Friday, January 22, 2010

The Evolution of OnDemand

OnDemand applications are no longer just tactical technology solutions. Developing business and process focused synergies between the various cloud solutions has become a strategic initiative for industry-leading companies. Four key drivers that enabled OnDemand applications to evolve into cloud computing and gain widespread adoption are:
  1. The reliability of the Internet has made it possible to access applications over any device from anywhere in the world. Increased broadband connectivity coupled with rich browsers has made it possible to achieve desktop software-like experiences using web technologies.
  2. Cloud vendors like Salesforce.com, Amazon, and Google have enterprise level service offerings with large install bases and a proven track record of reliability and performance. Salesforce.com boasts over 70,000 business clients and has been in business for 10 years.
  3. Cloud based integration tools and APIs make it possible to integrate OnPremise and OnDemand solutions to weave together best of breed solutions. Tools from companies like CastIron and Informatica make it possible to move from a client-server based office to a cloud based or hybrid solution without disrupting business processes.
  4. Platform as a Service (PaaS) has been developed to extend the capabilities of SaaS and simplify aspects of custom software development. PaaS allows developers to build custom web applications without installing any tools on their computer's hard drive and then deploy those applications, without any specialized systems administration skills, across the organization.

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