The Benefits of BlackLine’s OnDemand SaaS Model

What is SaaS? Software as a Service (SaaS) is a software distribution model in which applications are hosted by a vendor or service provider and made available to customers over a network, typically the Internet.  Customers typically pay a subscription fee to access the software.  The term “SaaS” is analogous to OnDemand.  More recently, the term “cloud” computing has become popular as well.

Software as a Service is appealing to many companies because of its low-cost, low-risk approach.  Some of the quantifiable benefits are listed below.

• No software or hardware to purchase, install or maintain. The SaaS model means less strain on often over-burdened IT departments.
• No capital outlay. Subscription fees eliminate the need to purchase the software licenses outright, so it is easier to budget for a SaaS solution and pass the monthly costs through an operating budget.
• Eliminate infrastructure investment. With new software, companies typically are required to purchase additional hardware, middleware, and bandwidth to enable the application.  The SaaS model eliminates this requirement.
• Rapid deployment. Since there is no hardware to order or software to install, you can get started using the system almost immediately.
• Seamless integration. BlackLine offers a quick and easy implementation so that your financial data is easily imported in a secure manner.
• Easy availability. All that is required is an Internet connection.  Multi-site locations don’t need Terminal Server or Citrix architectures to use BlackLine.
• Painless upgrades. Users enjoy access to the latest version of the solution because updates, upgrades and enhancements are made available automatically by the BlackLine team.
• No software support fees. Support is included with the subscription fee.
• Anytime, anywhere access to the system. BlackLine’s system is up 24/7.
• Pay for what you use. Eliminate shelfware and pay only for what you use.  This is an obvious advantage over enterprise systems, but one that is often overlooked.
• Inclusive backup, disaster recovery and support services. Spend less time managing your application and more time on your core business, doing what you do best.
• World-class Security.BlackLine’s SSAE 16 Soc 1 Type 2 (formerly SAS 70 Type 2) report details the extensive precautions taken to protect financial data.  Hosting with BlackLine can be more secure than hosting in-house.
• Full configurability. The software you use is the same software with the same powerful configurability as an in-house system.  All of BlackLine’s flexible options are yours in the SaaS model.
• Easy to switch vendors. SaaS provides significantly more power and control to the corporate buyer than traditional software license models. Dissatisfied clients can cancel their subscriptions and transfer to a different application vendor without incurring the costs associated with an enterprise model.
• Lower total cost. The historical complaint about enterprise software has been the unknown cost to deploy, operate, archive, etc.  With SaaS the total cost to operate the application is fixed.  As a result, the overall cost of the software is known in advance.