We live in an era of huge technological changes; businesses across the globe are increasingly turning to technology to help them meet the challenges of the modern age. The Software as a Service (SAAS) model, where companies move their software systems and data from their computers or on-premise network servers to apps accessed via the cloud, is a market that’s booming.
And it isn’t just the big players; small and medium enterprises are also rushing to adopt SAAS to transform their operations. If you don’t use SAAS already, you should be. Whatever needs your venture has, there’s a cloud-based service that can deliver what you need. Here are some ways SAAS can revolutionize your business.
Affordability
IT infrastructure and maintenance costs are usually expensive. Hardware and software requirements mount up as you grow, and if you’re not there yet, there will come a time where an in-house server is required. Not only does the tech burn through cash directly through buying it, but you’ll also end up with a big energy bill.
That’s not the end of the story either; these systems don’t run themselves. You’ll need a dedicated IT specialist (or a team) to install it and keep it going when it crashes or breaks. Should things go badly wrong, if you don’t have a backup system your business could be paralyzed for days.
SAAS solutions are cloud-based so you no longer need costly hardware or servers, and the vast majority (if not all) of your IT needs are outsourced. SAAS systems are mainly subscription-based so you can also buy only the software you really need, instead of packages where you end up with kit you simply never use.
Remote Access
With SAAS systems, all files, documents, and data are held in a central, cloud-based location. So, all the business needs to do is sign up to the service, grant access to the desired people and work is then possible from anywhere in the world. All that’s needed is a reliable internet connection. We’re not talking about leaving all your business processes entirely open to all your employees either – the business owner can set access limits at the individual level as required.
As people can work at any time of the day from anywhere your business is made incredibly mobile. Now we’re hopefully approaching the post-COVID era, it seems clear that although many workers will return to the office, many will want to work from home, either permanently or in a hybrid office/home arrangement. SAAS solutions allow your business the flexibility it will need to attract and retain the best staff, and they could be based anywhere in the world.
Data Insights
In a technological world, every company, no matter how small, benefits from business intelligence. Data is king – and if you control it, it helps future proof your organization. Using data gives you an understanding of where your business is right now and what decisions you need to make to grow your business going forward.
Financial performance, employee development, marketing, sales, customer acquisition, and retention – there are so many areas data can power your success. The only problem with data is that there is usually so much of it, it can be very difficult and time-consuming to manage. Adopting SAAS solutions in your organization can solve that issue, and business intelligence dashboards can house everything you need on one screen – allowing you to manage all aspects of company performance easily and rapidly.
Business Collaboration
With the world becoming ever more digitized, collaboration in business is becoming more vital. While you, your team, your partners, and clients might share the same end goals and vision, if you are not communicating smoothly and efficiently, projects and work will often end up delayed and error-strewn or even abandoned. SAAS solutions offer apps where multiple users can simultaneously work as a team using the same software suite.
Files and documents are easily lost or corrupted, but SAAS allows all stakeholders to access a single file and make changes in real-time that are recorded. Everything remains synchronized and ordered – no more lost hours tracking down missing or incomplete documents, no more meetings held for the sake of trying to piece and hold everything together.
