Research ETRM / CTRM in the Cloud | Page 15

CTRM in the Cloud
important attribute in our respondents minds (Figure 12). The ranking of security and monitoring of the data
center as being more important than the technology or architecture of the E/CTRM software being deployed in
a SaaS or hosted in the cloud environment is interesting. ComTech would probably rank the appropriateness of
the technology and application for SaaS or hosted in the cloud delivery as significantly fundamentally more
important than security of the data center for reasons that will be discussed later in this report.
The general acceptance of the SaaS/hosted in the cloud model is noted again when we asked which in functional
Figure 13: What Other Functional Areas Would You Consider SaaS For?
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

Yes
No
Don't know
Market Data Forward Curves Trader Tools
Delivery

Scheduling

Regulatory
Trade
Reporting

Regulatory
Compliance
Solutions

Data
Visualization

Risk
Management

areas our respondents would consider deploying a SaaS/cloud solution. The vast majority would consider
SaaS/Cloud for all of the application areas tested, and those saying ‘No’ to any were around 20% or less of the
respondents. Even critical functional capabilities such as risk management, scheduling and market data delivery
would be considered for a SaaS/cloud solution (Figure 13).

Procurement Plans

This survey provided an opportunity to test future
demand for E/CTRM products. Demand for new
systems (Figure 14a) does appear to be down with
those indicating that they will procure a new solution
over the next 12 to 24 months being at 31% (low by
comparison with surveys from previous years).
However, there is some uncertainty with 18% not
knowing if they will procure or not during the next 24
months. About 50% say that they have no plans to buy
new E/CTRM software in the next 2-years.
The vast majority of those respondents that indicated
they did plan to procure new E/CTRM software over
the next 24-months will be looking for ETRM (energy)
systems (Figure 14b).
The responses indicate that there is a very fair chance
that those planning to buy will deploy a SaaS solution
(Figure 14c). None of the respondents said that their
new system would be internally built, hosted or
leased. All indicated that it would be vendor-supplied
and delivered either on premises or via SaaS. The
‘other’ category comprises those who have yet to
decide between traditional or SaaS or hosted in the
main. A couple of the respondents did cite a
preference for SaaS, but also indicated there may be
issues getting approval for such a deployment from
their companies’ risk and/or executive management.
We do believe this is an important observation and
that such potential objections will likely continue to
factor in many procurement decisions despite the

© Commodity Technology Advisory LLC, 2014, All Rights Reserved.

Figure 14a: Do you plan on purchasing a new CTRM solution?

18%

Yes - 12 months

23%

Yes - 24 months
8%

No
Don't know

51%

Figure 14b: If yes, for what commodities?

13%
Energy

7%

Ags
13%

Metals
67%

All

Figure 14c: On What Basis?
Traditional

0%

SaaS
33%

40%

Other
Leased
Hosted

27%

Internal

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