The Evolution of Software Delivery and the Rise of Saas Solutions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63282/3050-9246.IJETCSIT-V2I2P108Keywords:
Software Delivery, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud Computing, On-premises, Application Service Provider (ASP), Waterfall Model, Agile, DevOps, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)Abstract
The paper studies software delivery model development from mainframe times to Software as a Service (SaaS) by analyzing technological advancements and development approaches alongside economic factors that transformed the industry. The analysis begins with the first era of tangible software that required on-premises deployment and the Waterfall methodology before discussing the internet disruption and the subsequent flawed Application Service Provider (ASP) model. The success of SaaS results from the union of mature cloud computing with multi-tenant architecture and Agile/DevOps practices. The paper investigates how SaaS transformed business models through its adoption of subscription-based recurring revenue instead of perpetual licensing while analyzing its impact on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The paper discusses ongoing security risks and vendor lock-in problems while studying upcoming trends that include verticalization and artificial intelligence integration
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References
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