What is SaaS, Software as a Service?

What is a SaaS ( Software as a Service) solution?

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SaaS: definition

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The literal translation of Software as a Service is self-explanatory: SaaS is software paid for as a service.

But the concept also covers a specific business model: in a SaaS solution, the applications in question are hosted by a third-party provider and made accessible to users via the Internet. 

Traditional software, on the other hand, needs to be downloaded locally onto the customer's equipment. In the case of SaaS, the user simply logs on and uses the application via the cloud, using a simple browser.

This system offers great flexibility, and the possibility of paying on a pro rata basis.

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SaaS, PaaS or IaaS: what are the differences?

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The 3 systems, SaaS, PaaS(Platform as a Service) and IaaS(Infrastructure as a Service), operate on the same cloud computing principle but meet different technological needs:

• IaaS provides developers with the basic resources they need, such as hardware, virtualization, networking, servers and storage;
• PaaS provides not only the infrastructure, but also the tools that enable developers to create and deploy their applications;
• SaaS offers a complete, ready-to-use solution for the end user.

In short, each system requires a different level of involvement and technical expertise, with SaaS enabling customers to concentrate fully on their core business.

Please note: cloud computing solutions are the opposite of so-called on-premise (licensed) software, which is installed directly on the user's computer or company servers.

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The advantages of a SaaS solution

We could sum them up in one word: "agility", which comes in several variants.

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Lower initial and maintenance costs

One of the main attractions of SaaS is that it eliminates the high costs associated with purchasing, installing, maintaining and updating software and hardware. 

It's not uncommon for SaaS to be billed on a monthly or annual subscription basis, the amount often depending on the number of users. A model that greatly facilitates budget forecasting!

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Fast deployment and ease of use  

Deployment of a SaaS application is immediate, since the software is already installed and configured in the cloud. This means users can get up and running quickly, with no download or technical configuration delays.

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Accessibility and flexibility

Users can access SaaS applications wherever they are, as long as they have an Internet connection. This feature supports remote working environments, distributed teams and multiple users.

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Automatic updates 

SaaS providers manage updates and enhancements over time. Users always benefit from the latest software version, without interruption or extra effort.

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Compliance and data security

Similarly, suppliers are investing in the regulatory and security sphere to protect their customers' data: encryption measures, regular audits, compliance with RGPD-type standards, etc.

This enables companies to comply with regulatory requirements without having to devote excessive resources to the task.

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Scalability

SaaS solutions are generally modular in nature, allowing subscriptions to be adjusted as business needs evolve. This makes it possible to increase or reduce the services provided.

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When should you use a SaaS solution?

There are a variety of reasons for adopting SaaS solutions, depending on company size, business sector and specific needs. 

Here are a few typical scenarios in which SaaS is particularly well suited.

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Start-ups and SMEs

For smaller companies, the SaaS solution represents an opportunity to acquire advanced technologies without heavy investment.

These organizations can thus structure themselves quickly and cost-effectively, to optimize their processes. Web application development can also be applied directly to a company's products and services. SaaS then facilitates the marketing, follow-up and satisfaction of its customers and/or, more generally, the growth of its activities.

What's more, the chosen solution can adapt to rapid evolution by adding new services and functionalities.

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Large companies and multinationals

For more complex organizations, one of the main advantages lies in the ability to better coordinate actions, in a context of geographical distance and multiple functions.

SaaS applications help standardize processes, organize project management in real time and streamline communication between teams. They are also ideal for tracking KPIs and fostering continuous innovation.

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Use cases

The services provided are many and varied, and the fact that the company is active in digital technology is of little importance - quite the contrary!

Here are some typical examples of SaaS solutions:

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

This type of solution enables you to manage interactions with prospects and customers, track sales and run effective marketing campaigns.

Example: Salesforce or Hubspot ;

• Office tools

The SaaS mode makes them accessible to as many people as possible, while ensuring that users benefit from the latest updates.

Examples: Microsoft Office 365 or Google Workspace ;

• Collaboration tools

They simplify relations between teams and project follow-up.

Examples: platforms like Slack or Asana ;

• Human resources

There are many possible applications, from recruitment to training, performance monitoring and payroll;

Example: ADP or Payfit ;

• Large-scale services

It can be an online booking tool, an appointment scheduling tool or a schedule management tool.

Example: Doctolib or Calendly.

SaaS applications can therefore be useful at every level, for company employees as well as for their customers and partners. The possibilities are endless!

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Why develop a customized SaaS solution?

The above examples show that the market is already full of ready-to-use software, adaptable to all types of business, capable of solving many problems and accomplishing a multitude of tasks.

Why would you want to develop your own solution, devoting some of your precious resources to it?

Because there's no substitute for an application designed from the outset for your exclusive use, and tailored to your specific needs and requirements. In some cases, such customization is essential, and can give you major competitive advantages in your sector.

Companies generally consider this option for :

• Automate a business process
  They can combine various existing SaaS products by interconnecting them to obtain the desired chain of decisions and actions;
  
• To meet a specific operational need
  Existing solutions are rarely so adaptable that they conform to an ultra-specific or novel activity or production mode.
  This makes it worthwhile to develop original SaaS software;
  
• Increase customer satisfaction
  To offer premium or innovative services, companies can transform their services and skills into a SaaS for their customers' use.
  In this case, the level of specificity and confidentiality favors, more than ever, customized development.

Clicsoft can help you in all these situations. 

The third is undoubtedly the most complex and exciting! It involves thinking of your services in terms of products, and digitizing them. An option involving a phase of strategic reflection that our teams guide and facilitate to ensure the project's success.

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How can you successfully complete your SaaS development project?

Would you like to develop a customized SaaS solution for your company? 

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SaaS project milestones

There are a number of essential steps to make your project a success:

1. Defining needs and objectives 

This is an essential phase! It involves examining your customers' needs and your company's constraints, without losing sight of your overall strategy. This enables you to calibrate the project and define the functionalities to be integrated into the SaaS service. You'll draw up precise specifications that will serve as a roadmap throughout the development process.

2. Architecture and technology selection

This is where you choose the right environment and tools, capable of delivering the desired performance, securing the solution and, ultimately, enabling its evolution.

3. Development and testing 

This is the technical development phase. It must enable rapid adjustments based on feedback. Testing guarantees the reliability, security and efficiency of the solution.

4. Deployment and continuous integration

The solution is implemented, including the integration of new functionalities and the identification and resolution of bugs. This approach minimizes risk and reduces implementation time.

5. User management and scalability

This includes user registration, profile management, billing and customer support. The software must also be designed to grow with demand, without degrading performance.

6. Maintenance and continuous improvement

The go live is over. You now have to monitor the application to ensure that it runs smoothly and keeps pace with technological developments and market demands. 

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How do we go about it?

You have several options:

• Create an in-house multi-disciplinary team : this choice assumes, of course, that your company possesses or recruits the necessary skills. Your staff must also have the time to manage such a project;

• Call in external developers: they'll relieve you of all the IT and technical aspects of the project. You will, however, need to take care in defining the service and ensuring that it meets your commercial or organizational objectives;

• Choose a global service provider combining the "product" aspect and the IT development of the solution. 

This is where Clicsoft comes in, offering you complete, personalized support (product study + technical part), from the ideation stage through to launch and performance analysis.

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The Lean method , adopted by Clicsoft

For any company, a new development always involves an element of risk. The same applies to a SaaS solution as to any other product. 

Will it find its market? Can it be profitable? Will the ROI be sufficient?

We repeat: in SaaS development, product research and market fit are just as important as technical implementation.

And because innovation is an essential component of this type of software, we have adopted and adapted the Lean method, theorized by Eric Ries in his bestseller "Lean startup" and successfully applied by many organizations.

So we start by designing an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to validate the target user's needs and the software's relevance at minimum cost. We then enrich the prototype on a "test and learn " basis until the project is a success:

1. Discovering uses and defining needs
2. MVP design (functionalities, user path, business model, KPIs)
3. Search forearly adopters
4. MVP launch
5. Evaluation and improvement of the MVP through successive iterations
6. Confirmation or Pivot

Using a Lean approach, we develop a solution shaped by feedback from early adopters, resulting in a SaaS application that has already proved its worth by the time it is launched on a large scale. 

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What does the future hold for SaaS solutions?

The future of SaaS and cloud computing is promising and rich in innovation. 

With the continuing growth in the digitization of businesses and the evolution of technologies, SaaS continues to develop and transform, significantly influencing the way businesses use software. 

Trends include :

• the massive arrival of artificial intelligence and machine learning, 
• more specialized solutions, 
• Enhanced security against, for example, cyber threats,
• increasingly stringent data protection regulations,
• active collaboration with connected objects,
• the proliferation of low-code/no-code tools, enabling business teams to adapt software more quickly, without recourse to a development phase.

New challenges for businesses... that can be transformed into great opportunities!

Need personalized advice on your SaaS development project? Contact us now!

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