Forrester : Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

Latest Research

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

REPORT: The Forrester Wave™: Database-As-A-Service, Q2 2019

The 12 Providers That Matter Most And How They Stack Up

June 4, 2019 Noel Yuhanna

Database-as-a-service (DBaaS) has become critical for all businesses to build and support modern business applications and operational systems. In our 27-criterion evaluation of DBaaS providers, we identified the 12 most significant ones — Alibaba, Amazon, EnterpriseDB, Google, IBM, Microsoft, MongoDB, Oracle, Rackspace, Redis Labs, SAP, and Tencent — and researched, analyzed, and scored them. This report shows how each provider measures up and helps enterprise architecture (EA) professionals select the right one for their needs.
For Application Development & Delivery Professionals

REPORT: SaaS Marketplaces Are The New Frontier Of Enterprise Software

Software-As-A-Service Buyers Get A Faster, Simpler Buying Experience As Well As Better Security And Integration

May 3, 2019 Liz Herbert

Clients tell us that software-as-a-service (SaaS) vendors are too numerous (and too small) for a formal sourcing process to apply in all cases. At the same time, the business-led, ungoverned model of "shadow" SaaS deployment has proven problematic — for cost, technology architecture, and security. SaaS marketplaces such as Salesforce AppExchange can alleviate this burden. This report helps application development and delivery (AD&D) pros use marketplaces to succeed with sourcing and governing the proliferating landscape of SaaS vendors. This report replaces our 2017 research on SaaS marketplaces.
For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

REPORT: Vital Partnership Or Unholy Alliance? Decoding The Software/Service Provider Relationship

Partner Alliances Can Make Or Break Your Digital Experience — Here's How To Avoid Disasters And Work Partnerships To Best Advantage

April 5, 2019 Ted Schadler

Software vendors and service providers need each other to survive. And digital leaders need them to work well together to build great digital experiences. But how these complex relationships work is a mystery. We drew on hundreds of client inquiries and interviews with 17 software vendors and service providers to find out what's really going on. We found an alliance landscape that's often hidden from view and rapidly shifting as software-as-a-service (SaaS) becomes the norm. This report sheds light on how partner programs work and how to work them to your advantage.
For Application Development & Delivery Professionals

REPORT: Create A Modern Software Strategy With AI-Driven Platforms And Their Ecosystems

Vision: The SaaS Transformation Playbook

March 21, 2019 Liz Herbert, Duncan Jones, George Lawrie

Application development and delivery (AD&D) executives struggle to achieve speed and innovation while managing cost and risk. We recommend a "Goldilocks" approach to business applications strategy — not too hefty and slow but also not so flexible as to be high-risk and unwieldy. In this report, we describe the "just right" approach, which revolves around platforms and ecosystems, and how to achieve it. This is an update of a previously published report.
For Infrastructure & Operations Professionals

REPORT: Top 10 Facts Tech Leaders Should Know About Cloud Migration

Cloud Migration Is Both Common And Valuable, But Don't Expect Your Business Users To Care

March 14, 2019 Lauren E. Nelson

In 2015, cloud migration skyrocketed to the headlines as enterprises expanded public cloud plans to include existing applications. Fast-forward to 2019, and many enterprises actively consider migration to be part of their plans. Despite cloud's popularity, common misunderstandings plague organizations and create strife between IT and the business. This report provides clarity about cloud migration to infrastructure and operations professionals (I&O).