SchoolDude.com

Why SaaS for Education?

SaaS Defined

Software as a Service, or SaaS (typically pronounced "sass"), is a model of software deployment whereby a provider (like SchoolDude) licenses an application to customers (like you) for use as a service on-demand.

These services, like SchoolDude applications, are accessed over the internet via desktop computers, laptops or mobile devices.

These online (web-based) applications allow you to harness the power of the internet, and receive the benefit of efficient communications and operations processes, without the hassle or expense of customized installed software.

The Advantages of Saas for Schools and Universities:

• Reduced total cost of ownership (TCO)
  SaaS enables all institutions -- regardless of size -- to purchase a software solution for a few dollars per student per year.
• No IT resources required
  IT departments across the country are understaffed. SaaS applications are delivered via the internet and don’t require IT resources to configure or install -- nor manage/maintain/monitor.
• Accessible 24 x 7 from anywhere
  Mac, PC, Blackberry or iPhone -- as long as you can launch a web browser, you can use SaaS solutions.
• No hardware, no installations
  You don’t need to install costly hardware, software or plugins -- and your IT team doesn’t need to install programs on everyone’s computer (+ no expensive servers to buy!).
• Simple and affordable to start-up and own
  Who can afford to waste $100,000 or $500,000 for a custom, installed solution when budgets are tight? Customized bells and whistles are costly luxuries of the past. Instead, our solutions are already customized for education and configurable for your district or campus, without the customized price tag.
• "Pay as you go" business model
  For the first time, a vendor’s interests are 100% aligned with yours. Instead of a huge upfront software purchase (where the vendor cashes their check and doesn’t care if you use the software), SaaS solutions are an annual subscription. If the software is performing as promised and providing value, you subscribe for another year -- if not, you cancel and take your data with you.
• Fast implementation
  With SaaS, an educational institution can be up and running in days or weeks, not the 18-24 months that is typical with traditional client-server solutions.
• Role-based software
  Why don't most people use software to its fullest potential? Because historically, software companies trained you to memorize every feature/function, even if your daily routine didn’t require you use it. SaaS solutions are role-based, so you receive training on what you will need to use to do your job.
• Scalable for few or many users
  The multi-tenant architecture inherent in SaaS allows schools to share solutions across the district providing anywhere access and scalability.
• Continuous, rapid enhancement
  When software comes box, it takes years to get an upgrade or bug fix -- and the new version always comes with a new price tag. SaaS providers continually and automatically update their software, at no additional cost to their clients.