| Companies of all types and sizes waste countless | | | | causing IT teams to abandon the project before the |
| dollars every year on shelf-ware - software | | | | solution is ever even rolled out to end users. Or, the |
| applications that are purchased, but never put to use. | | | | solution itself, once rolled out, may not meet end |
| But shelfware doesn't just drain IT budgets, which | | | | user needs, resulting in low adoption rates and |
| are shrinking rapidly in today's tough economic times. | | | | demand for another package to replace the one |
| It also makes IT audits and depreciation calculations | | | | originally purchased. |
| more complex, and can hinder productivity, leaving | | | | One of the primary advantages of a SaaS solution is |
| end users lacking the business solutions they need to | | | | that it eliminates the risk of shelf-ware. There is no |
| effectively perform their jobs. | | | | large initial investment required with SaaS, so |
| There are many reasons why software - bought | | | | companies don't have to pay until they are actually |
| with the best intentions - becomes shelf-ware. For | | | | realizing value from it. If they don't achieve the |
| example, more critical technology initiatives may | | | | desired benefits, they can simply choose not to |
| come up, taking priority and putting deployment on | | | | renew at the end of their contract period (monthly, |
| the back burner, challenges with deploying a | | | | quarterly, annually), and have paid only for what they |
| software solution or customizing it to meet the | | | | have used. |
| business needs and more. | | | | Why on-demand? Because SaaS minimizes |
| Flaws in the traditional software sales model are one | | | | implementation risk, since there is no need to |
| of the key reasons behind shelf-ware. Companies | | | | provision and deploy local servers, install software or |
| pay upfront to acquire a software solution, before | | | | configure databases. There is no need to setup |
| they can see firsthand how the end users will | | | | operational procedures such as antivirus, backups, |
| benefit, and what type of value it will provide. It's a | | | | periodical maintenance so customers can get up and |
| major risk, but one that, in the past, organizations | | | | running quickly and realize value sooner. On-demand |
| have been forced to take. This leads to shelf-ware in | | | | software can be deployed rapidly, and seamlessly |
| two ways. First, there is exposure when it comes to | | | | integrated into any existing technology environment. |
| implementation. Huge deployment issues may arise, | | | | |