Tutorial: SaaS Business -- Theory and Practice

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) will affect the business of most IT and software companies, as well as the client organizations' IT function. Yet, software buyers and even software vendors are still somehow unfamiliar with the exact definition of the Software as a Service. Is it a whole new business model, an adjustment to revenue and distribution model, or just a new deployment technology? It appears that SaaS is not just a technical issue, but affects profoundly the way businesses provide and use software.

The goal of this tutorial is to clarify the main concepts of Software-as-a-Service, giving the audience tools to answer an important question from their own standpoint: How will Software-as-a-Service change software business? The issues are presented using two dimensions: (i) technology vs. business perspectives and (ii) software providers vs. buyers viewpoint.

The tutorial will consist of the following parts:

1. Introduction to the SaaS. We present SaaS definition and related concepts, like Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
2. SaaS Value Creation. SaaS creates value for different stakeholders. We discuss the benefits of the SaaS model and analyze the truth of these claims, e.g.: Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), more flexible IT management, easier entry to new markets, and tapping to competitive business ecosystems.
3. SaaS How-to. In this more practice oriented part we will explain how to utilize SaaS model in different business scenarios: How to buy SaaS? How to manage SaaS solutions as a part of companies information systems? How to launch a SaaS solution? How to do business with Saas?
4. SaaS in Finland. The attendants of the ICSOB 2010 will have exclusive possibility to hear first about the characteristics of the Finnish SaaS market, and challenges and possibilities the SaaS products bring to Finnish companies.

Target Audience

Business and development executives of software companies, CIOs of companies interested to utilize the SaaS solutions and researchers with initial interest on the topic.

Tutorial organizers

SaaSify Your Business -research group (Funded by TEKES Verso program) investigates SaaS as a global and Finnish phenomenon. Group consists of researchers with both academic and industrial backgrounds. The tutorial will be designed and held by personnel with years of experience in university level teaching based on the current industrial interests.