What is the current state of the market for on-demand software?
613795
On Demand Software (ODS) is much more popular than people think, simply because the concept of on demand software has been ill defined and is generally concieved ad limited to "Net Licensing" Here are a couple of recommendations to round out your research paper.\n\n1) Start by breaking the mold: Define ODS in it´s full conception. On Demand is a service definition not a product spec. The whole idea behind On demand, is to have your service when you need it. Bluntly put, almost all net transactions and particularly all DOWNLOADS are delivered on demand. so the biggest consumer of ODS is really the home end user, and the real market is in the "Upgrade and fringe bennefit" segment of ODS rather than the "Full Service application"\n\nThe best example of this (other than the all powerfull i Tunes) is probably the MS Office Clipart gallery, absolutely on demand, but dellivering only a fraction of all the suite's functionalities.\n\n2) Proove the market assumptions before you measure the market. as the old saying states, "to assume is to make an A** out of U and ME" so before you bring out your calculator and start adding customers Proove the real motivation behind each consumer and service segments.\n\nSome less looked at segments may be "Patches", "Demos" "Add ons", "Advertising on Demand (Which actually acounts for most of the profit of web based e'mail)"\n\nThen there is the classics "WEB MAIL" as the king of the ODS software services, which led to "CONTACT MANAGEMENT" and "SCHEDULING" "MEETING MANAGEMENT and MESSAGING" Services, then and only then consider SUITE Services and ERPs which are at the pinnacle of complexity and thus have a smaller segment.\n\nIf you can make a case for each relevant service segment you will see that your customer count is high, composed of many interdependent market response surfaces. \n\n3) Round out by explaining some of the unique attributes of the ODS business model such as. . .\n\nA) the money is in the service not just the license fee. . explain how service creates and audience and the audience creates a media profit (Once again the case of web based e'mail)\n\nB) A different service calls for different measures. .  the importance of measuring transactions and consumers, badwidth and feature richness.\n\nC) Data management builds uncontested loyalty. (ask how much you value your information, thats how much you will want to stay once you decide on an ODS service provider.)\n\n4) Last measure the size of the market according to simple facts. If your cost to run is $1,000,000/mo and your profit margin per account user is $10/mo Than your real market is the top 100,000 consumer over the total response surface of the features in your ODS platform.
1020288
There are few off-the-shelf applications, since every warehouse is different, and the requirements for scanning the pictures and cataloguing them are different as well.\n\nThis is a place where custom software developers hang out\nhttp://discuss.joelonsoftware.com/?biz\nMost of them write stuff for small companies like yours, try asking a question there.
683194
anywhere between $100 and $500 depending on what versions of the software you want
775699
Yes, though it is not going to be as efficient.  It should not have any problems.  Server 2003 is pretty much the same as W2K except is has more features.  Hard to find out exactly what you are looking for, but feel free to follow up.
148563
You can find everything on the internet, all kinds of services and it seems the features are getting better all of the time.\nJust start looking, it is all here
524616
I think the IT market in the US is doing very well.  It seems like there are more opportunities now than there was 6 months ago.  \n\nI've been in IT for 16 years.  It's not as good as it was back in the mid to late 90's, but it's better than it has been in the last year or so.\n\nI'm sure there are some areas that are more popular than the rest.  You might look at publications like ComputerWorld to see what they think are the hot IT markets. \n\nScott....
28037
My recommendation: go digging in the software bargain bins you find in supermarkets and the like. I've turned up both Cannon Fodder and You Don't Know Jack this way. Result!
225743
Sounds like you're looking for something very specific.\n\nYou may want to go ahead and support them by paying them.  The most expesinve software they sell is only 70 bucks...and the Lite version is free.
980201
I am with Utility Warehouse - Gas, Electric, phone and internet.\n\nNo real problems\n\nService has been reliable (512k unlimited usage).  Tech support is expensive, but I was impressed with their knowledge and understanding.  Don't mind paying when they know their stuff.\n\nTheir latest package offering does look good (not available to existing customers until Jan - groan!) even compared to Talk Talk and Sky.  They seem to have devalued the advantages of multiple services which is disappointing, but we have come to an amicable agreement :).
979362
Hello.  They're still in beta and are looking to charge commission when they move out of beta. They say 15%, so I guess it won't be free for ever and yes, there is a catch!  I guess they have to pay for their technology and people somehow.  Good luck with your business though!
632904
wait until a special program appears on market
99418
Well, that highly depends on what kind of software you want to sell. Your best bet is to advertise locally assuming there is a market and then try to expand.
665026
Well, there really is no free software for this.  Rather, this is important to your company for tax's, employee managemnet ect.  A paid software would be Quick books.  Which if you buy 1 licence I believe it is about $500 US.  In the interm, check out the listed link for templates through Microsoft!  Good Luck!
324017
Good Luck!  I work for a major telecom and our folks who define IT standards are almost anti-opensource.  I get the impression that the decision makers are under the impression that if it doesn't anything, it can't be a decent product.
477318
I think Microsoft will. They keep adding new services, and they're working on a whole new line of Live products right now.
1142532
I agree above. osCommerce is simply the best way to go, especially if you're on a budget. Even if you're not on a budget, it's still great to have. It supports major payment getaways and shipping modules and has so many available functions in the contribution center.\n\nNow for one that is used must by large and well-known companies? You will not find them using osCommerce. Major companies do not buy software, nor do they download it. They hire programmers that willl create a shopping cart specially made to fit the company's needs. Sometimes these online stores or websites can be multi-million dollar projects!
416616
Try this website when looking for software:\nhttp://www.toptenreviews.com/\n\nThey have a section under utilities that might help...