SaaS Explained

Software as a Service (SaaS) has swept through businesses at a rapid rate and is now widely used in all industries. The SaaS industry has increased in size by around 500% over the past seven years. SaaS is thought to be the most important tech in business success. If you are familiar with the term yet want to know more, this article goes into depth about the model and why it is important, the characteristics of SaaS and types of SaaS applications. If your company is a SaaS provider and you want to learn how to incorporate voice and messaging into your app, skip to the end of the article where it talks about CPaaS and SaaS.

SaaS refers to one of three primary delivery and licensing cloud computing models (SaaS, IaaS and PaaS). Users access software via the web through a subscription instead of installing it on their local computer. Other names for SaaS include on-demand software, hosted software, or web-based applications. The software is a service and thus users don’t need to invest in hardware to use it nor do they need to pay for maintenance and upgrades.

SaaS providers manage all the infrastructure that supports those applications, including patches and updates. This means companies don’t have to dispatch their IT teams to install software on each employee’s computer. They don’t have to resolve issues affecting the performance of the software. They don’t have to keep track of licenses. Nor do they have to be involved updating software on each computer. (We can hear devs sigh from relief.)

Each SaaS provider runs the software they created on their own server. They also manage the access, availability, performance, and security of those applications. This flexible, cloud-based approach offers numerous benefits over traditional software delivery methods, including increased efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility.

Why Is the SaaS Model Important?

The SaaS model is one of the most innovative developments in tech, as it has revolutionized the way that software companies operate and interact with their customers. One significant benefit is that it reduces the need for expensive updates and hardware components. Also, the software is more tailored towards the needs of customers rather than a one-size-fits-all.

Before SaaS, businesses had to invest in software and updates or systems that required maintenance over time. With SaaS, companies no longer have to worry about installing and maintaining third-party software; instead, they pay a subscription fee for access to up-to-date software through the cloud. 

And, many SaaS companies offer different plans. There are plans for companies just starting out and plans for bigger corporations. Each plan has their own set of features and payment structure. Customers can choose a plan that meets their needs, only paying for what they need and not for what they don’t. And the plans are easily adjustable, meaning the customer can upgrade or downgrade at any time.

Using software-as-a-service allows customers to stay up-to-date with the latest technological trends without purchasing expensive new software licenses or equipment. Thus, SaaS is truly an invaluable tool for modern organizations seeking to improve their operations, maximize their ROI and stay competitive in today’s fast-paced marketplace.

 

FREE 15 MIN CHAT

 

 

Characteristics of the SaaS Model

Here’s a list of the main characteristics of the software-as-a-service cloud computing model:

• Flexibility: SaaS makes it easy for companies to quickly access and adapt to new technologies without purchasing complex software licenses or equipment.
• Efficiency: SaaS allows businesses to minimize IT infrastructure costs, as the provider manages all of this on behalf of their users. This also means that issues like software maintenance and security are no longer the responsibility of end-users.
• Cost-effectiveness: With SaaS, businesses can reduce their initial investment in software and hardware while also saving on ongoing costs like technical support and maintenance requirements.
• Multi-tenant architecture: SaaS providers offer a shared software environment used by all subscribers. This architecture enables providers to efficiently manage and update the software for all users while also providing each user with their own private data space.
• Scalability: SaaS applications are designed to be easily scalable so that businesses can quickly add users or increase storage as needed. This allows companies to grow and adapt their operations without investing in more software licenses, infrastructure, or IT support.
• Security: Because SaaS providers manage all of the necessary infrastructures on behalf of their users, security is typically assured at a much higher level than other software delivery models. In addition, SaaS providers often have strict security protocols to protect user data and prevent unauthorized access.
• Accessibility: SaaS applications can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, making them ideal for companies with remote or mobile employees. This also Increases collaboration as users can easily share files and data across devices.

Types of SaaS Applications

There are many different types of SaaS applications that organizations can take advantage of, including:

• Business intelligence (BI) and analytics tools: These tools provide real-time insights into business operations through data visualization and reporting capabilities. They allow users to easily access and analyze their data and understand how their business is performing.
• Customer relationship management (CRM) software: This type of software helps businesses manage their customer data, sales, and marketing operations in one central location. CRM tools provide a 360-degree view of customers, helping organizations to understand their needs better and improve customer service.
• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems: These systems help businesses manage essential processes like accounting, HR, and supply chain management. ERP solutions provide a single system of record for all of this data, making it easier to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
• Collaboration tools: SaaS applications like email and instant messaging are often used to improve communications between employees and teams. These tools can also be used for file sharing and online collaboration, making it easier for employees to work together on projects.
• Project management software: This type of software helps businesses plan, track, and manage their projects in one central location. Project management tools often include task lists, calendars, and Gantt charts to help team members stay organized and on track.
• Content management systems (CMS): A CMS is a type of software that helps businesses create, manage, and publish their content. Standard features of a CMS include a WYSIWYG editor, template management, and version control.
• E-commerce platforms: These platforms provide businesses with an online storefront, allowing them to sell their products and services directly to consumers. E-commerce solutions often include payment processing integrations, inventory management tools, and promotional capabilities.

Incorporating CPaaS into SaaS Applications

SaaS companies have become an increasingly popular choice for businesses of all sizes and industries, thanks to their ease of use, broad functionality, and cost-effectiveness. However, these companies must constantly adapt to changing business needs and trends to remain competitive and successful. One way they can do this is by incorporating CPaaS into their applications.

CPaaS, or communications platform as a service like Signalmash, Plivo, Telynx, Bandwidth and Twilio, is a suite of texting and voice capabilities that SaaS companies can easily incorporate into their existing SaaS applications. By adding these features to their software, SaaS companies can expand how their users communicate with each other and external parties.

By incorporating texting and voice capabilities into their applications, SaaS companies can provide a richer, more user-friendly experience to their customers. Texting and voice capabilities allow users to communicate in real-time, making it easier for teams to collaborate on projects and share important information efficiently. Furthermore, with texting and voice capabilities integrated into an application, SaaS companies can even offer seamless customer support through instant text or chat messages.

SaaS businesses may provide enhanced consumer experiences by integrating CPaaS into their software applications, allowing them to stay one step ahead of the competition. This ultimately translates into more revenue for the company and more satisfied users who will be eager to stay on board as customers.

 

FREE 15 MIN CHAT

 

Signalmash CPaaS Solutions

With Signalmash, you can incorporate programmatic voice and SMS/MMS into your existing SaaS product. If this sounds complicated, let me give you an example.

Let’s say you started a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft. Your engineers built a complicated geo-navigational system to connect drivers with riders. It works well, but there is no way for your drivers and riders to call or text one another. Building this feature would cost too much, plus you aren’t interested in keeping up with all the telecom regulations. That’s where Signalmash comes in. Using our CPaaS, you can easily incorporate communications functionality into your app with a few lines of code.

• Our voice API allows you to make, receive and manage calls.
• Our SMS/MMS API gives you the ability to send and receive texts.

And just like that, your drivers and riders can communicate with each other.

Get in touch with us today and learn more about how our CPaaS solutions can help your SaaS company.

Ask us how you can cut your Twilio or CPaaS bill up to 50%!!

 

FREE 15 MIN CHAT