Simplaris: The ‘Why’ and ‘How’

With several posts now on the ‘What’ of Simplaris, you may now be wondering about the ‘Why’ and ‘How’.

Technology is undergoing a period of accelerated change. Software delivered on-demand over the Internet, often called Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or Web 2.0, has made small business technologies more intuitive and better at solving real-world problems. In turn, it’s widening the gap between these solutions and their underlying technological components so that the end user, who ultimately benefits, needs to worry less about the ‘nuts and bolts’ behind the scenes.

To quote a fantastic blog post by Mike McDerment, CEO of FreshBooks, a leading SaaS application provider, “SAAS is a great model for so many reasons (access from anywhere, automatic updates, outsourcing of security, uptime and backups…), but one reason I think it’s so much better than any form of software delivery before it is that the delivery model itself breeds better software.”

Furthermore, ‘Web 2.0′ has reached a level of maturity where great web-based products already exist to solve most business problems. The challenge for the small business owner, however, is that these solutions usually come in small packages, so a level of technical expertise is still required to coordinate them all. Each individual product and service must be researched and ultimately sourced from many different places, and custom programming is typically required to make them work together.

While developing the Simplaris concept, it resonated strongly for us that a significant gap still exists between technology offerings and the real needs of typical small businesses. Tech companies are aggressively competing to offer more features at a lower price when, for the small business owner, practical applicability, a simple user experience, trust and support trump features, technology and price. Microsoft Office and QuickBooks are just two examples of products that experienced massive success early on by bridging this gap “offline”.

Simplaris, on the other hand, is all about simplicity – more specifically – simplifying the technology user experience. We set out to find ways to help small businesses leverage their good ideas into great companies by bridging this gap online and aligning our offerings with the real needs of small business: saving time, marketing to a global audience, operating productively and profitably, and growing. Additionally, we wanted more personalized service and less ‘geek-speak‘, cost and complexity.

Our vision of a new level of maturity for Web 2.0 delivers a comprehensive suite of easy-to-use, business-friendly solutions that small businesses really need – from website development software, web page builders and basic accounting software to e-commerce Internet solutions, customized marketing solutions, higher search engine rankings and project management tools – all through a centralized system and a single relationship with a real person, and for a low monthly fee. For more information, check out our short video.

Back in late 2007, we asked 400 small business owners in the US and Canada for their feedback on the Simplaris brand and concept, with fantastic results and helpful direction.

Simplaris