In the May 2008 issue of ISS, Markus Hecker (SMD Software) authored an article titled “Moving to a Web-Based System” which discussed potential benefits for using a web-based management tool. Since discussions of web-based versus desktop-based software are a common topic in this forum, this article gives all of us a good opportunity to dig in and discuss the differences between these two approaches to managing your business.

Full disclosure: as the Lead Software Developer for Syrasoft, LLC., I have bias toward both the chosen approach and the tools central to this debate. As I respect the rules of this community, I’ll do my very best to stay factual and objective.

Since this is my first post here, a little background: I’ve been developing software for the past 7 years using various tools including C++, Visual Basic, Visual Basic .NET, C#, ASP.NET, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL. I’ve designed, authored and supported applications that run on desktops running all operating systems from Windows 95 to Windows Vista as well as web-based applications that are deployed onto web servers like IIS. For this reason, some things that I might take for granted could sound like a foreign language. If I get too “techie”, please let me know and I’ll rephrase.

The topics are numbered below to make it easier for us to track the concepts covered. For the sake of brevity, I’ve addressed the most salient points – just because something in the article isn’t mentioned here doesn’t mean I endorse it. If you have additional questions, please post them.

• (1) DOS becomes Windows becomes Web? The transition from DOS to Windows (which took place in a very different world – one in which Microsoft was taking over but didn’t yet own) was a true ‘changing of the guard’. DOS was being replaced by Windows. Today, the Web is not replacing Windows but enhancing how applications communicate with their users. Keep in mind there are many web applications that don’t need Windows at all (they might run on Linux). This means the playing field is level between web-based and desktop-based systems. The Internet is available for all of us to harness. If your desktop software becomes obsolete, that will be due to a vendor who can’t make effective use of the Internet, not because the application isn’t web-based.
• (2) Web systems use “more direct, robust links” called APIs. Application Programming Interfaces have been around as long as computers. Since an API is a contract between two software or hardware vendors (such as management software and a kiosk), the assertion that web-based applications handle the contracts better than desktop-based applications is suspect.
• (3) On-line payments. Customer-facing websites that allow self storage consumers to make on-line payments, check account status, etc. are features that are vendor-specific. Some desktop-based programs allow this as do some web-based programs. Processing credit cards and/or ACH electronic funds transfers are also features that are available regardless of the choice between web-based and desktop-based.
• (4) Localization and taxation. The ability to support multiple languages, currencies and taxation policies are all vendor-specific. The platform the software runs on doesn’t affect this capability.
• (5) Pricing. Web costs less than Windows costs less than DOS? If this trend is true, that’s good news for owners because soon all software will be free. At our company, we charged substantially more for our Windows product than for our DOS product (before ending our DOS product lifecycle). Of course, our Windows product offered many more features. Web-based software is a business model where a vendor sells a service. Paying for that service never goes away. If you decide to make a change and switch vendors, you’ll continue paying for web-based applications for as long as you need access to your company’s information. This is because the vendor controls your access to that information and can turn off your access as soon as you stop paying for it. Nearly all desktop software (once activated) is yours to keep forever. When comparing pricing, look at the total cost of ownership.

In summary, building an effective web-based solution in a cost-effective manner is greatly assisted by the latest tools from Microsoft and other vendors. Those same tools are available to (and used by) vendors of desktop solutions. As always, buzzwords add sizzle to a marketing pitch but true ROI comes from effective software that makes life easier for the buyer.