1. Is your software publisher taking too long to release new versions of your business software?
There’s a difference in economics between purchased software and software as a service. With software in the cloud, the publisher needs to earn your business every day because you can always decide not to renew your subscription. So cloud software release schedules are often quarterly. While it’s unfortunately not uncommon for the publishers of older on-premise software to rest on their laurels, so to speak, and offer only minor version upgrades every several years. That’s fine if your business isn’t growing and changing, and the software remains a good fit, but if that’s not you, you should be looking at software in the cloud.
2. Are you tired of spending more money to install upgrades that you already paid for?
Software in the cloud is delivered through a single environment shared by all customers. So there is only one version—the current one. The software publisher deploys upgrades to all customers at the same time and includes that service in its subscription price. With on-premise software, the publisher doesn’t have access to your environment. It will deliver a new version to you and leave it up to you to figure out how to install it. And this usually means extra fees not only to install it but to make sure it works with all of your existing integrations and customizations.
3. Have you tested whether your back-ups actually work?
Everybody thinks their data is safer if they can see the computer where it’s stored. And if you ask, your IT department will tell you that there is a backup plan. But while on paper plans always work, in real life that is not always the case. You don’t want to find out in an emergency that yours is the one that didn’t. But if you’re like most businesses, you can’t remember the last time you actually tested whether that paper plan actually works. And if that’s you, wouldn’t it make more sense to move your data to a vendor in the cloud who can provide a guarantee that your data can’t get lost because disaster recovery is tested on a regular basis?
4. Are you always waiting for your outsourced IT to help when you call?
When you buy a new PC or hire a new employee, do you lose productivity immediately because you are waiting for your business software to be installed on that computer? If your business software is in the cloud, the only installation needed is an internet connection.
5. Do you have employees who need to work from remote offices or from home?
When software is in the cloud, it can be accessed from anywhere on any device with no additional installation required. Your remote offices—including employees working from home—aren’t handicapped by missing functionality that is only available when connected to the network. Everybody everywhere shares the same experience and has the same productivity.