Progress Software Successfully Enables SaaS Deployment in the Cloud for Fifth YearBEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 2009--
Progress
Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS), a leading software
infrastructure provider that enables enterprises to be operationally
responsive, announced today the start of the company’s fifth year
delivering its Software as a Service (SaaS) enablement program.
Progress
has enabled more than 250 Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to deploy
thousands of on-demand applications. These ISVs use the Progress®
OpenEdge
® SaaS platform to build their applications for use
in some of the most demanding and diverse business environments in the
world.
Progress OpenEdge is a SaaS platform that simplifies and streamlines the
development, integration, and management of business applications for
deployment ‘in the cloud’. The OpenEdge platform comprises the efficient
data management, high availability, and scalability that a SaaS
application requires. Equally important to the success of ISVs, Progress
provides SaaS enablement services that include technical, business, and
sales & marketing planning programs. Progress also offers flexible
pricing options to mitigate the risk to ISVs through a shared revenue
model.
A September 16, 2009 report from independent research organization
Gartner, Inc., ‘Who's Who in Application Platforms for Cloud
Computing: The Enterprise Generalists’, states: “Application
platforms for cloud computing vary from those that are narrowly focused
on simple two-tier architectures to those that offer universal
multi-architecture support.” The report continues on to further state:
“Users who understand their requirements well will avoid overpaying for
an unnecessarily complex platform, or a platform that's underpowered for
the project's requirements.”
Progress helps ISVs by providing proven technology along with the
marketing and business programs needed to succeed within their
particular industry. “Progress ISVs deliver solutions for a wide range
of vertical markets, including manufacturing, media, financial services,
healthcare, and even those who service the agriculture industry,” said
Colleen Smith, managing director, SaaS for Progress Software. “The thing
that most differentiates our program is that we take the time to
understand the specific SaaS deployment requirements for each vertical
market. We collaborate closely with our ISVs to develop business models
that help them reach the most customers possible, while maximizing their
revenue.”
For example, B&L Information Systems, a provider of enterprise software
for foundry and die casting industries, is a Progress ISV who has
evolved its offerings toward an on-demand model, thanks to the Progress
enablement program.
“When we were looking to expand our business strategy and look at SaaS
as a new business model – it was the Progress SaaS-enablement programs
that helped us make the right decisions. This allowed us to continue to
help metal casters make better decisions, faster with the new SaaS
applications we created,” said Matt Gacek, vice president of Sales &
Marketing, B&L Information Systems. “Our strategy is working well. 78%
of our new accounts in 2009 are SaaS-based clients.”
The current economy has challenged software developers to innovate, and
Progress is helping them. Digital Technology International (DTI), a
global financial management software provider to the news publishing
industry is one such example.
“With the media landscape rapidly changing, we realized we needed to
make the transition to offering SaaS-based applications and change our
business model. It was our partnership with Progress Software and taking
advantage of their SaaS-enablement programs that helped us make a
complete shift in strategy. We were able to deliver ‘DTI Cloud,’ which
enables media organizations to respond rapidly to the demands of digital
news publishing,” said Steve Nilan, vice president of Marketing, Digital
Technology International. “Our SaaS offering and strong technology
foundation not only keeps pace with changes in the media landscape, but
prepares publishers for the changes that are yet to come.”
Often, time to market is a key success factor, as it was for FARA, an
insurance services organization that provides risk and claims management
solutions to insurance companies, self-insured corporations, and
governmental entities.
“We used the Progress OpenEdge SaaS platform to develop our Catastrophe
Claims Management application and as a result we were the first to
market,” said David Richard, vice president Information Technology,
FARA. “In doing so, we have been able to differentiate ourselves from
the competition with a new SaaS offering. We are also achieving 30%
average annual growth.”
For Bluebird Auto Rental Systems, which offers cost-effective turnkey
services to vehicle rental operations worldwide, the key to their
ability to compete successfully was to serve any customer regardless of
size or geography.
“We needed a way to expand our reach to provide auto rental software
services to both small and large franchises,” states Angela Margolit,
president of Bluebird Auto Rental Systems. “Ultimately, the pricing
flexibility we gained by using a SaaS model has been is a key success
factor. Moreover, we have a unique partnership with Progress Software
that enables us to create new market opportunities and to service auto
rental providers in many geographies around the globe.”
Progress Software Corporation
Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS) is a global software
company that enables enterprises to be operationally responsive to
changing conditions and customer interactions as they occur – to
capitalize on new opportunities, drive greater efficiencies and reduce
risk. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of best-in-class
infrastructure software spanning event-driven visibility and real-time
response, open integration, data access and integration, and application
development and deployment – all supporting on-premises and SaaS/Cloud
deployments. Progress maximizes the benefits of operational
responsiveness while minimizing IT complexity and total cost of
ownership. Progress can be reached at www.progress.com
or +1-781-280-4000.
Progress and OpenEdge are trademarks or registered trademarks or
Progress Software Corporation and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates in
the U.S. and/or other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein
are the property of their respective owners.
Source: Progress Software Corporation
Progress Software
Lisa Coulouris, +1-781-280-4995
lcoulour@progress.com
or
LEWIS
PR
Ian Lipner, +1-202-349-3866
progresssoftware@lewispr.com
