The all-in-one service is said to be the future of cloud computing that can leverage data capabilities. But what makes it so unique from others? Is it revolutionising cloud services?
The different ways a cloud platform service can be hosted and used has provided an enormous canvas to manage solutions according to one’s needs for the particular service. Every deployed cloud service operates on a similar principle of virtualising the computing power of servers into specific required services that provide processing and storage capabilities to data and software-driven applications.
The “as-a-Service” model of cloud computing is a trend that continues to gain traction, especially SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service), and IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service). Now, we have XaaS.
Everything as a service is a category of services related to cloud computing and remote access. It includes a vast number of products, tools, and technologies delivered to users as a service over the internet.
Any IT functionality can be transformed into a service for enterprise consumption. The services are paid for in a flexible consumption model rather than an upfront purchase or licence. In a XaaS model, products are usually deployed on online platforms and are available for their users at login.
Easy-to-use workspaces can be deployed and easily accessed through a browser. Whenever a change is made or data downloaded, the browser sends a request to the hosted platform. XaaS provides Sandboxes, Security, APIs, Analytics and more – all on a single platform. Such a model removes the need to build everything in-house; organisations can purchase XaaS products for extended periods at low costs, making the most of it. XaaS is a combination of SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS offerings.
The Emerging Service
XaaS and the Internet of Things (IoT) are also inter-connected. Making use of intelligent edge and hybrid services, XaaS leverages the space for emerging technologies and is becoming increasingly popular due to its sheer ability to boost business agility and reduce costs that help improve workforce efficiency.
The technology can easily accelerate innovation and get products into the market faster. Many consumer-facing organisations are finding ways to integrate data tools into their existing products to provide users with increased value. An example of one such company is Rolls-Royce.
In recent years, XaaS has emerged to support customer engagement with offline activities like food delivery, property searches, and doctors on-demand.
Instead of having various functions operating in individual silos, XaaS enables organisations to set up services that can be made available for multiple departments at the same time to leverage in the way that they need. There are several benefits of XaaS – it helps improve the expense model, speeding new apps and business processes, and shifting IT resources to higher-value projects.
Multi-dimensional functionalities such as Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) and Container-as-a-Service (CaaS) can be implemented using XaaS. In CaaS, several software code components are packed together in “containers” that can be read and run anywhere and executed whenever required. Containers required to store code can be purchased through provider companies.
On the other hand, DaaS enables users to manage their whole workforce within the organisation over a secure web browser. DaaS services are now replacing the need for businesses to build and provide custom and localised desktop systems.
Benefits of XaaS
Using the XaaS model, businesses can cut costs efficiently by purchasing services from providers on a subscription basis. However, before XaaS and cloud services, businesses had to buy individual products – software, hardware, servers, security, infrastructure – and install them on-site, further linking everything together to create distinct networks.
The XaaS cloud model delivers rapid access to new capabilities from anywhere globally and scalability – two significant key benefits.
Access to newer technologies and increased scalability to more easily adapt to sudden changes in an operating model or workforce shifts, in turn, helps organisations innovate quicker and offer new products and services that attract new customers while keeping existing customers satisfied.
Another benefit about XaaS is that it usually requires a lesser investment than technical architecture on the front and back ends, and allows businesses to rapidly grow or expand usage and service levels as needed.
Businesses can buy what they need, and as much as they require and pay-as-they-go. This allows organisations to continue to reinvest in business strategies more than infrastructure or maintenance costs. What was previously a capital expense has now become an operating expense.
The best choice of deployment model completely depends on the specific needs of each organisation, but the benefits of moving towards a more cloud-based model can significantly outweigh any drawbacks.
Using XaaS as a delivery model can help streamline services and operations to free up several resources for innovation. It eases the digital transformation of previous services to become more agile, increases reach and aids more users in accessing next-gen technology, generalising innovation.
As the tech space continues to move toward a mobile-first, cloud-focused environment, it is becoming essential for businesses to keep everything on the cloud, which is widely accessible and up to date. More and more businesses are now valuing access and outcomes over ownership, with ways to future-proof their business, specifically related to customer experience and technology. As with any digital transformation effort, it is crucial to have a robust and cohesive vision for how a business will use XaaS; otherwise, one may risk landing in a messy situation. To pave the right road, it is necessary to think through marketing and technology strategies, customer engagement plans, and business objectives.
* The second edition of the Velocity Data And Analytics Summit will be held on May 17 and 18, 2022, in Dubai. For more information and to register, please visit: https://velocityda.com/
If you liked reading this, you might like our other stories
