Cloud computing has made software sold on CDs and DVDs obsolete. Gone are the days when businesses would buy software packages and spend hours installing the software that would be limited to one user or one device. Thanks to cloud computing, software today are available as a platform, as infrastructure, and the most popular one, as a service.
Software as a service (SaaS) is becoming increasingly popular for businesses looking to use applications and developing SaaS-based applications. In this article, we are focusing on the latter. If your business wants to create cloud-based SaaS apps, here’s what you need to know.
What is SaaS?
In a nutshell, SaaS is a subscription-based software service that is offered by several big businesses including Cisco, Microsoft, WebEx, Google, etc. Software as a service can be offered across several verticals of business operations including customer resource management, enterprise resource planning, eCommerce and web hosting, Human Resource management, accounting, tax management, project management, etc. It can help businesses digitize their operations by facilitating manual as well as automated software solutions that can be accessed anytime, anywhere.
If your business is looking to develop and market a cloud-based SaaS model, here’s how you can get started. First, let’s understand how SaaS works as a cloud computing model.
SaaS solution providers usually offer businesses or clients network-based access to their applications with a source code. This source code is usually used universally so the experience will be similar for all clients. Whenever the software undergoes updates or has additional functionalities added to improve its efficiency, the client will automatically receive the updates; or, if the SaaS developer wishes to cash in on the additional features, they could charge a premium for helping improve a business’s efficiency.
Cloud-based SaaS
Cloud-based SaaS models are privy to sensitive data and usually sign up service level agreements with their clients and help store client data using on-premise storage applications, cloud-based storage applications, or (depending on the nature of the client’s business) hybrid storage applications. Cloud-based SaaS models are also known to be cross-compatible and can usually be integrated across diverse application programming interfaces – this allows easy integration without causing business interruptions while installing and adapting to new SaaS solutions.
Now that you have a brief understanding of what cloud-based SaaS apps are, let’s understand how your business can build and market a cloud-based SaaS application.
The SaaS model
Building a SaaS systems business is not easy, but it is not impossible. Suppose you have the idea for a credible solution that fixes a problem or eases operations for a company; you can look at developing a software that can be marketed and distributed as a service.
In reality, building a cloud-based SaaS is not very different from designing and building a traditional software solution. There is a similar approach to designing the application’s architecture, UI and UX framework, testing effort, and launch. It is the after the build that changes for cloud-based SaaS solutions. A significant advantage for cloud-based SaaS solutions is that subscribers do not need to physically install the software on their hardware. This allows SaaS vendors to offer a cloud-based solution that does not take up precious storage space and computing bandwidth for operating their SaaS system.
Additionally, most SaaS models offer pay-as-you-go or subscription-based system – this doesn’t give the client ownership of the software; it is more like a rental system. You can keep adding additional functionalities to your SaaS system and charge a premium for improving productivity or efficiency. The subscription-based service is not the only advantage of a SaaS system. Most SaaS models offer budget-friendly solutions that can be scaled based on usage. SaaS models provide a consistent revenue stream as they form an integral part of business operations. The more your client’s business grows, the greater their dependency on your SaaS model. This means that your SaaS model will be required to constantly and consistently improve its services – this will not only help retain your existing customers but will attract new customers.
Another important avenue for SaaS-based systems is the support services. Because your business has direct control over the software environment, you are in the position to offer quick tech and customer support in case of a glitch. This allows you to give your clients a holistic software as a service experience.
In a rapidly changing business world that is becoming heavily dependent on software solutions, the business opportunities and avenues for creating and continually improving on a software solution are immense. Software as a service is widely popular and is quickly accepted by all sizes, types, and models of businesses to improve efficiency and productivity in various business operations.
Josh Software
As an open-source novel OS, we at Josh Software are super excited to follow the journey of Flutter app development embraced with Cloud. Watch this space for more updates!
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