The ASP (application service provider) model lends itself to streamlined business in many areas, but one that is often overlooked is that of improved financial control. With ASP, customers are fundamentally shifting from buying software and hardware to "renting" a solution for a fixed monthly fee.
"This is more than just a change in mindset; it`s a dramatic shift in business process and approach which has a direct and positive impact on the bottomline," says Paul Brito, marketing director of MB Worksoft company Resolution Software. The largest Great Plains reseller in Africa, Resolution has added the ASP service to its range of solution offerings.
"The financial benefits are clear," says Brito. "Customers can enjoy more accurate financial budgeting, tax-deductible monthly rentals, and all the benefits of off-balance sheet financing."
In addition, says Brito, clients can be assured of current software and fully updated hardware, without losing focus on their own core competencies.
"Many businesses today assume that in order to remain ahead of their competitors, they are forced to make continual investments in their IT infrastructure," notes Brito. "However, by going the ASP route, businesses can reap the benefits of an advanced, secure technology infrastructure, without the capital expenditure or the additional staff investment."
There is much confusion about what an ASP is and does, but Brito recommends the following definition: An ASP hosts various business applications at a secure, managed data centre, providing clients with expanded access to software and services across a wide-area network (WAN). The data centre houses dedicated application servers whose sole function is to run the individual clients` applications, customised and optimised to the clients` preference.
There are fully trained IT staff on hand to maintain the servers and to offer helpdesk support. The client`s own network of desktops, printers, and other peripherals are then connected to the ASP`s WAN, giving them consistent and immediate access to their applications, data and extra services on offer. In addition, hands-on support is offered remotely via a dedicated line or on-site via a comprehensive service level agreement (SLA).
Another direct benefit of the ASP solution is that it facilitates e-commerce strategies. An e-commerce website can easily and securely be hosted alongside the clients` individual financial suite, allowing for seamless realtime integration between the Web page and the accounting system. In addition, clients with remote users and/or multiple site requirements are easily catered for via the structure of the ASP solution by simply connecting to the ASP`s infrastructure, continuing with business as usual while in the background, their data is being updated in realtime, stored and protected via the ASP.
With nationwide infrastructure, Resolution can host most IT functions, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and front-office productivity tools.
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