Using an ASP
Blueprint Solutions is an application service provider (ASP) -- a company whose software is accessed via the internet rather than locally installed, and paid for on a monthly subscription basis. The table below highlights the key differences between the ASP model and the traditional software model.
Traditional (self-hosted) |
ASP Model |
|
| Up-front Costs | Server hardware Software licensing |
None |
| Startup tasks for customer | Server installation and setup Software installation on client machines |
None |
| Ongoing customer responsibilities | Perform regular database backups Install software updates on server Install software updates on client machines Maintenance and upgrades to server hardware Physical security of server Application security (protection from unauthorized access) Network security (protection from hackers, denial of service attacks, viruses, etc.) Disaster recovery planning |
None |
| I/T expertise required | Significant |
Minimal |
No capital investment. No risk. No commitment.
Purchasing expensive clinic management software can be risky. A few months down the road, if you discover that the product isn't everything it claimed to be, and the technical support is not very helpful, there's not much you can do about it. Switching to another system might not be an option if you've already invested a lot of time and money in the product.
In contrast, there are no up-front costs to get started with simba OMS. There is no need to purchase server hardware, or software licenses. In fact, you can try the software for FREE , and make sure that it's right for your business, before you decide to subscribe.
ASP incentive to satisfy customers
The flipside of this coin is that ASPs have a very strong incentive to keep their customers happy. It is very easy for a customer to walk away from an ASP solution, having invested little or nothing in the solution up-front.
By contrast, once a traditional software vendor sells a product and cashes its large up-front cheque, it has minimal incentive to keep the customer satisfied.
Focus on your core business, not IT operations
For most hearing clinics, hiring full-time IT staff is not an option. This means that IT tasks fall on the shoulders of front-line staff, taking them away from revenue-generating activities. More worryingly, crucial tasks such as providing network security and disaster recovery planning are carried out by staff whose expertise lies elsewhere, or ignored altogether.
With simba OMS, all of the system's hardware and software are managed by us. You'll never have to worry about installing software upgrades, or backing up your database. We look after those tasks for you, freeing you to focus on running your business.
In addition, we maintain all manufacturer catalogue and pricing information in the simba OMS system. Our customers have instant access to updated catalogues, without having to download or install updates. Considering the thousands of catalogue updates released every year, this is an enormous time-saver for our customers.