SaaS or Software as a Service is essentially software on request.
It’s the ability to access software services in the cloud through a subscription.
Where most software can be bought as a packaged product, and installed locally onto a computer or server, SaaS allows you to access that same software online through an internet connection.
Online cloud-based subscriptions of SaaS are becoming increasingly popular for businesses because of the many features they offer.
From regular updates to faster installation and cost-effectiveness, SaaS is great for small-sized businesses specifically, and here are five reasons why.
Easy and Effective
SaaS uses very little manpower and resources.
Once a business has purchased the subscription service, they just need an internet connection to access the software.
There is no need to worry about network responsibilities and managing a server for the whole office.
Rather, the software reseller has to provide a program that will work for most networks.
There may be some firewall or proxy settings to alter if the business chooses a complicated LAN solution but, in most cases, SaaS works with any simple network connection.
The cost savings come in when you choose a pay-as-you-go system. It will work on either a month-to-month or annual basis.
Because you aren’t purchasing the software outright, the cost drops substantially.
The business won’t need to purchase the new release of the software in five years.
They will automatically be using the latest version as long as the subscription is valid.
No Physical Hardware Required
With SaaS, all of the backups and recovery tasks are handled by the provider.
Cloud hosting is the future because one company physically stores all the data on their end, while the customer just accesses it electronically.
Data is the most important asset for any small business; it’s how it expands and retains customer information.
Imagine a fire breaks out overnight, and the business had everything stored inside. Without cloud-hosting, even the backups would be destroyed.
SaaS allows small businesses to seamlessly store all of the business information on the cloud, securely.
A small business wouldn’t have to worry about any IT problems, because everything works through the internet.
For instance, companies use Zaybra for SaaS businesses that ensure smooth processes without the need for additional hardware and setup costs. This ensures the costs don’t outweigh the benefits and the business can focus on its core operations instead of worrying about IT maintenance and data security.
What’s more is that small businesses can utilize software resellers that will manage everything including annual renewals, and they will find the best price possible.
For a software reseller that will manage your everyday SaaS needs, look no further than vendr.com.
Vendr is a SaaS procurement service that will source all your software needs, manage the purchase and provide annual services.
Their IT and compliance team will also make sure that any small business’s information is kept safe and secure without the need for physical hardware.
If you are looking for ways to modernize your IT department, application modernization is an excellent solution for small businesses as it helps you reach your business goals more efficiently.
Device Compatibility
The problem with physical discs for software installation is that, after a few years, the device will be too new to be compatible with the software.
With SaaS, as devices are updated, so is the service to maintain continuous compatibility throughout. All the computer will need is to connect to the internet.
The devices don’t need any special graphics cards or processing power, just the network must be operational.
The internet service provider (ISP) will be responsible for making sure you can connect to the internet.
The software reseller will make sure that their services are working from their side.
Even daily or weekly updates or patches are maintained by the software reseller.
As long as the device maintains regular updates to the operating system and other applications, it will work seamlessly.
Application Integration
Most SaaS providers have also integrated their code with the popular product Microsoft Office.
Various programs can be customized to work with SaaS to increase an organization’s capabilities without employing more staff or purchasing other software.
When everyone in the office uses the same software, SaaS doesn’t need to be mass deployed for all employees to have access.
They are provided a username and password and can just log onto the system.
There is no issue with application integration because it doesn’t rely on third-party software to function.
Security
Security is a major concern for any business. If sensitive information is accessed by a hacker, the business could lose everything.
This is an incentive for SaaS to protect any business by any means necessary.
Because their responsibility is to manage the services online without a small business needing to store anything locally, there has to be a great level of trust with the SaaS vendor.
The very livelihood of the vendor depends on their ability to protect the customer from any data breaches.
They take cloud security very seriously, working with multiple backups and threat protocols in place.
Businesses all over are choosing to rent software over purchasing for its ease of use and accessibility.
SaaS is not just an easier way to utilize various software; it’s a cheaper online solution to cloud-based services that can save thousands of dollars over years’ worth of business operations.