The cloud is an intangible tech phenomenon, but one that’s continuously revolutionizing the world people know today. It’s being used by business owners across different industries, which is evidence of what it can do and how it can benefit its users.
One of the most popular offerings in cloud computing technology today is SaaS products, but what are they exactly? Here’s a crash course to help you get started on the right path:
What is Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)?
In a nutshell, Software-as-a-Service, or simply SaaS, products are software licensing models that can be used by everyone with a subscription. These products are different from the kinds of software that were popular in the early 2000s, which had to be installed individually on every user’s computer or device.
The biggest advantage of SaaS products is that they can be accessed through the internet, which means the users can do away with installing software programs on their computers that take up too much space. Plus, since most SaaS products are housed on external servers, the users won’t have to worry about encountering problems in their in-house IT infrastructure.
Why is it growing in popularity?
This unprecedented popularity for SaaS products coincides with the prevalence of cloud computing technology, especially because both practices use the internet as their main mode of operation. Additionally, both kinds are scalable, easy to update or debug, and more affordable in the long run.
However, before you start using any SaaS products, you must first use a comprehensive checklist for software licensing agreements as a guide, so you’ll know what you’re getting yourself into. This is because such agreements contain a lot of fine prints and details that can be difficult to understand on your own.
How is it beneficial to business owners?
It’s easy to say that new technologies will revolutionize the world in the big picture, but it can be hard to grasp how it will exactly affect the everyday lives of its users. If you’re hesitant to make use of SaaS products for your business because you’re not sure how it can benefit your day-to-day operations, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are five benefits that you can enjoy from using SaaS products in your business operations:
-
Scalability
The fact that SaaS products are easy to scale is one of its strongest advantages. Every time a business owner has to expand their operations and take on a bigger workload, they no longer have to buy additional servers or extra software. They have to level up their subscription through their SaaS provider and enjoy the flexibility of the process.
-
Implementation
Much like other software solutions, there’s a learning curve to implementing a SaaS product. But the best thing about this is that most SaaS providers conduct an onboarding process that will help you and your employees get used to the software before leaving you to your devices. Plus, they can provide additional assistance, such as troubleshooting problems, if needed.
-
Mobility
Since SaaS products only require a stable internet connection to function, they can be accessed at any time, from anywhere. This means that you and your employees can operate the business even if you’re out of the office. The mobility attribute may not seem like a huge benefit at first, but it will be once you realize that you’re no longer confined to doing your business at the office alone.
-
Collaboration
SaaS products are highly beneficial for real-time collaborative projects. This is because multiple individuals can access the software tools at the same time, which means they can communicate and collaborate without having to wait. After all, they’re sending files to one another. And it also reduces the risk of losing important documents or files over the internet because everything you’ll need is already on the software.
-
Cost-effectiveness
Ultimately, the greatest benefit of using SaaS products is the amount of money you can save in the long run. Granted, the upfront costs of subscriptions and implementation may be on the expensive side, but that it could be more practical considering that you no longer have to invest in multiple types of equipment, software upgrades, or lose potential profits in downtime.
While SaaS products can be a bit confusing at first because of their complex nature, you’ll soon realize that it’s just what your business needs to survive in this fast-paced environment. Of course, it’s understandable if you’re hesitant to rely on a single software for your business success, but you should at least give it some thought and consider all the benefits you can enjoy from it.
