About ISV Survival

ISVsurvival.com is a blog (now retired) for independent software vendors (ISVs) on Software as a Service (SaaS). Andrew Biss wrote ISV Survival as he learned to blog with ExpressionEngine.

The Alps — The shift from on-premise to Software as a Service can be life-threatening to ISVs acclimatised to a cosy business model based on large up-front initial licence fees and annual maintenance.

A blog for ISVs on SaaS

The ISV Survival blog is about what Software as a Service (SaaS) means to independent software vendors (ISVs) who will be forced by the market to adopt a new business model that exposes them to the financial and reputational risks of running production applications.

Writing ISV Survival was an opportunity for me to refresh my technical skills, getting hands-on with HTML4 and CSS2, blogging platforms and RSS. Local testing was with a LAMP-stack running under VMware, with Subversion for change control.

So, who’s Andrew Biss?

Hi, I’m Andrew Biss: Tech Presenting curator, founder of strategy consultancy ISV Focus and an experienced software industry executive.

I started my software industry career working as a developer in the financial services sector. A stint in consulting followed, where I championed using automated software tools to create business applications. I later held VP positions in strategy, marketing and engineering at software tool companies in the UK, US, France and Germany.

At strategy consultancy ISV Focus I help independent software vendors (ISVs) respond to new opportunities. I apply fresh thinking to conjure practical ideas and solutions.

I’ve given hundreds of technical presentations at all levels in the software industry and have learned that although getting audiences to take action’s hard, it’s not impossible. I share my experience by curating the best tips and tricks, examples and resources from the web at Tech Presenting.

Originally from London in the UK, I moved to Germany in 2000 and now live near Düsseldorf.

My personal blog is Andrew-Biss.com.

Explore

To get the lay of the land please consult the site map or wander around the archive.

My new blog for technical presenters

Our success as technical presenters depends on our ability to get audiences to take action. After all, without action it’s just entertainment!

I’ve given hundreds of technical presentations at all levels in the software industry and have learned that although creating action’s hard, it’s not impossible. I share my experience by curating the best tips and tricks, examples and resources from the web at Tech Presenting. Please join me.