Engagement models
XaaS (anything as a service)
The umbrella term for buying a capability as a subscription rather than owning it.
Definition
A catch-all covering software, infrastructure, platforms and increasingly whole functions delivered as an ongoing subscription service instead of a purchased asset or an in-house team. The defining features are recurring cost, an external operator, and a contract rather than a hire.
Why it matters
The pattern converts a capital decision into a recurring one, which is easier to approve and much harder to stop. Before subscribing to a function rather than building it, ask what leaving would involve. Every additional as-a-service commitment is another exit to plan, and they are rarely planned together.
Related
Read next
Vendor lock-in
The cost of leaving a supplier, whether or not anyone intended it.
Read the definition ›Retainer
A recurring fee that reserves capacity rather than buying a deliverable.
Read the definition ›Managed delivery
The provider owns the outcome, not just the people.
Read the definition ›Total cost of ownership
Everything a hire or a project costs, not just the invoice.
Read the definition ›Next step
Ready to build or scale your team?
Tell us what you need and we will match you with pre-vetted Lebanese professionals ready to integrate with your team.