In recent years, there has a major shift in the way enterprises deploy their resources and technologies. No matter how big or small the change, lowering operational costs and higher productivity seem to be the mantra for the future. The workspace as a service (WaaS) market seems to be a natural offshoot of this pursuit for easy-to-manage workflows and flexible deployment of manpower and material alike. The workspace as a service (WaaS) is a relatively new services delivery model wherein services related to workspaces are hosted by a provider. These services can be availed by customers using a subscription model. Typically, the internet is used for delivering these services.
With mobility being the buzzword, the workspace as a service (WaaS) market—though still young—has seen some recent developments.
For instance, Sprint, a leading player in the communications services industry, announced in the first quarter of 2015 that it would be offering WaaS. Similarly, Workspot, a company that specializes in mobile workspace solutions, announced the launch of Workspot Enterprise, a WaaS solution that’s compatible with all the three major operating systems – iOS, Windows and Android. All users would need to access their desktop files and applications via their mobile devices, is to install a Workspot app.
Interoperability and Security are Keys to Success in the Workspace as a Service (WaaS) Market
WaaS is a development within the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) revolution that has allowed users to access their data and documents from virtually any location. Naturally, security remains a pressing concern for any and every enterprise that decides to deploy workspace as a service (WaaS). At the same time, access to files remotely from disparate devices without compromising on user experience is yet another facet that needs more refinement. Companies in the WaaS market need to work steadily toward addressing these two issues if they are to maintain a competitive edge.
Small and Medium Enterprises to Lead the WaaS Adoption Wave
The WaaS market owes much of its growth to the ‘bring your own device’ culture, which is gaining momentum globally. The BYOD work style has caught on mainly because it offloads much of the operational costs that would be otherwise incurred by enterprises. This trend is further supported by the many innovative and easy-to-use applications and solutions introduced by players in the WaaS market. In terms of tangible value, it is the small and medium businesses that seem to be increasingly investing in WaaS.
The emergence of several new remote workspace technologies can be credited to the growing interest in WaaS. All of these factors have combined perfectly to create a wider demand for WaaS. Some of the key application areas of WaaS, based on the industry verticals, are: BFSI, retail, healthcare, IT and telecom, education, utilities, hospitality, manufacturing, and others. Hosting in a WaaS environment is typically of three types: private, public or hybrid. While the WaaS market is expected to expand at a moderately healthy clip, innovation and interoperability will continue to remain the cornerstone of growth.
