As the business world becomes increasingly digital, more and more companies are turning to Software as a Service (SaaS) to help them run their operations.
SaaS is a cloud-based software delivery model that offers many benefits over traditional on-premises software, including lower costs, faster deployment times, and greater flexibility.
While every SaaS solution is different, some features and benefits are common to most. Here are some of the top SaaS benefits and SaaS features you should know about.
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Top 12 SaaS features and benefits
1. Security and reliability
One of the benefits of software as a service is that it is generally more secure and reliable than on-premise solutions. SaaS service providers invest heavily in security and have teams of experts dedicated to keeping the systems safe.
They also have robust disaster recovery plans, so you can be confident that your data will be available even if there is an outage or other problem. In contrast, on-premise software is typically less secure and reliable since it is up to the individual organization to invest in security to keep their systems running smoothly.
As a result, this can be a significant disadvantage for businesses that rely heavily on their software and need to know that it will be available when they need it.
2. Automatic updates
SaaS companies always look for ways to improve their software and user experience. One is by providing automatic updates, meaning users will be automatically updated to the latest version when a new release appears.
It is an excellent benefit because it means they will always have the latest features and bug fixes. It also saves users from manually updating their software, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.
Automatic updates also make it easy to keep your data backed up and safe. In the event of a software crash or data loss, you can simply restore your most recent backup and be running back in no time.
As such, automatic updates are a crucial SaaS benefit that can save you time, money, and frustration.
3. Faster deployment times
Compared to traditional software (on-premise), SaaS can be deployed much more quickly – because there is no need to install and configure the software on individual servers.
Instead, users can simply access it via the internet, which means businesses can start using software as a service applications almost immediately without waiting for lengthy installation and configuration processes to be completed.
Faster deployment times mean businesses can benefit from SaaS product new features and functionality sooner and realize the ROI of their investment faster. For this reason, shorter deployment times are a crucial selling point for many SaaS service providers.
In contrast, installing an on-premise software solution is a time-intensive process. You will have to design the solution from scratch and purchase hardware that has to be installed on your premises.
Not only is it time-consuming, and it will also take time to recover the money you use for the installation process.
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4. Scalability
Scalability is another notable feature of SaaS that promotes its usage. Because the product is cloud-based, it can easily be adapted to the changing needs of your business.
For example, if you are expanding your operations and need to increase your customer base, you can simply add more users to your SaaS system.
This type of flexibility is not possible with traditional on-premise software, which often requires significant upfront investment and long-term commitment. As your business grows, SaaS will continue to scale to meet your needs.
5. Lower costs
SaaS solutions are typically sold on a subscription basis. As a result, you generally pay for what you use monthly or annually rather than making a significant upfront investment in software licenses and hardware. As a result, it can save your business money in the short term and help improve your overall cash flow.
In addition, SaaS often includes updates and upgrades as part of the subscription price, so you can be confident that you’re always using the latest software version.
SaaS solutions usually reside in a shred environment where software and hardware license costs are lower than those of on-premise solutions. Maintenance costs are also drastically reduced since the software as a service provider owns that environment, and the maintenance cost is divided among all customers using the solution.
6. Increased efficiency
As a business owner, you always look for ways to increase efficiency and reduce costs. One way to do this is to invest in software that can automate tasks and processes.
Top SaaS providers offer features that can help you streamline your operations and improve your bottom line. For example, many SaaS platforms provide automation tools to help you with tasks like data entry, billing, and customer communication.
In addition, SaaS platforms often provide reporting and analytics tools that can help you track your progress and identify areas where you need to improve. These crucial features of SaaS can help you increase your efficiency, save money, and grow your business.
7. Increased flexibility
SaaS applications are also very flexible, which means they can be easily customized to meet the specific needs of your business. With traditional software, you often purchase separate modules or add-ons to get the needed features and functionality.
With SaaS, however, you can usually get all of them in one package.
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8. Better Collaboration
Another significant advantage of SaaS is that it offers increased collaboration between users – because most SaaS solutions include built-in tools for communication and cooperation, such as chat, video conferencing, and file sharing.
It promotes a better flow of information between different departments and teams, which leads to faster decision-making and improved workflows. What is more, SaaS allows employees to work from anywhere at any time, further enhancing collaboration.
With the ability to access the same data and information from any device and location, employees can easily collaborate regardless of location.
9. Easier integration
A SaaS product usually has built-in APIs or other integration points that easily connect the solution to other software products and systems. As a result, it can save a lot of time and effort for development teams, who would otherwise need to build custom integrations.
Furthermore, many software as a service applications are designed to work well with other popular software products and systems, which can further reduce the effort required for integration. This makes them ideal for companies that use various software products.
10. Support
Most SaaS solutions offer 24/7 support, meaning that help is always available when you need it. Moreover, SaaS providers often have a team of experts to assist with troubleshooting, training, and more.
As a result, SaaS customers can be confident that they will always have someone to help them resolve issues and maximize the value of their investment.
When choosing a SaaS provider, be sure to inquire about their customer support offerings to ensure that you get the level of service you need.
11. Try it before you buy it
One of the best advantages of software as a service is that you can try out the solution before you decide whether you want to make it a part of your business.
In addition, most software as a service solutions come with a free trial period that you can use to gauge the solution’s viability before you fully commit to it.
With an on-premise solution, you don't have many options but to use whatever software you have installed, if some aspects of the software don't work well, you have to get additional third-party software to fill the gaps. With SaaS, you only pay for the software if you are sure it works well with your organization.
12. Environmentally friendly
The SaaS model is also more environmentally friendly than the traditional on-premise model. This is because SaaS applications are hosted in the cloud services, which uses less energy and resources than on-premise software.
Moreover, most SaaS providers use green energy to power their servers, reducing their environmental impact. As more and more businesses become aware of the need to reduce their carbon footprint, SaaS will become an increasingly attractive option.
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SaaS benefits and features – the final word
As you can see, software as a service has a lot of advantages that make it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes. There are many reasons to consider using SaaS products, from cost savings to increased collaboration.
When choosing a SaaS provider, keep these advantages in mind to ensure that you select the right solution for your business. Do you use any software as a service solution in your business? What advantages have you found to be the most helpful?
And if you’re looking for a SaaS solution to build your own SaaS product, check the SaaS Boilerplate – a complete starter kit to set up your project in 3 days instead of 3 weeks.