| "body"> | | | | and increase my profits? Evaluate the arguments and |
| With Software as a Service becoming the motto of | | | | you'll see the advantages Hosted Applications can |
| many of today's large software companies it | | | | offer any size business. |
| becomes obvious the power Internet Applications hold. | | | | The development costs for a Hosted Application are |
| Instead of selling a license to install software and risk a | | | | also significantly less. Instead of worrying about difficult |
| bad install software manufacturer's can charge for | | | | installs for multiple operating systems (even Windows |
| access to the software online through a web browser. | | | | Apps have to be tested on Win98 and up) you can |
| This provides so many benefits that I don't think I can | | | | focus on writing towards the most currently accepted |
| list them all. | | | | standards as determined by the W3C. Having only one |
| *Hosted software is instantly updated to all users | | | | standard to worry about removes the concern that |
| *Has an install so easy you can just click a shortcut | | | | different operating systems will require different installs |
| and you're running | | | | and files. As long as you use a browser that follows |
| *Can provide guaranteed off-site data back up that | | | | the W3C guidelines, and the big ones do, then you've |
| was once only the luxury of super rich mega | | | | reduced development and testing time. This creates a |
| companies. | | | | better application that isn't bloated with all the junk |
| Those are just the icing on the cake. You can run a | | | | needed to make it run on a million different systems. |
| Hosted application on almost any platform. Suddenly | | | | There may be some concern in using a Point of Sale |
| Linux systems don't require a specialized software | | | | system through the Internet, but SSL encryption and |
| install, just a web browser. The technical support | | | | other security techniques are quite sound. Stealing |
| required for a non-Microsoft operating system drops | | | | information has been around long before technology |
| considerably. You also get the added advantage of | | | | and thieves will always pick away at the profits. The |
| easy access on handheld devices and mobile phones. | | | | question is whether the risk is higher in using a |
| The easiest fastest way to create any tool for multiple | | | | Software tool that can be so easily accessed by not |
| platforms and not worry about technical support costs | | | | only your employees but by financial assassins that |
| is to look for those companies making the leap to the | | | | we all know are there. Security is an always will be a |
| next level of technology. Software companies that | | | | concern, but if your company is connected to the |
| make Internet Based and Web Based applications are | | | | Internet in any way then any information on those |
| going to experience an explosion as the world moves | | | | networks is at just as much of a risk if not more of a |
| to this advantage. | | | | risk than the information stored in a hosted application. |
| Many of the largest companies have already stated | | | | If your network is connected to the Internet then you're |
| their support and intensions in this area. When looking | | | | already taking the same risks as someone using an |
| for a software company to provide a point of sale | | | | Internet Hosted Application. Even systems on a closed |
| system I look at how well it integrates into this model. | | | | WAN have their security risks. The benefits of using |
| Can the software be hosted on a single server and | | | | an Internet Hosted Point of Sale System far outweigh |
| manage 100 locations? How easy is it to install on | | | | the risks. In business every dollar counts and when it |
| different platforms? Can I keep it backed up and | | | | comes to technology picking the right path can make a |
| updated quickly and easily? Will it lower my bottom line | | | | huge difference in your profits. |