The Web Browser: The New Desktop

By Mitchell Harper

The desktop is coming of age. With new technologies such as distributed computing and wireless connectivity spreading like wild-fire, the desktop is now no longer the only place that you can run applications.

The web browser is the new desktop, and in this white paper we will examine some of the reasons why web-based applications are more proficient (in terms of time, costing and resources) and also more accessible than traditional desktop-based applications.

Firstly, let’s define a web-based application. In general, a web-based application:

• Runs from a browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Resides on your web server
• Is accessible from any PC equipped with a browser and Internet connection
• Can be updated in central one location, and have those changes reflect immediately to everyone using the application
• Is composed of HTML, JavaScript and one or more server-side scripting languages (such as ASP, PHP or ColdFusion)
• Can optionally use a database to store data.

What are the benefits of using a web-based application instead of a normal desktop application? Here’s a quick list: 
 

1. They are installed in one central location (such as www.yoursite.com/product) and no installation is necessary on the desktop. Ultimately, this leads to quicker deployment, less end-user training, and no duplicate installations (such as one copy for home and one copy for work)
2. Virus, Trojans and worms that affect your desktop do not interfere with web-based applications, and cannot damage your data, as it is hosted on a remote web server.
3. They can be accessed simultaneously by multiple users, all running the one single web-application. If an update or bug fix is required, you simply update files in one location, and the changes are reflected to all users immediately.
4. Your end-users feel comfortable using their web browser, so they are already familiar with common browser elements, such as links, buttons, forms and images.
5. The licensing of web-based applications is generally cheaper and much more flexible than that of desktop applications.

 
By simply using web-based applications, you can offer a broader range of product and service offerings to your clients.

For example, let’s assume that you want to offer 10 different clients the following products:

• A website editing tool.
• A knowledgebase tool.
• An email marketing tool.

 
If you were to provide these to your clients as desktop applications, then you would have to install 3 different applications on 10 different computers. When updates are required, you would literally have to be in front of every PC to update the software, or worse still, you would have to try and guide your clients to update the applications themselves. Even at the best of times, this is a huge challenge.
 
Now, let’s assume that you’re going to provide your clients with the exact same 3 products listed above, but this time you’re going to provide them with web-based applications.

Firstly, you would install 3 products on the one web server. Next, you simply create a login for each user, email them their login details and you’re done. When it comes time to update, you simply update 1 set of files on your web server, and your clients will automatically run the updated version of the web-based application the next time that they login.

Your clients are fussy, time-deprived individuals. They want solutions that maximize their return on investment, and minimize their expenditure –- after all, they too have budgets that they have to adhere to.

But on a deeper level however, all clients want personalized attention and solutions. They don’t want re-hashed marketing spiels, and they don’t want to use generic applications that every other company is running.

They want the edge on their competitors with customized solutions at a price that they can afford. This is where the power of re-branding comes into play.

Imagine being able to offer your clients a complete application -- such as an email-marketing package -– complete with their corporate logo, color scheme and no hint that you weren’t the one who developed the application. This is the simple concept behind re-branding.

Web-applications that are re-brandable allow you to gain the edge on your competitors by offering your clients a completely customized product in a timely and affordable manner. Let’s look at the following scenario:
 

• You’re a web developer, and a prestigious law firm has approached you. They think it’s time to update their website, and they also want to be able to make small changes (such as news and press releases) without having to come back to you. They are clueless when it comes to HTML, but are proficient with Microsoft Word.
• They are in discussions with you and also 5 other freelance web developers.
• In your proposal, you have offered to build their website and also provide them with a complete content management system to update their website without your help. Your quoted timeframe for the job is 3 weeks. Your price is $3,500.
• The other 5 freelancers also going for the job offer to design the website and build a content management system from scratch. Their average quoted timeframe is 3 months, with a cost of $8,000.

Without barely looking over the other 5 freelancers quotes, the law firms public relations manager gives you a call and tells you that you’ve got the job, wondering how on earth you will build a website AND a content management system for them in just 3 weeks.

The good thing is, you wont. Yes, you’ll build the website, which will take you 2 weeks. But the content management system is already built for you. You will simply re-brand an existing solution to match the law firm’s corporate identity.

Re-branding is an exciting concept, and it’s one with which we’re very familiar here at Interspire...

As well as re-enforcing your brand to your clients, an application branded as your own makes you look better and more professional.

It also means that your customers do not know that you have paid for the application from a third party. You are free to charge them whatever you like, therefore saving you time, adding to your profit, and increasing your service offerings.

Finally, because you actually host the applications on your web server, it also means that your customers cannot switch to another web development company, as they will not receive the same tool(s) that you have provided them with if they leave. This is an instant customer retention strategy.

We offer a number of different web-applications which you can re-brand and pass-on to your clients, making a tidy profit along the way...

Simple. We create software the makes you look good, and your websites perform.

Here's a few more reasons:
 

• All of our applications are developed specifically for web designers / developers and their clients.
• All of our applications are completely re-brandable, as discussed earlier
• All of our applications have innovative licensing structures allowing you to make extra revenue, and also purchase more licenses in the future if required.
• We offer personalized service and support via phone, fax, email and forums. When you contact us, you are dealing directly with the developers of our products, and not typical support staff. Typically, we reply to all support requests within 24 hours.
• We offer free installation on yours or your clients website.

We offer a number of totally unique, re-brandable web-based applications. Over 5,000 clients around the world rely on our products to run their business.

Some of the biggest companies in the world use our products, including but not limited to Shell, BT, Ernst & Young, Dell, Fluke, Siemens and McAfee.

Here’s a quick overview of our product range:
 

• SendStudio – Email Marketing Just Got Easy!
  Manage and track personalized email marketing campaigns, newsletter programs and auto responders. Use yourself, re-brand and resell or even offer this as a paid service.
  
    More Information | Online Demo
  
  
• DevEdit - Bring Your Content Management to Life.
  DevEdit drops straight into your content management system and functions like MS word. Replace any <TextArea> tag to create richly formatted web content. Rebrand and on-sell or use on your own site.
   
  
More Information | Online Demo


• WebEdit Professional – Point. Click. Edit.
  Quickly and easily create, edit and update your entire website with no technical skills using just a web browser. What you see is what you get.
  
    More Information | Online Demo
  
  
• SiteCenter – Website Building for Everyone!
  Your customers can build and manage their own websites via any browser - no programming, end-user training or uploads. Perfect for hosting companies to rebrand and on-sell as their own service.
  
    More Information | Online Demo
  
  
• ActiveKB – Help Your Customers Help Themselves.
  Create a comprehensive self-help knowledgebase for your website visitors, or on-sell this feature to your customers. Lowers support costs and improves customer service with instant responses 24/7.
  
    More Information | Online Demo
  
  
• TrackPoint – Finally, affordable ROI tracking software.
  View ROI and website traffic reports on your referrers, search engine marketing, track banner-ad campaigns, special promotions and much more. Offer ROI tracking to your clients.
   
    More Information | Online Demo
  
  
• FastFind – What are your visitors really searching for?
  If you don't know, then it's time to find out. Using FastFind, you can add a versatile search engine to any web site in minutes -- complete with accurate reporting features.
   
    More Information | Online Demo
  

Web-based applications really are the next big thing. Millions of companies around the world are already using them to leverage their time, improve their profits, and get ahead of the competition. Isn’t it about time you took a closer look?...

To learn more about us, and how we can help you attract new customers, increase your profit, product and service offerings, please visit our website at http://www.interspire.com