, so they can help with current issues, rather than provide some outdated historical service that calculates the tax and complies with the statutory accounts requirements, whilst adding nothing to client's businesses.
I understand the concept
of online accounting or bookkeeping.
Please explain how it currently links in with all the taxation systems and databases that I currently use.
So What do you do online then?
I note the point about allowing online collaboration rather than simply preparing historical data. This does provide a more attractive service to 'sell', so what do you actually do online with your client base that has becomeor is becoming a core service offering?
Good Article Matt
Matt, very good article. It will generate debate which is what we need. I would appreciate if you could add these views to the BASDA Cloud Computing Forum.
The power of choice
I don’t think Matt Holmes has really grasped the points in my article https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/topic/technology/opinion-don-t-overlook-... . Our clients need not fear the decision of having their software in the cloud or on premise, we offer the power of choice: they can switch their software from the cloud to on premise or vice versa, it works the same whether it’s in the cloud or on premise. Just to clarify, customers are used to making purchase decisions for on premise software; we’re advising potential customers about the areas to consider for SaaS software. Going back to your railway analogy, if you don't ‘gauge’ your infrastructure properly, you won’t get very far out of the station!
Haseet Sanghrajka
Defensive?
The BIG problem for me in much of this discussion comes in two flavours:
1. The binary either/or discussion doesn't tease out the different arguments and positions very clearly or in a manner where a decision taker can objectively assess the relative strengths and weaknesses. That means the arguments end up dumbed down to lowest common denominator questions that are often peripheral but eye catching. Mention a Google outtage and everyone is up in arms but show me data losses?
2. Saas vendors only have themselves to blame at this juncture, not helped by the way the headline is written. The vendors have been pretty poor at spelling out the value saas can bring, have allowed the debate to become obscured in definitional arguments around the latest 'cloud' buzz and failed to provide numbers that back up their position. The original post is a classic example - largely apologetic, strange metaphors etc that don't take the fight to the on-prem vendors and naysayers.
Is it any wonder that people are at best confused and at worst prepared to jump back to safe harbour positions?
But rather than simply spray you all with accusations check out: http://www.accmanpro.com/2009/08/14/cpa-spend-survey-results/ which talks about 24% CPAs indicating saas spend on their list. That's a pretty healthy number. Going further back, Access Accounts last year commissioned research which, from memory, indicated something like 35% of accountants looking at online. In the US, whatever intentions were last year has now solidified into definitive buying decisions.
From my soundings, the US is ahead of the UK (no surprise there) but not by as much as people might imagine. There are plenty of similarities in attitudes and understanding of the landscape.
Returning to some facts: Freshbooks - with 800K sign ups - recently had its first 'unplanned downtime' in 5 years. They handled it responsibly, no data was lost and the company benefited. Events like that and they way they're handled are absolutely indicative of an industry that should be taken seriously because it expresses a different mindset that is core to saas/on-demand/cloud/whatever.
However, the practices/firms that are reaping the real benefits remain in a tiny minority. You'll likely not hear about too many of them because they are doing so well.