Product Code Database
On-premises software (abbreviated to on-prem, and often written as "on-premise") is installed and runs on computers on the premises of the person or organization using the software, rather than at a remote facility such as a server farm or cloud computing. On-premises software is sometimes referred to as "shrinkwrap" software, and off-premises software is commonly called "software as a service" ("SaaS") or "cloud computing".
The software consists of database and modules that are combined to particularly serve the unique needs of the large organizations regarding the automation of corporate-wide business system and its functions.
Cloud-based software is usually served via internet and it can be accessed by users online regardless of the time and their location. Unlike on-premises software, cloud-based software users only need to install an application or a web browser in order to access its services.
On the other hand, in general, the initial costs required for the use of software services are considered relatively low for cloud-based software and thus suitable to small enterprises without a large amount of capital. Moreover, cloud-based software users are not subjected to license fees as well as maintenance and operation costs since these are on hands of software vendors. Furthermore, costs incurred for infrastructures are expected to be smaller compared to on-premises software as users only need their electronic devices to be able to get access to the services.
Although initial costs for the access to services are usually low for cloud-based software, total costs required for the use of software over a specific time period are unsure as cloud-based software requires routine payment (i.e. monthly subscription fee) for the use of services whereas on-premises software does not.
On the other hand, for cloud-based software, it is a software provider who is responsible for the system operations and maintenance. Thus, no IT professionals need to be hired within the entity specifically for the purpose of operating the software.
For cloud-based software, the entity has no requirement of data backup by itself, as this is also a responsibility of the software provider and data backup is perquisite for the provider in offering their services. On the other hand, the control of data by software providers suggests that users have no control over the data and software system performance. This may result in some security issues, especially for those who are subject to high level of regulation standards against data security, such as financial institutions.
However, the difference in the level of safety over data security between on-premises and cloud-based software is arguable. Some experts claim that cloud-based software is likely to be more secure as they have more amount of capital and other resources to invest in data security system than normal business entities. While others argue that this is questionable as software vendors are usually more exposed to being targeted by as they hold vast amount of data within the system.
SaaS emerged in the early 2000s, and some of businesses that published SaaS products have experienced a failure, as customers wanted SaaS particularly for the purpose of the automation of single specific corporate functions rather than a corporate-wide system.
However, the idea of on-demand service delivery of software was not revolutionary at the time of 2000. Some vendors already had attempted this delivery style of software service in 1900s. The reason the business model was not widely known at that time was the lack of broadband penetration and that there was no sufficient internet accessibility to effectively make all the on-demand software service work effectively.
As SaaS market evolved in the 2000s, as opposed to on-premises software, the cloud-based software got adopted by the market demand to serve many types of businesses, including small and large corporations, and to automate specific business processes within them.
In addition, SaaS allowed customers to make selections among many functions depending on each customer's needs and economic conditions.
Although on-premises software previously had the huge advantage of being capable of customization and tailoring software services to each business needs, SaaS has also evolved as a platform where customizable services are available to some extent as cloud-based software market develops.
On-premises software was prevailing in 2013 in the software market, however, more and more customers and thus software vendors are shifting toward cloud-based software.
Key corporate players who have contributed to this software model change as well as associated ERP systems are:
For instance, SAP was originally an on-premises software vendor. In accordance with the change in technologies and customer preferences in the software market, the company has turned itself into cloud-based ERP provider that are available both in public cloud and private clouds depending on the customer's needs.
Microsoft previously provided on-premises collaborative platforms such as SharePoint2010 for automation of corporate-wide business system of large corporations. In the recent years the company has been publishing many cloud-based piece of software such as Azure and Microsoft Dynamics LCS that provide customers internet services that offer automated and standardized business functions for specific area of the businesses.
Salesforce has brought revolution to business's CRM process through its cloud-based software service, including Sales Cloud that offers best suitable standardized business processes regarding the customer relation to the businesses.
At the time of 2016, despite this trend, most of corporations maintained their traditional information management system through on-premises software. This suggested that the trend shift in software market is occurring with a slow pace as the businesses are gradually shifting their software system from the traditional on-premises to cloud-based.
In 2020, approximately 70% of business customers are planning new or further transitions from on-premises software to cloud-based software.
In accordance to this consumer movement toward cloud-based solutions in software market, more and more vendors, including industry leading software corporations such as Microsoft, Oracle and SAP, shift their business model and transfer their products to cloud-based solutions.
This is because businesses usually require much more complex structure and system of information management in contrast to private users. In addition, businesses are more prudent to the shift of its software system because they have significant concern over the data security as its failure could potentially result in the loss of enormous amount of data as well as the business's reputation.
As the convenience of these features associated with cloud-based software becomes widely known, more customers (mainly businesses) start shifting their software system toward cloud-based as they have been realizing that SaaS brings more efficiency to their information and system management. Especially for those whose business processes are highly standardized and shared within their industry.
In transition to cloud-based solution for the information management, customers' concern involves the security of data, privacy, and many more that may be better provided by the traditional on-premises solution. In order to deal with this problem, the software market came up with new solution to combine on-premises and cloud-based solution and its best features. As such, the software will be provided on-demand with customization simultaneously.
According to Hietala's research, US has been always the biggest country player in the software business and has been presenting a dominant market position in the market. In 2006, software products of US companies occupied around 60% of the whole world software product turnover. sa..
Pure software is mainly sold or purchased on its own as one independent product and not being incorporated into other products. Although these software are traded as main product, sometimes vendors get more revenue stream from services that are combined with or offered on the software platform.
Unlike pure software product, embedded software products are not traded on its own but rather considered as a part being incorporated in other products. The examples are the software embedded into the mobile phone, computer and other electronic devices. In general, completely different ways of architecture and system construction needed for this type of software compared to that of traditional software products. (2025). 9780120121564 ISBN 9780120121564
Customer-tailored software are the software of which the system and the service can be tailored to individual needs of customers. This customization can be achieved through a variety of different combinations of software modules and platforms. The core purpose of this software product is to solve a specific business issues of individual customers and provide a unique solution to that through technology. While standard cloud-based software usually offer standardized solution and service to a broad range of customers within an industry and/or market area.
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