iLab 系统以“软件即服务”(SaaS) 模式提供。与传统软件不同，客户无需在本地设置、维护或支持系统。相反，iLab 在由安捷伦托管并维护的服务器上为客户创建帐户。
The following list encompasses the key elements of an iLab subscription:
- 软件许可证；
- Initial data and work flow set up;
- Training;
- Customer support;
- 应用程序托管和维护；
- Data backup;
- Continual system enhancements;
- 对核心设施的临时咨询支持包括修改工作流程、协助添加或编辑服务或项目，以及共享其他研究机构核心设施的最佳操作方法。
Research by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company has shown that the Software as a Service (SaaS) model delivers significant savings in total cost of ownership versus “home-grown” or traditional packaged software. Although the subscription price of SaaS can be higher than the license fee for traditional packaged software, this subscription fee represents 91% of the total cost of ownership, versus just 21% represented by a software license. (“Delivering software as a service,” McKinsey Quarterly, June 2007, Dubey and Wagle). McKinsey shows that, when considering total cost of ownership, the SaaS model is provided at a lower cost than the traditional software models both up front and ongoing. The following is a list from this report of how the SaaS model saves time and money:
- Reduces deployment time;
- 不需要进行架构和应用测试；
- Lowers training requirements through simpler user interfaces and self-service training capabilities;
- 不需要持续的业务流程更改管理（即，供应商监测客户使用情况以增强功能；客户提供反馈意见以影响未来的功能）；
- Provides great system availability;
- Provides greater scalability;
- Eliminates paying for excess hardware or software before they are required.
Cumulative Total Cost Comparison for SaaS and On-Premise Mid-market CPM Solutions with 100 Users. Source: “The TCO Advantages of SaaS-Based Budgeting, Forecasting & Reporting,” Hurwitz & Associates, 2010, Aggarwall and McCabe.
