05 Feb 2009

Enterprises 'embracing SaaS'

Businesses are readily adopting software-as-a-service (SaaS), research reveals.

A study of 678 business figures conducted by Really Simple Systems reveals small to medium enterprises (SME) are increasingly relying on the model.

John Paterson, chief executive officer of the company, claims 83 per cent of those questioned recognise the benefits involved with incorporating the service.

"SaaS is being realised as a means of dramatically reducing IT overheads and removing the burden of system maintenance for small organisations who would rather allocate that resource to developing the business," he says.

The current economic climate has been a "significant force" in altering perceptions of SaaS, he adds.

Results from the study also revealed 58 per cent of those using the service gained increased confidence in SaaS during 2008.

Jeffrey Kaplan, managing director of THINKstrategies, recently declared the service is providing "measurable business benefits" in a column for New England technology journal Mass High Tech.