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Non-profits enjoying the spoils of SaaS

SaaS is perfectly suited to non-profits. From the very large to the very small, non-profits share characteristics that make them ideal candidates for cloud based apps. Limited budgets, an often nomadic existence and the need for collaboration across distributed teams make cloud based applications ideal. More importantly, non-profits often employ an army of volunteers which need adhoc tools in the right place at the right time. Google has recognized the lure of SaaS amongst non-profits by offering a free version of Apps suited to these organisations. Ning, a white-label social network, is also being used by non-profits the world over to extend their community online. Perhaps the most effective use of SaaS has been by Barack Obama who used all the Web 2.0 tools at his disposal during the 2008 Presidential Campaign.  For these organisations, the caveats around cloud computing play second fiddle to the benefits of returning their hard earned back to their core business. How is your club, charity or cause utilizing SaaS?

Cloud Computing Threat to IT

Cloud Computing is not a panacea. It simply removes certain aspects of technology which are commoditized and focuses IT efforts further up the value chain. This will require re-education and reskilling but nonetheless presents an opportunity for those that are willing to evolve. One could argue technology no longer provides competitive advantage in the  one-size fits all, multi-tenant approach of Cloud Computing. You can implement Google Apps or Salesforce which is the same out of the box for everyone, but the  differentiation provided by IT will be through integration, analysis and extension of the cloud platform to provide value within your business. This requires IT skills, different types of IT skills but IT skills nonetheless. I can see how traditional IT service providers and VARs may start to feel nervous. They must also evolve their offering to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the new paradigm. Appirio is a great example of a next generation IT integrator who has done just that.

“Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable.” -  William Pollard

Andrew McAfee provides some insight into Enterprise 2.0

Unshackle your employees to unlock intelligence and productivity across your organisation. That is the essence of Enterprise 2.0.