Last updated on October 19, 2023
Which ISVs are using Parallels RAS and Parallels Awingu to deliver their Windows Apps as SaaS?
ISVs (Independent Software Vendors) are increasingly transitioning their traditional Windows applications to Software as a Service (SaaS) models. This shift involves hosting the applications and providing remote access to customers through SaaS vendors like Parallels, either as extensions to existing Windows applications or as standalone, cloud-based applications. These can be hosted on an on-premises server or through a cloud service provider.
Customers of ISVs can derive numerous benefits from SaaS offerings. They gain the ability to access applications remotely, eliminating the need for infrastructure management on their end. Additionally, they experience reduced upfront costs, as they no longer need to invest in dedicated hardware or software licenses. SaaS solutions also offer scalability, allowing customers to easily adjust their usage based on their needs. Regular updates and support from the SaaS vendor further enhance the user experience.
In this blog post, we delve into how some ISVs have used Parallels solutions and examine how these products, namely Parallels® RAS and Parallels Awingu, have contributed to modernizing application delivery. We’ll cover the reasons behind these customers’ choices in selecting Parallels for their SaaS needs. But before we proceed, let’s explore some of the benefits of adopting a SaaS model.
1.0 Why are software vendors and ISVs delivering Windows apps as SaaS?
There are many reasons why there is a greater adoption of software vendors adopting cloud-based application hosting and SaaS models. These include:
- Increased market reach
- Simplified deployment and maintenance
- Improved customer experience
- Scalability and elasticity
- Compliance and legislation
In the next section, we examine each of these areas, including direct customer testimonials and their reasons for using Parallels RAS and Parallels Awingu.
1.1 Increased market reach with your cloud-based application
By offering applications as SaaS, ISVs can reach a broader market of customers who prefer cloud-based solutions. SaaS eliminates the need for customers to install and maintain software locally, offering a faster onboarding process and for cloud apps, making them more accessible to businesses of all sizes and industries.
Customer Spindlemedia looked to the cloud to enable faster onboarding of new customers while reducing management overheads. Choosing Parallels RAS, Spindlemedia has significantly improved their application delivery process, enabling seamless distribution of digital signage applications to remote locations.
The Parallels RAS solution offers Spindlemedia a seamless client onboarding process, offering an easy-to-use, end user workspace environment that helped their customers improve their remote workforce productivity. What’s more, Parallels RAS offers Spindlemedia the flexibility to quickly scale the infrastructure when onboarding new customers, making the process incredibly smooth and intuitive.
“With RAS we can do more with less. We can scale the company without the need to grow in IT management because RAS helps us automate and optimize that significantly.”
Mark Gould, Chief Technology Officer, Spindlemedia
For more information, visit: https://www.parallels.com/eu/products/ras/customer-stories/spindlemedia/
1.2 Simplified deployment and maintenance
With SaaS or cloud-based applications, ISVs handle the deployment, configuration, and maintenance of the application for customers. This relieves customers from the burden of managing infrastructure, updates, and patches, allowing them to focus on their core business activities while ensuring that they are always using the latest version of the software. For the ISV, centralizing the management of their applications often results in streamlined deployment and maintenance of their existing infrastructure.
For Parallels Awingu customer InfoDidac, hosting their applications in the cloud and offering customers remote server access resulted in eliminating a massive business operations lift, since they previously had to do the local install themselves for each of their customers.
InfoDidac is the developer of ProEco a core administration software tool used in 1300 schools in the Belgian French Community. ProEco is legacy software that runs locally on the PC of the end user. It was not built to run as SaaS, but schools and their staff need to work more even more efficiently and flexibly in 2023 and beyond.
Using Parallels Awingu allowed InfoDidac to host its legacy applications and offer remote access via the cloud to their systems for customers. It removed the need to manually install software locally, optimizing the process and delivering more flexibility for their customers.
This greatly simplified deployment and positively impacted the required business operations, reducing the need for Infodidac staff to visit schools and locally install and manage their software. Now, as a centralized infrastructure where the schools simply remote in, maintenance can be done in a fraction of the time.
“With this service (CloudEco), work is much easier and more flexible, such as working from home or working remotely from anywhere.”
Renaud Ziegler, CEO, Infodidac
Learn more: https://www.awingu.com/cases/infodidac-builds-cloud-offer-with-awingu-and-azure/
1.3 Improved customer experience
SaaS applications often offer a user-friendly interface and seamless access from any device with an internet connection. ISVs can deliver a consistent user experience, provide regular feature updates, and offer responsive customer support, enhancing overall customer satisfaction and retention. Peloton Computer Enterprises Ltd. is a prominent Canadian software and services vendor specializing in the development of drilling and well data software for global oil and gas companies. With over 450 customers in the oil and gas industry, Peloton’s software is highly regarded for its role in facilitating informed decisions based on data. As the industry gradually transitions to cloud-based solutions, Peloton made the decision to partner with Parallels Awingu with the priority of delivering seamless user experiences.
By utilizing Parallels Awingu, Peloton empowered their customers with enhanced flexibility, control, and convenience when accessing work resources, enabling them to effortlessly work remotely using any device. This solution proved exceptionally valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic when remote work became imperative.
“User experience was our first priority. Our user base wanted intuitive, browser-based access to their Peloton software.”
TBC, CEO, Peloton
Learn more https://www.awingu.com/cases/peloton-pr/
1.4 Scalability and elasticity
SaaS applications can easily scale to accommodate growing customer needs. ISVs can provision additional resources on-demand, ensuring that customers have the necessary computing power, storage, and bandwidth to support their business growth. This scalability eliminates concerns about hardware limitations or capacity planning. For customer Techedge, this was also the case.
Techedge, a prominent software supplier for broadcasters and media agencies operating across 60 global markets, sought an application development and publishing solution that could efficiently deliver customized television-related software to their large customer base on both Windows and Mac devices.
Upon exploring their options, Techedge quickly recognized the user-friendly nature, ease of management, and simple setup and scaling offered by Parallels RAS. They were particularly pleased to discover that their customers would benefit from minimal technical requirements to run Techedge applications, since the applications were hosted on Parallels RAS and compatible with various devices. This flexibility and user-friendliness allowed Techedge to effortlessly scale their resources to meet the demands of their extensive customer base.
“The installation program was easy and straightforward, we had Parallels RAS up and running within 15 minutes.”
Rene Hansen, IT manager, Techedge
Learn more: https://www.parallels.com/eu/products/ras/customer-stories/techedge/
1.5 Compliance and legislation
For some software companies or ISVs, deploying applications as SaaS can help address compliance and legislative requirements. They ensure adherence to data protection laws and industry standards, while providing customers with scalable, accessible, and collaborative software solutions. Parallels RAS customer and service provider Protime is just such a company — they chose the cloud plus Parallels RAS for this reason.
Protime specializes in assisting HR organizations across Europe. They excel at developing software solutions that help global companies overcome the challenges of implementing a unified HR policy due to varying national legislation in each country they operate within. Their software is easy to use and customizable for the legislative requirements in every specific nation.
Protime used Citrix Virtual Apps as their main software until around 2020. At that point, someone within the organization recommended switching to Parallels RAS as a replacement option to better serve their needs, so the company requested a proof of concept (POC).
Protime has benefited greatly from using Parallels RAS in multiple aspects. The solution has enabled secure and seamless remote access to applications, offering easy installation and simplified IT management as well as improving security and optimiing costs.
“With Parallels RAS up and running, we have seen measurable results in the form of time savings, easy implementation, and cost savings.”
TBC, CEO, Protime
For more info, visit: https://www.parallels.com/eu/products/ras/customer-stories/protime/
1.6 Cost of doing SaaS (infrastructure costs)
Moving to a SaaS model can present significant costs for ISVs, including start-up expenses, resource allocation, and migration strategies. However, these costs are justified by the benefits of application hosting. Yet there is always an opportunity to evaluate and cost-optimize a SaaS infrastructure. Cybersecurity specialists Astrum IT were seeking a cost-effective and feature-rich SaaS solution. They chose Parallels RAS to replace their expensive, unsupported, and feature-clogged infrastructure. Parallels RAS offered the desired features, a simplified pricing model, flexibility in operating systems, and excellent technical support.
“It’s really great when you have easy to understand licensing and payment options—this is a big plus.”
Philipp Liepelt, Senior System Administrator, ASTRUM IT
Learn more: https://www.parallels.com/eu/products/ras/customer-stories/astrum/
1.7 Even more benefits for ISVs
There are even more reasons why ISVs move to the cloud and to Parallels RAS.
1.7.1 Gain customer insights through Parallels RAS and Parallels Awingu monitoring tools
One key benefit is the ability to gather data insights with built-in analytics tools. SaaS applications enable the collection and analysis of usage data, providing valuable insights. ISVs can leverage this data to improve application performance, identify user behavior patterns, and deliver personalized experiences.
1.7.2 Cloud apps offered as a service introduces subscription-based costing models
Another significant advantage for ISVs is the establishment of a continuous revenue stream. Unlike traditional one-time software purchases, SaaS offers a recurring revenue model. ISVs can generate ongoing revenue through subscription fees or usage-based pricing models. This steady revenue stream provides greater predictability and stability for the ISV’s business, fostering growth and long-term sustainability.
1.7.3 SaaS lowers the barrier of entry for cloud apps, improving customer adoption
Additionally, SaaS can help eliminate the upfront costs associated with purchasing software licenses and infrastructure. This can lower the barrier of entry for customers and make it easier for them to adopt and try out the ISV’s application(s) without significant financial commitments, fostering faster customer acquisition and reducing sales cycles.
2.0 What are the Parallels solutions used by ISVs today?
Parallels offers two virtualization solutions that offer applications hosting for software vendors and ISVs. These solutions include Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) and Parallels Awingu.
| What is Parallels RAS? | What is Parallels Awingu? |
| Parallels RAS is a remote application delivery and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution that allows users to access applications and data from any device. | Parallels Awingu is a unified browser-based workspace that offers secure access to company files and software, including cloud-based and legacy web and SaaS applications. |
2.1 What’s the difference between Parallels RAS and Parallels Awingu?
Parallels RAS is an application delivery and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution that hosts applications and desktops on a central server(s). Parallels Awingu is a unified workspace that displays applications, desktops, and files to end users in a browser-based workspace.
3.0 Frequently asked questions
3.1 Why are software vendors and ISVs moving to a SaaS model?
Software vendors and ISVs are transitioning to the SaaS model due to its myriad benefits, such as recurring revenue streams, rapid deployment, scalability, customer accessibility, and reduced maintenance burdens.
3.2 How does SaaS increase market reach for ISVs?
ISVs leveraging SaaS enabling them a wider distribution, reaching global audiences, and offering subscription-based pricing models that attract a larger customer base. Customers are also not limited to the system specifications of their end point device, as the cloud app is powered by the SaaS environment.
3.3 How does SaaS improve the customer experience?
ISVs offering SaaS can enhance the customer experience by providing easy accessibility via remote access, seamless updates, personalized features, flexible scalability, and cost-effective subscription models for efficient and convenient software usage.
3.4 Why is scalability important for SaaS applications?
Scalability is crucial for ISVs running their cloud apps. It ensures the infrastructure used can handle increased user demands, maintain performance, and accommodate business growth effectively. Without this the service would be prone to performance limitations and frustrated customers.
3.5 What are the infrastructure costs associated with SaaS?
ISVs, with the support of the SaaS vendor, will need to consider infrastructure costs that include hosting expenses, server maintenance, data storage, bandwidth usage, security measures, and scalability investments to support the growing user base and application demands. Choosing the right SaaS vendor is important and here at Parallels we will guide and support you at each step of the way.
For more information, contact us for a consultation about how Parallels RAS can enhance your RDS implementation or visit https://www.parallels.com/products/ras/use-cases/isv/
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