Special Report: The SaaS Effect

Brought to you by MSPmentor

Like many solution providers, Sierra-Cedar has been hard at work for years helping customers modernize their existing IT systems and applications while introducing them to emerging innovations that improve efficiencies, enhance customer experiences and generate new revenue opportunities.

Few things have improved Sierra-Cedar’s fortunes quite like the emergence of software-as-a-service (SaaS), which the Alpharetta, Ga., company says its customers have embraced in a big way. A survey of several completed two years ago reveals why. Customers, Sierra-Cedar discovered, said they believed SaaS apps translated into “improved user experiences,” “easier upgrades” and “best practice functionality,” among other things.

Hard to argue with happy customers.

Which brings us to you: To help you better understand the SaaS market and what opportunities it presents, the editors at The VAR Guy, MSPmentor and Talkin’ Cloud combined forces to create this Special Report. We call it, “The SaaS Effect: A Penton Technology Channel Group spotlight on ISVs and the opportunities SaaS presents for partners.”

In addition to this market overview, you can read Talkin’ Cloud Editor-in-Chief (EiC) Nicole Henderson’s “Fast SaaS: 7 SaaS Startups You Need to Know.” From there, be sure to check out MSPmentor EiC Aldrin Brown’s take on an up-and-coming SaaS player, “ISV Atera Rides Wave of SaaS MSP Tools.”

You’re going to also want to read The VAR Guy’s story on one SaaS matchmaker, SaaSMAX CEO Dina Moskowitz, and her quest to help connect developers and channel partners. Also check out The VAR Guy, aka Kris Blackmon, and her SaaS expert quiz. See for yourself just how “SaaSy” you are. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

In the meantime, here’s an overview of what’s happening in the SaaS market.

A (much longer) version of this article first ran at http://mspmentor.net/software-service-and-hardware-service/special-report-saas-effect