Web-based software is growing in popularity and there are good reasons why. Also known as SaaS (Software as a Service), web-based has gone from desktop’s poor cousin to being the preferred choice for a lot of businesses. This isn’t a fad that’s going away anytime soon. In fact a recent survey from InformationWeek analytics showed that 46 percent of IT business executives are likely to use SaaS software, will absolutely use it, or will continue to use it in 2010. This is a significant 31% increase over last year.

What has changed that has made the SaaS model more acceptable to a growing number of business executives?

Cloud computing is becoming less the domain of risk-taking early adopters and moving more into mainstream popularity with the growing acceptance of applications such as Google Docs. Internet speed and distribution is constantly improving. And while there are still a few security concerns, these are being overshadowed by the desire for faster applications that offer flexibility without the maintenance overhead of traditional desktop installations.

And SaaS vendors, like Telogis, are working hard to provide a secure platform for their web-based applications.

But just because everyone else is doing it does that mean it’s the right time for your business to jump on board? We’ve put together a 10-question SaaS quiz so you’ll know if it’s right for you.

1. Do you want your software to be an operating expense or capital expenditure? This is the difference between renting and buying. When you buy software it is a capital expenditure and thus a big investment. SaaS applications are ‘rented’ by the user, minimizing the risk and reducing the up-front cost.
2. Do you have available internal IT resources manage and upgrade this application? Desktop applications require a significant investment of time in deployment and upgrades. It also requires staff with IT know-how or contracting local IT consultants. SaaS applications are all managed and upgraded by the provider.
3. Do you want easy access to your software from anywhere in the world? Gone are the days when you bought a single-user license for one computer in your office and anyone who wanted to use the application had to take a number. Now SaaS applications can be accessed instantly from any computer with internet access.
4. Do you want an application that gives you flexible levels of security and availability? SaaS applications are all based on logged users and thus make restricting access to certain functions easier than complicated desktop systems. It’s also easier to only pay for the parts of the application you actually really need rather than buying the entire program and only using 20% of the features.
5. Do you need your application to integrate with your existing programs? Because most SaaS programs are built on open-source web standards, they often integrate easily with your existing software, either straight out of the box or with a little customization.
6. Do you require the application to be deployed quickly without any business downtime? Traditional desktop programs would normally take the whole office out of action as length install routines were run across the network. If you could afford it you’d pay your IT staff to do it over the weekend but even still it was a lengthy process. SaaS can be turned on and off as easily, and as quickly, as a tap. No more watching progress bars while your software installs!
7. Do you want your application to be regularly updated? Because deployment of updates for web-based software is so much easier and less-intrusive than desktop programs, SaaS vendors will receive new updates sooner and more often, meaning you get access to all the latest enhancements as soon as they’re ready!
8. Do you need your software to run on a range of different computers, all running different operating systems? A huge headache for a lot of traditional software companies was getting their programs to work on a wide range of operating systems and hardware configurations. SaaS vendors don’t have that problem since it’s all browser-based. If you can access the internet you can use SaaS software.
9. Do you want a software provider to work with you on an ongoing basis? Desktop software is usually a case of ‘sell and run’. Once the sale is made, you’re on your own. SaaS software means the provider works along with you, supporting your application every step of the way, making sure it does what you need it to, day after day, week after week.
10. Do you need your application to have the security of regular backups and contingency planning? With a desktop application, it’s all up to you. If something goes wrong, or your backup hardware bursts into flames you’re in trouble. With SaaS applications you have none of those worries, with professional providers offering top-level security, frequent backups (and backups of backups) as well as contingency planning should a network fault occur. Telogis is typical of many high-end SaaS vendors with a track record of 99.9% up-time.

If you answered yes to any of these questions then a SaaS telematics solution is the right fit for managing your fleet with GPS tracking.

With a positive ROI for most firms occurring within 90 days, the longer you leave it the more it’s costing you. So don’t be afraid of SaaS as an option for economical business software. When you find out how much it could be saving you, both in IT overheads and wasted time, you’ll wish you’d done it sooner.