December 2010 Issue PDF - ENX Magazine

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE We Saw It In ENX Magazine DECEMBER 2010continued from 46Learning From ExperienceRecognizing the need to streamline operations and reducestaffing requirements for document processing, many SMBshave deployed technologies like fax servers and experiencedthe typical issues: Computers age, hard drives fail, softwaregets outdated and pretty soon the server is down. Others considerSaaS after finding that options like putting a fax server inmultiple locations or buying a folding machine for processingmail cost more than they save.When packaging company ARPAC GROUP decided to eliminateits fax machines and manual paper handling of faxesthroughout the company, it looked carefully at the alternativesbefore choosing a SaaS solution. “Bringing the electronic faxingin-house would require the cost of both hardware and software,”said Ryan King, the company’s IT manager. “We alsohad to consider the costs of maintenance and redundancy. Thiswas our ordering system we were talking about, and we neededit up and running 24/7 with no hiccups.” Backup capability builtinto the service architecture is an additional benefit to ARPAC.“The service also gives us peace of mind. If there’s a power outage,we know that our data won’t be lost,” said King.Another company using a SaaS solution, the ambulance groupFirst Med, chose the cloud model for automation to reduce turnaroundtime from output to mailing of statements from itsbilling system. The service enables direct transfer from FirstMed’s billing software to an on Demand SaaS platform. “Wedon’t need another software,” said Matt Ellis, the company’saccounts receivable manager. “We simply upload straight fromour system and everything’s right there.” Once the statementsare uploaded, First Med employees can review them in a webinterface, which also provides tracking capabilities for visibilityinto the process.Changing The LandscapeThe implementation speed and low cost of SaaS for documentdelivery has attracted the attention of large enterprises as well asSMBs. Many CFOs want technology ROI in months instead ofyears. When it is time to replace a fax server or move non-EDIcustomers to electronic invoicing, more and more large companiesare looking to the cloud. As cloud computing becomes thepredominant way to deploy software, SMBs using SaaS to automatedocument processing and delivery will be in a better positionto compete against their rivals, large and small. uJean-Michel Bérard co-founded Esker and is the WorldwideCEO and President of the Board of Directors. He is responsiblefor defining and executing Esker’s business plan and representingEsker to potential partners, the European technologicalcommunity, IT analysts, and the trade press. Ernst & Youngnamed Jean-Michel European Entrepreneur of the Year in2000. He was named as one of the Top Technology Visionariesby Start magazine in 2002. Jean-Michel was named Advisor tothe French Foreign Trade Ministry in 2009 For more info,email Gina.Leranth@esker.com or visit www.esker.com.enx magazine 47