Providing web application assurances to European SMEs
Companies that manage and deliver application systems to organisations via data centres operating across wide area networks are better known as ASPs. The role of ASPs is becoming more important for European companies because of the increasing use of outsourcing, and this is more than evident with the 30.03 trillion turnover in 2002. The report was produced by the eight partner organisations, and provides strategic information on how telecommunication companies like Independent Software Providers (ISPs) and Internet Service Providers deploy ASP solutions across European SME sectors. Whilst the report is focused on the ASP service market, it also addressed how the ten ascension countries would gain support when they joined the EU earlier this year. In more detail, this project will provide European SMEs with a web-enabled tool to manage the deployment, hosting and integration of business critical information systems by ASPs. Also, it evaluates how ASP outsourcing differs from traditional service bureau, mainframe and data-centre outsourcing, and demonstrates how its solutions can integrate heterogeneous applications across multiple platforms, sites and environments etc. Because the authors recognise that SMEs will only buy into tools once certain assurances can be given, the report also encourages technical diffusion of the ASP model. The potential benefits for SMEs are provided and include the reduced total cost of ownership of IT, the access to scarce IT skills and affordable software applications to name but three. Of particular interest to the consortium partners, the report provides an insight into current European ASP initiatives. It further supports findings put forward in the ASP business and technical report demonstrating that service level agreements will meet cost, performance and quality of service targets.
