| | | Dependent or Independent – That is the question? |  Look at the disruption when Telecom’s XT network went down for the second time in recent months. Even the power outage north of the Waikato a few weeks ago shows how services we have come to depend on and take for granted can let us down. (God help us if we are up in the air when, or if, air-traffic control or GPS navigation systems let us down)
Whether we like it or not, the technological giants of the world are driving us into an era where mobile convergence of services and visual communication is the norm. The cell phone is a good example of this. Providing one has good eyesight or a set of spectacles at the ready, they are a gee-whiz tool. Apple’s iPad, announced in recent weeks may overcome the need for spectacles. Some experts are talking about the possibility of internet “Brown Outs” as the global network becomes overloaded, mainly through social networking. In the last week, hackers attacked the Australian Government Web infrastructure and brought it to a halt. Even Kevin Rudd was off-line for some time. As we use these technologies more and more, we become deeply dependent on them. When they let us down, all hell breaks loose. Another online service growing in popularity is the so called “Software as a Service” (SaaS) computer facility. This is where both the software, and your personal data, are centralised, on a computer, somewhere else in the world. With appropriate authority, such programs can gain access to your bank and trading accounts and present that data for analysis into information by the user or a “Trusted Agent” such as an Accountant. It is being hailed as the new generation software. Of course, to make use of such a facility one must have a fast and reliable internet connection. Now there’s a question. Dependency? It’s not such a big deal if your social services are off air for a while but is this what you want your business to depend on? As of now, i.Agri produces LandMark software which sits on a client’s computer along with all the financial and farm management files. Data is processed into information on the spot whether on line or not. If one wishes, and the internet is functioning, files can be transmitted to a destination of choice, or downloaded from a bank at ones leisure, even at dial-up speeds. The user has total control over all that’s going on. |
| So Why is i.Agri taking another look at Software as a Service (SaaS)? | Yes I did say another look because we experimented with it ten years ago but with dial-up networking being the norm at the time, the service was too slow to function effectively. The situation today is better but not by much. We do have nation wide broadband coverage with satellite, but even that may become a basket case in terms of speed and latency limitations before long, and we do have Government “Proposals”. |
| Government Broadband Proposals |  Government proposals through their Ministry of Economic Development that indicate within ten years, 97% of New Zealand Households and Enterprises will have access to broadband speeds about 100 times faster than the old 56Kbps dial up service and approx 9 – 10 times faster than most satellite broadband services in this country.
The above proposal is distinct from the Government’s intention to provide Ultra-fast broadband to 75% of New Zealand households in the next 10 years by installing a “fibre-to-the-premises” broadband service with downlink speeds, by the writer’s reckoning, 2000 times as fast as the old dial up speeds. Of course we all know where 75% of the population lives. |
| Advantages & Disadvantages |  Let’s have a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages as we see them for i.Agri and Clients:
From a Client perspective: Advantages: - 24/7 access to the latest software – no need to worry about updates or service packs or Versions or Software maintenance. They’re all taken care of by the vendor (i.Agri).
- Data loss, storage problems and backing up would be the responsibility of the service provider.
- Access to one’s business information using any online computer from any place in the world.
- An ability for users of Apple and Linux operating systems to operate the LandMark software.
- Allow aging computers, as long as they can log into the network using broadband, to use the most up to date software and computing technology as all the processing is managed by a fast computer elsewhere.
- No reconfiguring and re-installation problems. If one buys a new computer just hook into the internet and it’s all go.
Disadvantages: - The need for a fast reliable internet connection. (If the internet is down (or browned out) everything stops and the remedy is out of your control.
- Having one’s data off site may be a concern.
- Although the risk is small because security is good, no one can guarantee the system can’t be hacked or data mined.
From i.Agri's perspective: Advantages: - It’s easier to maintain and keep up to date software on one central server.
- Easy to service national and international clients
- Easier to provide 24/7 helpdesk assistance.
- All clients are singing from the same hymn sheet.
- Clients do have a choice and can still opt out of the system.
Disadvantages: - Large upfront cost and an ongoing overhead cost.
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| Free | If you want free advice, without commitment, on any rural computing or technical issues contact us 0800 617 788 or send us an email here |
| Fallacy | It’s a fallacy to believe that all farm software does the same thing. If you are intent on reducing your software costs, check out our subscription charges against our competitors. www.iagri.com
Make sure you compare apples with apples. |
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