Darren Wesemann Blog

A popular theme these days is the software distribution method known as Software-as-a-Service.  Although it’s clear the capabilities of SaaS are finding tremendous uptake with applications such as CRM and related offerings, there are markets that require an enhanced context for software services to continue to grow.  Financial Services, for instance require highly configurable services due to the large amount of custom integration involved in software deployments.  This yields an emphasis on solutions that meet specific business needs, as opposed to the services that make up the solutions.  Perhaps Financial Services is not completely unique in this regard; however the need for a solutions-focus is emphasized due to complex integration requirements.  In this blog I’ll describe what SunGard has planned for delivering software solutions comprised of highly configurable services.

I’ve commented several times on SaaS (see SaaS Infinitely Configurable, Trend of Software Delivery Methods, Software-as-a-Service vs ASP).  Today, I’d like to extend those comments into the context of configurable solutions.  This is an area near and dear to my heart, because in the financial services sector, (the market I’m exclusively focused in), the SaaS model as it is generally offered, mostly doesn’t fit.  The reason is a CRM-like application doesn’t model the solutions servicing the needs of the typical financial institution.  In the financial services space, seldom can you simply log-in to an online application without intense data and functional integration to existing back-office systems.

Accordingly, software services offered in a hosted or SaaS fashion must not be the endgame, but rather components of what should be emphasized instead, which is the Solution!  So, from our perspective, it ought to be Software-as-a-Solution.

Back in November, SunGard held an event with industry analysts.  At the event, we announced our plan to address a solutions-focused Software-as-a-Service offering for our SOA enabled components.  You can read what was presented here.  We call the offering Infinity.  I’m very enthused about this direction, as it provides configurable components with the endgame being the solution, which directly solves a customer’s business problem.  This is what is needed to make SaaS work with financial institutions.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 6th, 2007 at 1:20 pm and is filed under Software, Trends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.