How Should I Choose An ASP?

The process of choosing an ASP involves three basic steps: 

1.    Determine which applications you want an ASP to host.

These applications could be current applications you no longer wish to maintain, or new applications that will replace or augment your existing systems.

2.    Assess your internal IT capabilities.

• Knowing your own IT capabilities and needs will help you find the right ASP for you.
• If you have IT resources that can answer application questions or provide integration services, you might place less emphasis on an ASP’s support, help desk or technical services than you would otherwise.

3.    Evaluate ASPs.

Before speaking to an ASP, here are two general points to consider:

1. If your leased application is specific to your industry, you might want to work with an ASP that specializes in your industry.
2. If your application serves a specific enterprise function, such as accounting or human resources, you might wish to choose an ASP with the appropriate functional expertise.