Amid growing SaaS hype, many enterprises have discovered sound reasons to ignore software-as-a-service. Here are the top eight, according to Forrester Research. The enthusiasm for and growth in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) market cannot be discounted. SaaS has become a viable and cost-effective (initially, at least) means of application delivery for the small, midsize and even large businesses. MORE ON CIO.com Five Best Practices for Implementing SaaS CRM Enterprises Adopt SaaS Aggressively The Truth About Software as a Service A sampling of recent CIO headlines and article themes tells the tale: “Enterprises Adopt SaaS Aggressively”; “CIOs Embrace On-Demand Software. Really, They Do.”; “SaaS CRM has gone mainstream”; and “On-Demand Software: SaaS Appeal.” And yet, according to Forrester Research survey data, not everyone has jumped on board the SaaS Train. (If you want a “cold SaaS shower,” see “The Truth About Software as a Service.”) A late 2007 survey of North American and European software IT decision-makers found that just 16 percent of respondents said they were already using or currently piloting SaaS applications. Conversely, more than 80 percent were still on the sidelines—curious, for sure, but not yet completely sold or running SaaS apps right now. (Forty-six percent said they were interested in SaaS or planning to pilot; 37 percent said they were “not at all interested.”) So what’s the holdup? “The SaaS market is still shaking out, marked by an abundance of startups, acquisitions and even some early examples of companies having to shut their doors,” write Forrester analysts Liz Herbert and Bill Martorelli in the April 2008 “SaaS Clients Face Growing Complexity” report. “Many firms are hesitant to invest in SaaS, particularly if there is no on-premise option to migrate to or other clear exit strategy.” (See the top eight reasons, below.) Why North American Enterprises Aren’t Interested in SaaSAccording to a Forrester Research survey, these are the top eight reasons why companies say “No Thanks” to SaaS. Percent Reason 66% Integration issues 61% Total cost of ownership concerns 55% Lack of customization 50% Security concerns 42% “We can’t find the specific application we need” 39% Complicated pricing models 39% Application performance 34% “We’re locked in with our current vendor” (Note: Multiple responses accepted) Related content brandpost Sponsored by SAP When natural disasters strike Japan, Ōita University’s EDiSON is ready to act With the technology and assistance of SAP and Zynas Corporation, Ōita University built an emergency-response collaboration tool named EDiSON that helps the Japanese island of Kyushu detect and mitigate natural disasters. By Michael Kure, SAP Contributor Dec 07, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by BMC BMC on BMC: How the company enables IT observability with BMC Helix and AIOps The goals: transform an ocean of data and ultimately provide a stellar user experience and maximum value. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 3 mins IT Leadership brandpost Sponsored by BMC The data deluge: The need for IT Operations observability and strategies for achieving it BMC Helix brings thousands of data points together to create a holistic view of the health of a service. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 4 mins IT Leadership how-to How to create an effective business continuity plan A business continuity plan outlines procedures and instructions an organization must follow in the face of disaster, whether fire, flood, or cyberattack. Here’s how to create a plan that gives your business the best chance of surviving such an By Mary K. Pratt, Ed Tittel, Kim Lindros Dec 07, 2023 11 mins Small and Medium Business IT Skills Backup and Recovery Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe