Remember when software was just something you bought and installed? Those days are rapidly fading into history. As we enter the AI age, a new paradigm is emerging: Service-as-a-Software. But what exactly does this mean for your business?

The Shift in How We Think About Software

Traditionally, software companies focused on turning services into software products. Think about how Salesforce transformed CRM or how Slack revolutionized workplace communication. But now, we're witnessing a fascinating reverse trend: using software (particularly AI) to transform how services are delivered.

Sequoia Capital captures this shift perfectly: "Thanks to agentic reasoning, the AI transition is service-as-a-software. Software companies turn labor into software. That means the addressable market is not the software market, but the services market measured in the trillions of dollars."

Why This Matters For Your Business

If you're running a small or medium-sized business relying on legacy software, this shift is particularly relevant. Here's why:

Your business-critical software isn't just code sitting on a server - it's a living system that requires constant attention, updates, and support. Traditionally, this meant heavy reliance on specialized operational support, often concentrated in key individuals who understand your systems inside and out.

The Challenge of Scale

Here's where things get interesting: As AI continues to proliferate, we're seeing an explosion in custom applications and agents. This isn't just creating more software - it's creating an exponential increase in the need for operational support.

The numbers are staggering. We estimate over 10 million SMBs are currently relying on legacy, custom-built, business-critical software. Each of these businesses needs specialized support to keep their systems running smoothly.

Enter Telos: A New Approach to Software Support

This is where Telos comes in. Building on 15 years of experience and over 60 B2B applications, we're pioneering a new way to provide operational support - one that combines human expertise with AI capabilities.

What makes this approach different? Instead of just providing traditional IT support, we're creating something revolutionary: a system that generates machine-addressable knowledge. Think of it as creating smart, executable packages of information that can be:

• Browsed by humans when they need to understand the system
• Consumed by AI for automated support tasks
• Integrated with other packages to maintain vital connections

What This Means For You

For businesses running legacy software, this approach offers several key benefits:

• Reduced dependency on key individuals
• More reliable and consistent support
• A clear path forward for your systems
• The ability to stay competitive without complete replatforming

The Future of Software Support

As we move deeper into the AI age, the line between software and service will continue to blur. The winners will be those who can effectively combine both - providing human expertise augmented by AI capabilities.

The future isn't about replacing your legacy systems or the people who understand them. It's about supporting both more effectively, ensuring your business remains competitive in an increasingly digital world.

Ready to learn more about how this new approach could benefit your business? Let's start a conversation about your software support needs.

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