Business lingo depends on the time. Terms and phrases that were buzzwords in the business world years ago may be obsolete now, and new ideas enter the market all the time. If you are an entrepreneur leading your own company, then keeping up with modern business trends is important if you want to remain competitive.

One of those phrases that has become a pillar in the online world is SaaS, or software-as-a-service. When you use programs to complete tasks on the computer, these programs are considered software. Businesses now rely on different software for many internal and external processes, from marketing to supply chain management to accounting and everything in between.

If you are a relatively new business owner, or your company has not reached a scale where you need to take advantage of these resources, then you may only have a baseline understanding of SaaS. Let’s take a deeper dive into what these products are and how they can help your business succeed.

Definition

First, let’s get into the basic definition of software-as-a-service. While the term itself may be self-explanatory, it is important to understand what that truly means. SaaS is just one component of cloud computing. It is a method of delivering applications via the Internet. Instead of having to download an application onto a specific computer, all you need is an internet connection and either a web browser or mobile app to access the features of the service.

It can also be referred to as software on-demand or web-hosted software. The primary model of delivery for SaaS is with a subscription license. The customer pays a regular fee, either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, to obtain the license that allows them to use the service. The service is usually hosted on a centralized network of servers by the business that offers the software.

Advantages of SaaS

Many businesses rely on numerous applications to complete various tasks. Using a SaaS as opposed to downloadable tools has several advantages.

First, you do not have to worry about hardware limitations. Other applications that must be downloaded onto a device can only be accessed from that device. Meanwhile, any device with an Internet connection can access the SaaS. Often, SaaS products are available to use either through a web browser or a mobile application. That means your employees can still do their work as long as they have access to a device.

Another advantage is creating less work for yourself. When you need software that can manage the tasks of your organization, you could either purchase programs to download onto your computers, subscribe to a SaaS, or create the software in-house. Though there are benefits to custom offshore software development, you won’t have to do as much work or spend as much time if you just invest in a product that already exists. Plus, the lead-in time will be shorter since there are no hardware considerations to worry about, and your team can instantly start using the Internet-based application.

Types of SaaS You Can Implement

The market for SaaS is huge right now. There are thousands, if not millions, of web-hosted applications that can make running your business easier. Here are just a few of them.

• ERP system: Enterprise resource planning allows for cloud-based integration of many applications. Netsuite is one of the most popular systems in the market, and getgsi.com solutions can help you implement this comprehensive ERP.

• Communication platforms: Keeping your teams on the same page is crucial for effective operations, and communication tools can streamline collaboration among various departments.

• Customer relationship management: A CRM is designed to assist businesses as they track customer info, share that data throughout the company, and maintain relationships with clients.

• Project management: Every business owner understands the importance of staying on track with projects. Some SaaS products make assigning tasks and tracking progress easy for managers.

• Marketing content creation: Advertising your products and services to customers is crucial if you want to maintain revenue streams. Many software programs online can help with content creation, from visual images to video editing to copywriting.

How Can You Implement SaaS to Promote Growth?

No matter what industry your business is in, you almost certainly use some applications to help make tasks easier. With SaaS products, you can lower costs by avoiding hardware concerns and only paying for the subscription level that you need. SaaS also makes scalability simpler, since you can generally level up your capacity by paying for a better subscription. Whether you need a tool for accounting, communication, supply chain tracking, project management, or marketing organization, the right SaaS is somewhere out there.