SaaS The Next Big Thing in ECM?

Interesting article just released on AIIM talking about SaaS - where they talk about the main benefits of Software-as-a-Service.  In that AIIM is almost exclusively focused on ECM vs. Web Content Management, this seems like an interesting mile marker - moving toward the move to SaaS more generally.

The article quotes customers who have moved to a SaaS model for ECM:

 “We did it in less than two weeks with one person who wasn’t working at it full time.” Training was a breeze. “Since our sales force was familiar with the CRM application, it was a minimal effort to get it up and running and to get people using it.”

It seems to me that as SaaS vendors like Salesforce.com, and Spring CM begin to gain more traction - and eat into the traditional, installed market for ECM - we'll start see some of what we've seen in the Web Content Management Space; installed vendors claiming a SaaS offering.

As always, beware the installed software offering as a software service. That is the worst of both worlds. 

Comments

[James Till]

I agree, generally on-premise ECM apps don't transition to become SaaS elegantly. However, if the application was originally developed for the Web, that may be a different story...

http://tinyurl.com/qrh3x7

[Air Max 2010]

You won't have a service to make system modifications after launch. Every time you need a new type of page, a new layout, a change to workflow, a simple integration, somebody needs to modify the system. Have a service or have a CMS that stinks to high heaven within 12 months.