In this day and age, technology has seamlessly integrated itself in the way we trade. For example, cloud computing has exponentially grown as a business producing billions of revenue in the US alone.
From large-scale enterprises to lean startup teams, several companies have adopted cloud computing services to improve their system. One of the most popular among the cloud-based services is Software as a service (SaaS). The flexibility and scalability that SaaS provides greatly appeal to new and veteran entrepreneurs alike.
But, does SaaS really work for all types of businesses? How will you know if it is right for your company?
The answer, learning what the model is about and assessing whether or not it suits your operations.
In this entry, we’ll dive deeper into what SaaS is all about and why businesses clamor towards it. Before that, let’s first understand what is cloud computing.
Cloud Computing
The term cloud has come a long way from simply being a celestial cotton-like matter. In the world of technology, a cloud is an analogy for the Internet. Back in the day when diagrams and presentations were the things, they used to draw a cloud in their charts to represent a vague picture of the Internet.
So, if you’ve heard the phrase “it’s in the cloud,” that means you’ve stored information over the Internet instead of your local hard drive. Since its conception, the famous cloud gave birth to various kinds of software services.
Today, cloud computing comes with nomenclature of services namely: Software as a service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Platform as a service (PaaS), and Serverless computing.
Software as a Service (SaaS) happens to be one of the most popular terms because of its wide usage. But what is SaaS, exactly?
Defining Software as a Service
SaaS is a software delivery model that lets you access data from any device with an Internet connection. Instead of downloading software and undergoing a painful installation process, you can simply run your applications via the Internet. The cloud platform can cater to any business app ranging from office software to unified communications.
We can define SaaS as a way to skip all the hassles of setting up concrete servers for your local hard drive. Gone are the days you need to assemble a series of expensive IT infrastructure to run software and hardware configurations. With the SaaS business model, you leave all the maintenance of servers and databases to your software vendors.
On top of its accessibility, SaaS also provides more advantages for small businesses. Let’s look into its incentives for startups.
Software as a Service for Business
A lot of startups choose SaaS because it ideally gives them access to tools that large corporations normally use. If you’re considering adopting this business model, here are some of its benefits:
Accessibility
The main selling point of SaaS is its ability to run on just about any device. Whether you’re using Windows, Mac, or Linux; SaaS is accessible in any operating system.
This means you won’t have to worry about compatibility issues with other software tools. As a bonus, SaaS apps can also be accessed on smartphones so you can implement changes on the go.
Maintenance
Since your applications run on the cloud, vendors can centrally apply routine updates and patches. Unlike on-premise software, maintenance for your apps can be done without disrupting work hours.
You no longer have to worry about regularly doing checkups on your tools. Maintenance is a critical part of any software tool to ensure it’s kept secure and up-to-date.
Scalability
If you want to add more users to your service or reduce them, you simply adjust your billing plan. SaaS adapts to your performance, whether you’re looking to expand or scale back, you have room to move. Having your apps in the cloud allows you to add or do away with resources conveniently.
Data Storage
One of the most worrying things about working with software is losing it—just imagine what one lost file can cause you. To prevent that, you’ll need reliable storage backups and other disaster recovery plans in the event of a hardware crash.
Luckily, SaaS saves data routinely and in real-time in the cloud. Anyone on your team can access and make changes to files without losing work or data.
Analytics
Since everything is in one centralized platform, capturing data for analytics is pretty easy. Using SaaS offers you access to intelligence tools and visualizations to help you gather insights on operations. Instead of installing other tools for analytics, you can use the feature on the platform itself.
Scale with SaaS
Now that we’ve learned how SaaS works, we’re left with the question: is SaaS right for your business?The answer is, it depends. Just like with any technology, some can be more useful to a company while others are not.
Say, for example, the nature of your business may not really require advanced tools at all. Perhaps all you need is the basic devices. Keep in mind that SaaS applications are accessed through the web. Hence you’ll need a stable Internet connection.
Run through some of these questions and evaluate if your business needs SaaS. How specialized is your business? Do your products need the functionalities SaaS provides or is it better off with the traditional route? How many software products do you need?
At the end of the day, technology is only as good as how you use it. You need to invest wisely in the things you need to scale your startup. If you’re not confident in making decisions regarding tech, then find experts to help you sort things out.
Full Scale is an offshore software company that provides a wide range of software development services. We specialize in helping startups scale their operations by providing consultations, resources, and talent. Using our Guided Development Process, we can assist you at any stage of your startup.
Interested? Get a FREE consultation today!
