http://www.softwareceo.com?src=category_rss SoftwareCEO - Licensing Issues Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:26:10 GMT admin@softwareceo.com SoftwareCEO 60 http://www.softwareceo.com/brand/sceo/community.gif http://www.softwareceo.com?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/48191/Comparing-the-Total-Cost-of-Ownership-TCO-of-SaaS-vs.-On-Premise/?src=category_rss As Cloud technologies continue to evolve, more and more software buyers are seriously reviewing and evaluating software as a service (SaaS) solutions against on-premise offerings. While there are many factors that influence which deployment model is best for any particular business (e.g., ability to manage IT internally and speed of deployment) the cost of the system is often a key factor. But comparing the true cost of a Cloud-based system against an on-premise system can be time-consuming and is often a complex undertaking. For instance, most buyers understand that on-premise licenses are typically purchased with a large, upfront investment and SaaS licenses are purchased for a relatively cheaper subscription price. But many forget to consider the total cost of ownership (TCO) of their investment. That is, they don&rsquo;t look beyond the licensing costs to consider how other factors such as the need to customize the software and integrate it with existing applications can influence the TCO of their software purchase. Even then there are intricacies like maintenance and support and training requirements that can make creating an apples-to-apples comparison of the TCO on-premise and Cloud software difficult. If you&rsquo;re not a seasoned veteran in modeling all these costs, comparing them...<div><a href="http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/48191/Comparing-the-Total-Cost-of-Ownership-TCO-of-SaaS-vs.-On-Premise/">[Read more]</div> Licensing Issues Marketing and PR M&amp;A and Financing Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:26:09 GMT Software Advice http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/48191/Comparing-the-Total-Cost-of-Ownership-TCO-of-SaaS-vs.-On-Premise/#discussion?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/48191/Comparing-the-Total-Cost-of-Ownership-TCO-of-SaaS-vs.-On-Premise/?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/48166/Eliminate-bad-discounts/?src=category_rss Using marketing to create meaningful product differentiation separates you from competitors and allows you to command price premiums. One differentiation strategy should be the elimination of bad discounts. Discounts should never lead to a loss of margin. Instead, discounts should reward customers for activities that improve their value as a customer - either by reducing your costs or improving demand. As a first step, evaluate and build systems that reward customers based on desired behaviors. Not getting paid on time? Equate prompt payment with a discount that reduces your aging. Have customers that are time consuming? Provide a discount for ordering online. Have customers that are not properly utilizing their software? What about discounts that kick in once certain adoption milestones are achieved? With win win discounts in hand, sales is then equipped to suggest discounts from a menu. The customer can then select the discounts that are in their best interest. It is important to properly understand how discounts incentivize certain behaviors and how those discounts are enforced. For example, should volume discounts be granted before certain sales volumes are achieved or are they paid back as credits once the customer hits the appropriate milestones? Enforcing performance milestones can...<div><a href="http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/48166/Eliminate-bad-discounts/">[Read more]</div> Marketing and PR Licensing Issues Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:37:09 GMT BenBradley http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/48166/Eliminate-bad-discounts/#discussion?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/48166/Eliminate-bad-discounts/?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/46024/The-FTC-Slams-SaaS-Marketers-For-Deceptive-Continuity-Programs/?src=category_rss Related Link - SaaS Agreement View my video here . Read my article .<div><a href="http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/46024/The-FTC-Slams-SaaS-Marketers-For-Deceptive-Continuity-Programs/">[Read more]</div> Operations and Legal Licensing Issues Marketing and PR Sales and Distribution Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:17:48 GMT Chip Cooper http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/46024/The-FTC-Slams-SaaS-Marketers-For-Deceptive-Continuity-Programs/#discussion?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/46024/The-FTC-Slams-SaaS-Marketers-For-Deceptive-Continuity-Programs/?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/46023/Blog-And-Forum-Operators-DMCA-Safe-Harbor-Not-Bullet-Proof/?src=category_rss Related Link - Website Legal Forms View my video here . Read my article .<div><a href="http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/46023/Blog-And-Forum-Operators-DMCA-Safe-Harbor-Not-Bullet-Proof/">[Read more]</div> Marketing and PR Sales and Distribution Operations and Legal Licensing Issues Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:08:32 GMT Chip Cooper http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/46023/Blog-And-Forum-Operators-DMCA-Safe-Harbor-Not-Bullet-Proof/#discussion?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/46023/Blog-And-Forum-Operators-DMCA-Safe-Harbor-Not-Bullet-Proof/?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/46022/FTC-Legal-Forms-FTC-Liability-Traps-With-Affiliates/?src=category_rss Related link - Website Legal Documents View my video here . Read my article . Chip<div><a href="http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/46022/FTC-Legal-Forms-FTC-Liability-Traps-With-Affiliates/">[Read more]</div> Operations and Legal Licensing Issues Marketing and PR Sales and Distribution Fri, 17 Aug 2012 11:44:51 GMT Chip Cooper http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/46022/FTC-Legal-Forms-FTC-Liability-Traps-With-Affiliates/#discussion?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/46022/FTC-Legal-Forms-FTC-Liability-Traps-With-Affiliates/?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/45753/The-Future-of-Project-Management-Software-Probably/?src=category_rss Over the last decade or so, the industry has shifted from customers installing software at their physical locations to renting Web-based software over the Internet on a monthly basis. It&rsquo;s moving this way because customers want it to, and so do vendors. Most software companies get their revenue from &ldquo; shelfware &rdquo; (software that is rarely used and ends up on the proverbial shelf). Popular programs like Quicken or SAP &ndash; for which customers pay the total cost up front &ndash; can be complicated, making them difficult to use and achieve maximum benefit from. However, once a customer has paid for these programs, there is no incentive for the company to follow up and ensure that it is working properly for the customer. But hold on, things might be improving. Newer companies like Concur (expense reimbursement), Salesforce.com (sales automation), Hire.com (recruiting and hiring automation), and Taleo (also recruiting and hiring automation) are turning out to be quite successful in renting software over the Web to their customers. If customers sign up for a monthly service from one of these companies and the solution doesn&rsquo;t work, customers will likely stop using the software after a month. This gives these software providers...<div><a href="http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/45753/The-Future-of-Project-Management-Software-Probably/">[Read more]</div> Licensing Issues Thu, 07 Jun 2012 17:08:56 GMT Curt Finch http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/45753/The-Future-of-Project-Management-Software-Probably/#discussion?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/45753/The-Future-of-Project-Management-Software-Probably/?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/article/45634/3-Perspectives-10-Tips-for-Software-Licensing-Usage-Management-in-the-Cloud/?src=category_rss <img align="right" hspace="10" src="http://www.softwareceo.com/imagelib/contentitem/45634/39e706a46ad531be--3c257e48-136e4abf85c-442-1595769118.jpg">Moving your software to the cloud opens up a world of possibilities, but also exposes you to a world of risk. Piracy is just part of it; there's also usage fees, audits (for both the ISV and the user), version control, updates and upgrades, distribution, and more. To see how different software developers are handling the move to the cloud, we spoke to three different industry veterans with first-hand experience: Paul Bryden, manager of sales and marketing at GEO-SLOPE , a privately-held developer of applications for geotechnical modeling. GEO-SLOPE was founded in 1977, has 16 employees, and is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Juan Cordovez, co-founder and VP of operations and development at Sentinel-IC Technologies , a Laguna Beach, Calif.-based developer of tools for the RF/analog semiconductor design community. Founded in 2008, Sentinel-IC Technologies has six employees. Randy Littleson, VP marketing at Flexera Software , a provider of usage management tools for software developers. Based in Schaumburg, Ill., Flexera has 400+ employees worldwide. Littleson's 20+ years of industry experience includes stints at Kinaxis , Interface Software , Spyglass , Palindrome , and InstallShield . Tip #1: Let your customers steer your security choice. "For us, it's all about the customer,"...<div><a href="http://www.softwareceo.com/article/45634/3-Perspectives-10-Tips-for-Software-Licensing-Usage-Management-in-the-Cloud/">[Read more]</div> Strategy and Leadership Licensing Issues Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:33:57 GMT Bruce Hadley, Founder http://www.softwareceo.com/article/45634/3-Perspectives-10-Tips-for-Software-Licensing-Usage-Management-in-the-Cloud/?textpage=2#discussion?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/article/45634/3-Perspectives-10-Tips-for-Software-Licensing-Usage-Management-in-the-Cloud/?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/45588/How-to-cannibalize-your-own-products-without-getting-eaten-alive/?src=category_rss The scenario is fairly typical. You launch your SaaS application for $14.99 per month. A few months later, a competitor launches a competing service for $10 per month. How do you respond with a competitive offer without cannibalizing your existing customers? We asked a number of software executives for their thoughts on the topic and have summarized their responses below: Paddy Srinivasan, CEO, Opstera (www.opstera.com) In the above scenario, you are introducing a new tier in the Free-&gt;Premium continuum. The inherent risk is that existing customers might want to downgrade to the new level to save albeit with a constrained set of features. While you cannot stop this, one way to have your customers think about this decision is to make the distinction between the SKUs extremely clear in the new tier vs. the premium SKUs. For example, at the low-end customers might be able to only perform 50 transactions a month (or an equivalent measure that makes sense in your business). While this might be okay for someone who is getting on board just to try the service, existing customers must think twice about downgrading for the ever-present fear of "what if I grow?&rdquo; Usage-based price tiering lets your...<div><a href="http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/45588/How-to-cannibalize-your-own-products-without-getting-eaten-alive/">[Read more]</div> Marketing and PR Operations and Legal Licensing Issues Mon, 16 Apr 2012 02:58:34 GMT BenBradley http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/45588/How-to-cannibalize-your-own-products-without-getting-eaten-alive/#discussion?src=category_rss http://www.softwareceo.com/blog/entry/45588/How-to-cannibalize-your-own-products-without-getting-eaten-alive/?src=category_rss