Today, let’s focus on SaaS.
You might ask what SaaS is, well Software as a service is a software licensing and delivery model in which software is licensed on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted. It is sometimes referred to as “on-demand software”, and was formerly referred to as “software plus services” by Microsoft.
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)—also known as cloud-based software—is now mainstream. From massive corporations to tiny mom and pop shops, cloud-based software is the default deployment method in 2020 for nearly every type of business technology in the world.
Yet many of the business leaders we speak to everyday at Software Advice still have questions about SaaS and want to know why it could be a good choice for their company. Based on those conversations. SaaS is a method of software delivery that allows data to be accessed from any device with an internet connection and a web browser. In this web-based model, software vendors host and maintain the servers, databases, and the code that makes up an application. SaaS is essential in business in that there are SaaS applications for fundamental business technologies, such as email, sales management, customer relationship management (CRM), financial management, human resource management (HRM), billing and collaboration. Leading SaaS providers include Salesforce, Oracle, SAP, Intuit and Microsoft.
SaaS applications are used by a range of IT professionals and business users, as well as C-level executives.
SaaS is advantageous in so many ways such that:
SaaS deployments don’t require extensive hardware, which allows buyers to outsource most of the IT responsibilities typically required to troubleshoot and maintain the software in-house.
SaaS systems are typically paid within a subscription model, whereas on-premise software is usually purchased through a perpetual license, paid upfront.
Many people say “time is money” and thankfully, SaaS can save both. For many SaaS applications, installation is as simple as having an internet connection and acquiring a log-in. Furthermore, maintenance responsibilities are shifted from your IT department to the vendor itself.
Even worse, version discrepancies between members of your workforce can lead to compatibility issues and wasted time. With SaaS however, subscribers can simply log-on to already upgraded services.
SaaS application is already installed and configured in the cloud. This minimises common delays resulting from often lengthy traditional software deployment this makes it easier to install.
The SaaS providers deal with hardware and software updates, deploying upgrades centrally to the hosted applications and removing this workload and responsibility from you and this means more time for you, compatibility won’t bother you.
But then again SaaS needs to be up and running or security issues might be experienced or technology disruption thus it needs a professional to keep an eye on it, either way it is something that is highly recommended.