If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been hearing a lot about SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). But if you’re new to the concept, it’s worth taking a few minutes to get up to speed.
Software is traditionally purchased as an installation file that consists of a piece of software with accompanying manuals and retail packaging. You install it on your computer, or buy extra copies if the program supports more than one computer. The software typically runs in one location; for instance, on an individual’s laptop or in a company’s data center.
SaaS is a way of delivering software that shifts some or all of the burden of maintenance, support and upgrades from the vendor to you, the customer. Rather than paying for software up front, you pay a monthly fee. This makes it possible to update the software regularly because you’re paying for it as you use it, not as an upfront cost.
The Systematic Approach to SaaS is a strategy that takes into account the software as a service model to cut through the various options available for companies and businesses. The premise of this article is that by focusing on the needs of a particular company with specific goals, it is possible to choose and implement an appropriate SaaS product. In order to optimize content marketing, companies should adopt this approach and also consider which players in their endeavours are willing or suitable candidates for using certain services. One article’s focus is customer success management, while another speaks on analytics. Both articles outline how these strategies can be leveraged with software as a service platforms in order to achieve maximum success.
The SaaS model also generally means that services like storage capacity and data backup are handled for you by the provider. You don’t need to purchase extra hard drives or deal with space limitations your provider will handle it all for you with regular backups of your information. That means less hassle and more time to focus on what matters: running your business.
So how does SaaS work?
Let’s say that you’re running an online store and need tools to manage customer orders. If you use a SaaS-based system, your customer will never have to worry about where their order is due, or how many items are in the cart. Once your customer places an order, it’s automatically sent via email to the store administrator for approval and processing. At that point, the software replaces the need for email and has you send out orders automatically as they come in. There’s also no need for tracking inventory because everything is – managed – by the software program.
You can also customize your SaaS system to fit your industry and business niche. For example, if you run an online clothing store, you’ll be able to tailor the way that orders are processed to match what it is you need from a retail software solution.
Of course, SaaS isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for complete control over the management and administration of an application, then this model won’t work for you. But think about all the time that’s wasted tinkering with separate software programs to run a business wouldn’t it be nice if someone else handled maintenance instead? That’s what SaaS offers.
