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As recruiters continue to search out technological and cost-effective ways of working, SaaS seems like one route that is well worth considering, reports Sue Weekes
SaaS, aka software-as-a-service, has to rank as one of the ugliest acronyms that the IT world has come up with but is impossible to ignore for anyone reviewing their recruitment software options.
Put simply, SaaS allows users to rent their software typically on a per user, per monthly basis. The ability to scale up and down user-wise has enabled those recruiters who've taken this approach to reduce costs during the recession while at the same time ensure they are well positioned to take advantage of the benefits on web-based, on-demand software when the good times return. Using a SaaS model, the software typically resides on a supplier's server and is accessed via a standard web browser. Suppliers regularly upgrade the software - usually four to six times a year, along with any necessary minor tweaks and bug fixes - and this is included in the price. It means that recruiters can minimise their hardware infrastructure and don't have to worry about maintenance or the hidden costs and hassle that can be associated with traditional client/server software.
The model has more than a ring of familiarity about it since it is uncannily like the ASP (application service provider) models that emerged in the dotcom era but with some significant differences, such as the pricing model. "With an ASP model, we'll say to the client, it will cost X pounds per month and we're going to lock you into a three-year contract and offer you all the other services associated with that model," says Daniel Richardson, chief technology officer (CTO) of Bond International, whose Adapt recruitment software is available in a number of different models, including SaaS. "When clients typically talk about a SaaS model, they're talking about a very similar thing, however, they don't want to be locked into a contract. They may even say they want to start using it at the end of July until the end of August as they've got a very quick ad campaign they need to service."
While clearly SaaS has its roots in the ASP model, some vendors are keen to point...