What is SaaS and PaaS?

Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) are part of a wider on-demand software trend. On-demand software is rapidly transforming the enterprise. More than ever, companies of all sizes are deploying solutions like Google Apps or Salesforce.com instead of installing and maintaining their own on-premise applications.

SaaS provides applications such as customer relationship management (CRM) and email packaged as services whilst PaaS takes this to the next level. PaaS is about delivering a platform with a variety of tools and ready-made components such as databases, workflows, website applications and content management tools.

Large software companies like Microsoft, Salesforce.com and Google have their own eco-systems consisting of a community of independent developers and integrators. They build components of core products and add-ons, and integrate these with other applications. FuseIT is an independent developer and integrator and participates in a number of well known eco-systems.

Why is SaaS and PaaS becoming so important?

Companies that have applied Saas and PaaS successfully are now benefitting from its advantages. What are these advantages?

SaaS and PaaS core systems are widely adopted and have large communities of developers who know and support these applications. On-demand software requires no maintenance as products are frequently updated online. Configuration is usually easy compared to on-premise software because users choose which components fit their requirements and deploy only those. Last, but not least: on-demand applications are available any time any place with guaranteed high reliability.