r in specific applications, which your company requires.
• Check the customer profile, global support base, and financial credentials of your ASP.
• Asses the compatibility of ASP with the size and scale of your business and assess whether your ASP can scale up or down according to your company’s growth.
• Be very careful about the security of your company data and systems and go for an ASP that givesApplication Software Providers or ASPs, a new revolution for the business world, provide you with customized software solutions for your business processes, be it accounting, human resource management, or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), to name a few. ASPs help you focus on core business issues by taking care of your key system software.

ASPs combine traditional outsourcing model with Internet to deliver customized software solutions with real time services. ASPs are a compelling alternative to buying packaged software and implementing it in house.

Key factors: Before you decide to outsource an important software application system of your business to an ASP, you need to consider the following:

A) Assessing your company objectives and the requirement to outsource business applications.
• Define your business objectives and analyze how the ASP will help you streamline business applications and to what extent.
• Assess your current IT staff strength and their compatibility levels while working with an outside agency.
• Do a cost benefit analysis of using an ASP and whether you’re ASP helps you to concentrate and focus more on core business areas.
• Pen down the exact application requirements you want to outsource, correct estimation of trouble shooting, real-time services, the scale of operations, and, most importantly, deadlines.

B) Choosing the right ASP specific for your business needs. • A correct estimation of your application requirements will help you choose the right ASP for your business.
• Assess your ASP based on your company’s requirements and see if your ASP is an expert service provider in specific applications, which your company requires.
• Check the customer profile, global support base, and financial credentials of your ASP.
• Asses the compatibility of ASP with the size and scale of your business and assess whether your ASP can scale up or down according to your company’s growth.
• Be very careful about the security of your company data and systems and go for an ASP that gives

ustomized software solutions with real time services. ASPs are a compelling alternative to buying packaged software and implementing it in house.

Key factors: Before you decide to outsource an important software application system of your business to an ASP, you need to consider the following:

A) Assessing your company objectives and the requirement to outsource business applications.
• Define your business objectives and analyze how the ASP will help you streamline business applications and to what extent.
• Assess your current IT staff strength and their compatibility levels while working with an outside agency.
• Do a cost benefit analysis of using an ASP and whether you’re ASP helps you to concentrate and focus more on core business areas.
• Pen down the exact application requirements you want to outsource, correct estimation of trouble shooting, real-time services, the scale of operations, and, most importantly, deadlines.

B) Choosing the right ASP specific for your business needs. • A correct estimation of your application requirements will help you choose the right ASP for your business.
• Assess your ASP based on your company’s requirements and see if your ASP is an expert service provider in specific applications, which your company requires.
• Check the customer profile, global support base, and financial credentials of your ASP.
• Asses the compatibility of ASP with the size and scale of your business and assess whether your ASP can scale up or down according to your company’s growth.
• Be very careful about the security of your company data and systems and go for an ASP that gives

usiness objectives and analyze how the ASP will help you streamline business applications and to what extent.
• Assess your current IT staff strength and their compatibility levels while working with an outside agency.
• Do a cost benefit analysis of using an ASP and whether you’re ASP helps you to concentrate and focus more on core business areas.
• Pen down the exact application requirements you want to outsource, correct estimation of trouble shooting, real-time services, the scale of operations, and, most importantly, deadlines.

B) Choosing the right ASP specific for your business needs. • A correct estimation of your application requirements will help you choose the right ASP for your business.
• Assess your ASP based on your company’s requirements and see if your ASP is an expert service provider in specific applications, which your company requires.
• Check the customer profile, global support base, and financial credentials of your ASP.
• Asses the compatibility of ASP with the size and scale of your business and assess whether your ASP can scale up or down according to your company’s growth.
• Be very careful about the security of your company data and systems and go for an ASP that gives

t to outsource, correct estimation of trouble shooting, real-time services, the scale of operations, and, most importantly, deadlines.

B) Choosing the right ASP specific for your business needs. • A correct estimation of your application requirements will help you choose the right ASP for your business.
• Assess your ASP based on your company’s requirements and see if your ASP is an expert service provider in specific applications, which your company requires.
• Check the customer profile, global support base, and financial credentials of your ASP.
• Asses the compatibility of ASP with the size and scale of your business and assess whether your ASP can scale up or down according to your company’s growth.
• Be very careful about the security of your company data and systems and go for an ASP that gives

r in specific applications, which your company requires.
• Check the customer profile, global support base, and financial credentials of your ASP.
• Asses the compatibility of ASP with the size and scale of your business and assess whether your ASP can scale up or down according to your company’s growth.
• Be very careful about the security of your company data and systems and go for an ASP that gives full security support for your crucial business applications.

C) Managing and working with ASPs
• A clear analysis of service requirements is the first step for a smooth working with your ASP. A well-defined Service Lease Agreement (SLA) is the key for both partners’ benefits.
• Spend time with your ASP in defining SLA and the scope of its work.
• Choose a specific person for defining SLA and handle the working relation with ASP to this person, one point of interaction from both sides is critical and fix responsibility.
• Train your IT staff regarding the workings of your ASP and vice versa.
• Allow free flow of communication and systematic feedback mechanism to your ASP.

ASPs are here to stay and every growing business will require their service for critical business applications. A correct assessment of what ASPs can deliver to your organization is key to the success of your business and choosing the right partner with well-defined service requirements can help your business immensely.