This document discusses differences between managing on-premise versus cloud-based products. For cloud-based products:
1. The software is delivered as a service over the internet rather than being installed on customer servers, allowing for easier updates.
2. There are economies of scale since one server installation can serve many customers in a single-tenant or multi-tenant model.
3. Product managers have to oversee the server infrastructure and internet connectivity in addition to traditional product management responsibilities like roadmaps and releases.
4. Benefits include faster customer onboarding, easier support, ability to change infrastructure, and supporting many customers with one product installation.
2. My background
Over 15 years of Managing Products
• Product Management/Marketing
– ICL Enterprise Middleware, Peerlogic, IONA
Technologies PLC, Am-Beo, Prime Carrier, Axiologix
• Launched On-Demand in 2005
• Cloud-based model supporting majority of
customers
– Over 5 million records processed daily
• Ongoing revenue stream established and stable
3. Cloud-based delivery
• Software as a Service – SaaS
• The functionality of the product delivered over
the Internet
• Software is not present on the Customer’s site
nor not installed on the Customer’s servers
• Software can easily be updated
• Huge economics of scale & different models
– One server installation can serve many customer
• Servers & infrastructure don’t have to be yours
4. Methods of delivery
App
1
dB 1
User1
App
2
dB 2
User2
App
dB
User1 User n
App
dB
User1 User n
Single Tenanted Multi-Tenanted
5. Pitfalls of Cloud based delivery
• It’s still a Product that requires Managing
– Roadmaps & Releases (Major, Minor, Bug-fixes)
– But faster, given the ease of delivery
• But you have to now manage it’s delivery
– Server infrastructure (Reliability, Accessibility, Security)
– Internet Connectivity
• Customer’s expect all functionality to there on Day 1
• No upfront PLC payments to fund feature development
• Supports less customer friction
• When to make scaling changes
6. Benefits of Cloud based delivery
• Faster Customer on-boarding
• Support model is easier
– Issues can be replicated locally
– Updates applied faster
• Can support lower customer touch models
• Infrastructure can change
– Can use PaaS or IaaS, Managed Servers or owned Servers
– Upgrade paths, Maintenance and outage schedules
• Product installations can support many customers
– Either single tenanted or multi-tenanted deployments
7. The role of Product in the Mix
• Price is a key element of the Marketing Mix
– Not just the basic 4 P’s, but the 9 P’s for Service
delivery
• Product
• Price
• Promotion
• Place
• People
• Process
• Physical Evidence
• Packaging
• Payment
8. Managing Cloud-based Products
• Offers improved deployment models
– No longer reliant on Customer’s hardware & OS stacks
– Can support many different customers
– Deployment configuration options
– Can scale
• As PM, you do have more to manage & more decision
points
– Product & delivery platform
– Release cycles, upgrade programs for both product &
platform
• Recurring revenue stream – greater market value?