Comments on: SaaS & Learning from Malcolm McLean http://www.saasblogs.com/2008/03/17/saas-learning-from-malcolm-mclean/ Understanding the Software as a Service Revolution Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:14:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: SaaS Blogs - » What PaaS Should Learn from the August 2003 Blackouts http://www.saasblogs.com/2008/03/17/saas-learning-from-malcolm-mclean/#comment-41367 SaaS Blogs - » What PaaS Should Learn from the August 2003 Blackouts Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:21:54 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/2008/03/17/saas-learning-from-malcolm-mclean/#comment-41367 [...] EC2 introducing PaaS flavors at different levels in the PaaS taxonomy. As I’ve mentioned on other occassions, I enjoy looking at the histories of other industries and looking for lessons. One analogous [...] […] EC2 introducing PaaS flavors at different levels in the PaaS taxonomy. As I’ve mentioned on other occassions, I enjoy looking at the histories of other industries and looking for lessons. One analogous […]

]]> By: Greg Hall http://www.saasblogs.com/2008/03/17/saas-learning-from-malcolm-mclean/#comment-39366 Greg Hall Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:28:41 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/2008/03/17/saas-learning-from-malcolm-mclean/#comment-39366 This is an interesting post on how it is looking at not just the software portion of SaaS, but going after the functionality and economics of it. To use a real-world example (being in the software industry), my company has developed a SaaS model that offers a complete On Premise solution for the Rental, Sales and Service Industry. Many of our customers are in the logistics and shipping industry and (as an Account Executive) I have been trying to make this industry realize the importance of this new technology. I have spoken with Salesforce.com and even if they do not have the greatest SaaS platform, that have A platform. My company's new SaaS technology is a turning point in our company's 25 year history dealing with software. I think the SaaS platform is the wave of the future for any sort of industry, especially the shipping and logistics industry. My company has had much success with our product, but the construction/equipment rental industries are just too far behind the times to realize the money savings benefits of this technology. To stop rambling and answer the question, I think that the SaaS platform is far from it's peak. The big hurdle to face is to get organizations to realize the importance of this new technology. Greg This is an interesting post on how it is looking at not just the software portion of SaaS, but going after the functionality and economics of it.

To use a real-world example (being in the software industry), my company has developed a SaaS model that offers a complete On Premise solution for the Rental, Sales and Service Industry. Many of our customers are in the logistics and shipping industry and (as an Account Executive) I have been trying to make this industry realize the importance of this new technology. I have spoken with Salesforce.com and even if they do not have the greatest SaaS platform, that have A platform. My company’s new SaaS technology is a turning point in our company’s 25 year history dealing with software.

I think the SaaS platform is the wave of the future for any sort of industry, especially the shipping and logistics industry. My company has had much success with our product, but the construction/equipment rental industries are just too far behind the times to realize the money savings benefits of this technology.

To stop rambling and answer the question, I think that the SaaS platform is far from it’s peak. The big hurdle to face is to get organizations to realize the importance of this new technology.

Greg

]]> By: Paul http://www.saasblogs.com/2008/03/17/saas-learning-from-malcolm-mclean/#comment-38940 Paul Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:35:29 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/2008/03/17/saas-learning-from-malcolm-mclean/#comment-38940 Hi Sinclair, i think we've got a ways to go yet. I don't think the average consumer implicitly understands that software companies could embrace standards, but can make more cash with lock in. But in shipping, they could understand the economic benefits, it made sense and they could demand price reductions in transportation. The second thing about shipping is that there are only 3-4 really REALLY big players.... in the SaaS world this is yet to happen... to much elasticity , profits and growth to drive this type of approach... Cool analogy though Paul Hi Sinclair,

i think we’ve got a ways to go yet. I don’t think the average consumer implicitly understands that software companies could embrace standards, but can make more cash with lock in. But in shipping, they could understand the economic benefits, it made sense and they could demand price reductions in transportation.
The second thing about shipping is that there are only 3-4 really REALLY big players…. in the SaaS world this is yet to happen… to much elasticity , profits and growth to drive this type of approach…

Cool analogy though

Paul

]]> By: Sinclair Schuller http://www.saasblogs.com/2008/03/17/saas-learning-from-malcolm-mclean/#comment-38891 Sinclair Schuller Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:17:30 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/2008/03/17/saas-learning-from-malcolm-mclean/#comment-38891 Thanks Jesse. I agree whole-heartedly that we are far from our peak and yes, the OS to some extent did exactly that. Thanks Jesse. I agree whole-heartedly that we are far from our peak and yes, the OS to some extent did exactly that.

]]> By: Jesse Kliza http://www.saasblogs.com/2008/03/17/saas-learning-from-malcolm-mclean/#comment-38862 Jesse Kliza Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:21:37 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/2008/03/17/saas-learning-from-malcolm-mclean/#comment-38862 Awesome post Sinclair! I love how you draw from a wealth of knowledge outside the software space. It makes your writing that much more valuable and interesting in my opinion. As to your question, I think we are far from our peak. I also think that the rise of open source software and the open source business model has caused the industry as a whole to be much more "open", as companies realize the need to enable their solutions to "talk to one another". In addition, SaaS architecture has introduced a wealth of opportunities for companies to innovate in the area of functionality. The ability for an ISV to leverage their network of users WITHIN their application functionality is one opportunity that I think we’ve yet to see many ISV’s really be creative with. As the industry continues to mature, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect that SaaS ISVs that build their applications with similar toolsets (following accepted protocols) could gain immense benefits from being “plugged in” to a common layer. Isn’t that what the OS did for desktop software? Awesome post Sinclair! I love how you draw from a wealth of knowledge outside the software space. It makes your writing that much more valuable and interesting in my opinion.

As to your question, I think we are far from our peak. I also think that the rise of open source software and the open source business model has caused the industry as a whole to be much more “open”, as companies realize the need to enable their solutions to “talk to one another”.

In addition, SaaS architecture has introduced a wealth of opportunities for companies to innovate in the area of functionality. The ability for an ISV to leverage their network of users WITHIN their application functionality is one opportunity that I think we’ve yet to see many ISV’s really be creative with. As the industry continues to mature, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect that SaaS ISVs that build their applications with similar toolsets (following accepted protocols) could gain immense benefits from being “plugged in” to a common layer. Isn’t that what the OS did for desktop software?

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