Gartner dispels SaaS myths

Businesses should be wary of believing all that is said about software-as-a-service (SaaS), according to Gartner.

Contrary to popular belief, SaaS - which can encompass web hosting and email, among other elements - does in fact integrate with on-premises applications and data sources, the research company said.

It explained that there are two main methods of integrating SaaS in this way - batch synchronisation and integration using web services.

Gartner also said that SaaS is not just for basic requirements, as it is "highly configurable" when it comes to metadata and offers numerous customisation options.

"However, some gaps remain for complex, end-to-end processes that require complex workflow or business process management capabilities," it conceded.

A recent study by Really Simple Systems found that a growing number of small and medium-sized businesses are making use of SaaS thanks to its affordability.

More than half of respondents suggested that their confidence in hosted applications had risen over the course of 2008.

Written by Dipika Patel