Many companies have stepped into the new technological world of cloud-based applications, and this powerful tool is no longer relegated to the IT department. More than 50% of all users are turning to this type of computing for brand management and other business priorities, and their numbers are growing rapidly – in fact, Business Wire reported in June 2013 that 75% of surveyed businesses use a cloud platform of some kind, and the usage increased dramatically in 2013, up from 67% in 2012.
When you're considering cloud-based software for your own company's product approvals and digital asset management needs, it's an exciting, paradigm-shifting process: you're changing the way your business does business for the better. Selecting the right product and vendor, though, can mean the difference between a successful transition and greater productivity -- or a daily exercise in frustration.
Over the next 10 weeks, we'll be digging deeper into the question of evaluating the most popular type of cloud computing programs, SaaS (Software as a Service), based on their reliability and fit to your business. We'll explore a variety of best practices for identifying and leveraging the best-in-class vendors and applications, that, well-executed, can positively improve business performance. Applying these tactics can help to avoid the significant financial, operational, technical, and legal risks which you might confront if you pick the wrong vendor.
A great deal of the initial information-gathering that makes your transition smoother is just a matter of asking tough questions of potential vendors early on. Some of those are questions like these:
- Does the vendor have the financial strength to weather downturns or other unforeseen risks, or are they one lost customer away from being unable to pay their bills?
- Where are their offices located and can you visit them?
- Are their developers in-house or outsourced, domestic or in a high-risk country?
- How does this vendor address information security? Do they have an Information Security Officer or other evidence to show you that security is a priority?
- Is the vendor a leader in the space? Will they disclose their client list or other data to prove their market position?
- If things don't work out for any reason, what happens to your valuable data and assets?
How to find answers to those questions? Let us help. This blog series, “Anatomy of a SaaS Vendor,” is intended to offer experience, analysis, and advice on the thorough evaluation of cloud computing licensors in multiple categories. Having found your own answers to each question, you and your team can come to the best possible decision for your business.
MyMediabox is a leading provider of SaaS hosted applications for digital asset management and style guide delivery (Mediabox-DAM), product approvals and other creative workflows (Mediabox-PA) and deal memo management (Mediabox-DM). For more information visit us at www.mymediabox.com
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