IT Strategic Consulting Services

The Boston area is experiencing a brief thaw from the frigid winter cold, and many of those I'm talking to in the on-demand services market are hoping to see the same in the marketplace.

There is no question that rapid growth of the on-demand services market in 2008 has given way to a slow start in 2009 in many sectors of the Software-as-a-Service, managed services and cloud computing markets.

The deepening economic crisis has extended salescycles and caused cutbacks within companies of all sizes. VC and private equity funding has also dried up, putting additional pressure on privately-funded companies of all sizes.

Despite these challenges, on-demand service companies continue to deliver measurable business value. That is why THINKstrategies launched the Best of SaaS Showplace Awards last month, to demonstrate the tangible benefits users of SaaS solutions are generating.

It is our commitment to promoting the value of the on-demand services industry which has fueled the continued growth of the SaaS Showplace and Managed Services Showplace online directories and resource centers.

As a result, the Showplace sites are now the top ranked online directories in the SaaS and Managed Services markets on Google!

Since the beginning of 2009, fifty companies have added their names and corporate information to the directory, and this newsletter added another 200 subscribers, bringing the total to over 10,700 IT/business decision-makers, IT solution providers, technology investors, and business and industry press!

There is no question that 2009 will be a more difficult year for all of us. THINKstrategies is committed to being the most 'trusted advisor' to IT/business decision-makers who want to leverage the right on-demand solutions to achieve their corporate objectives; IT solution providers who are trying to gain a competitive advantage in the on-demand services market; and technology investors looking for the best on-demand service providers to support.

This newsletter includes our latest research and perspectives on the market, as well as Showplace sponsors and resources.

Please contact me if you'd like to learn how you can leverage THINKstrategies' consulting and strategic marketing services to achieve your business objectives.

Jeff Kaplan

Managing Director

THINKstrategies

Challenges and Opportunities in the On-Demand Services Market

Despite the deepening economic crisis, THINKstrategies believes the on-demand services market will experience continued growth in 2009. Click here to read my views in the Mass High Tech Journal.

However, the growth opportunities will be tempered by significant challenges created by today's unprecedented economic problems, including slower salescycles and shrinking funding sources. Even the largest players in the on-demand services market are feeling the pinch of today's economic environment. Click here to read more.

There are still opportunities to create new business models in this challenging economic climate. Click here to see how professional services companies are responding to these opportunities.

Click here to read my top ten predictions for the on-demand services market in 2009.

Contact me if you'd like to discuss the state of the on-demand services market, or would like to learn how you can leverage THINKstrategies' services to properly respond to the on-demand market opportunities and challenges.

New Showplace Sponsors, Perspectives and Benefits

We have teamed with Trigent, a IT services company, to thoroughly upgrade and update the SaaS and Managed Services Showplace online directories.

Both sites have been reorganized to make them easier to navigate. We have also added mapping capabilities to the SaaS Showplace, so visitors can find SaaS companies by location.

NTRglobal and Ping Identity are the newest sponsors of the SaaS Showplace.

NTRglobal is a leading provider of remote support, remote access and remote systems management solutions. NTRglobal has contributed a whitepaper entitled, "Achieving Sustainable Business Growth With A Remote Support Solution", to the SaaS Showplace.

Ping Identity, a leading provider of secure single-on solutions for on-demand services, has also posted a whitepaper on the Showplace entitled, "Federated Identity and Software as a Service (SaaS): Single Sign-on to the Cloud."

Triple-Tree has also published its latest Collaboration Industry Analysis Report.

Trigent has also posted the following whitepapers on the SaaS Showplace,

The Managed Services and SaaS Showplace Best Practice Portals, powered by iCentera, includes additional whitepapers regarding managed services and SaaS industry trends and how-to guides.

Click here if you'd like to learn more about Showplace sponsorships.

Upcoming Events

Tomorrow kicks off NetworkWorld's IT Roadmap 2009 schedule, with the opening session in New York City. In each city, I will be presenting THINKstrategies' perspective regarding SaaS, Cloud Computing, and Managed Services, and moderating a series of presentations by local customers and interesting vendors. Click here to see the 2009 schedule.

I also will be participating in two webcasts later this week,