A Successful SaaS Story

[cbenassi]

SaaS (Software as a Service) -- formerly known as ASP (Application Service Provider) -- is a business that provides computer-based services to customers over a network. CEO Todd Garner of SaaS Capital Inc, a SaaS venture capital company, states: "The SaaS model has never been hotter, growing at 43% annually." Both SaaS Capital, Inc. and Forester, an independent technology and market research company, expect SaaS to be the fastest growth sector for ISVs and product offerings in 2008.

A shift towards SaaS-based solutions is happening as ISVs look for new ways to grow revenues, and end-users seek ways to reduce the complexity of maintaining software. As an ISV, you are looking for new ways to quickly test different business models and grow revenues. Using SaaS, you can address some of your biggest challenges, including cost, complexity, time-to-market, risk, and ease of software use.

Dean Westover, President, and Choices Software, Inc., together represent one example of many companies that have successfully created SaaS-based Servoy solutions. We at Servoy would like to thank Mr. Westover for sharing with us his experience:

Choices Software, Inc. specializes in software solutions for the property-casualty insurance industry. As an early Servoy developer, Choices sold smart client solutions to insurance agencies, insurance companies, and risk management departments of large companies throughout the U.S.

In the fall of 2006 Choices rolled out its first SaaS (software as a service) solution using Servoy webclient technology. Their multi-tenant SaaS solution offers many advantages. Users are able to access the SaaS solution immediately, with no installation required. They can try the software free for 30 days. When they decide to purchase, the transaction is processed online.

The need for ongoing support has been drastically reduced. Within the SaaS solution, users can click a "Help" button to view a flash movie that demonstrates how to properly use the portion of the program that they are currently using. Flash movies are also used to demonstrate new features when they are added to the solution.

One major advantage of the SaaS approach, that Choices did not anticipate, is the ability to obtain real time statistical information on the usage of its solution. This has allowed Choices to make timely modifications and adjustments as needed.

Internally Choices' customer support staff can view real time statistics from a webclient generated web page that shows detailed information on all logins. The information includes not only who is logging in and when, but also valuable information on how the software is actually being used. This has enabled their staff to be pro-active in helping their customers.

Google Analytics (http://www.google.com/analytics) has been another important source of statistical information for their SaaS solution. This free service provides vital information on: number of visits, pageviews, pages/visits, bounce rate, average time spent per page, new visits, etc. Line and pie charts show visitor overviews, traffic source overviews, and content overview.

Choices now has over twelve months experience hosting its Servoy SaaS solution; during this period over 500 insurance agencies and insurance companies have subscribed to their service, with 99.99% uptime.

Dean Westover
President
Choices Software, Inc.
Solution can be viewed at http://www.acords.com




Carla Benassi
Marketing Coordinator
Servoy, USA