Strategic Benefits of SaaS for businesses

Remember when the word ‘cloud’ meant something vague, indistinct, and misty shape, up in the sky? All this changed few decades ago, when ‘Cloud’ was introduced which took the IT world with storm and everyone with a computer and their dog started using cloud to store and share. Turn on the telly or do a search on search engines and you are sure to find the web dotted with mentions of ‘Cloud’. It seems like everything is happening on ‘Cloud’ so much so that it has become an intrinsic part of business vernacular. Around the world, millions of businesses rely on cloud services for their functioning from emails to social accounts and just about everything in between. So what this nebulous concept is all about? In simple terms, Cloud or Cloud computing can be described as a comprehensive term describing a broad collection of services on a pay-for-use basis. There are various kinds of Cloud Computing services ranging from Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). In this blog, we would be focusing on SaaS and its benefits for businesses. Earlier SaaS (Software as a Service) was mainly a form of shrink-wrap software applications for business users over the net but soon it developed as software services deployed as hosted services to be accessed over internet. Even now with the advent of mobile, social, et al, the definition of SaaS is like a moving target, to be redefined every couple of years. In olden days, when organizations had to go for build and use when it came to IT infrastructure despite the exponential cost and time factor, today is the time of plug and play. SaaS gives organizations the flexibility to plug and subscribe without undergoing the ‘cathedral method’. With the increasing competition and decreasing demarcation in the sluggish post-recession economy, it is very important for organizations to improve performance while at the same time minimize costs. For an effective business ecosystem, an organization need to sustain competitiveness by reducing risks and assuring relatively safer returns for their investments. Check out some benefits on why SaaS makes sense for your business. ‘No to Cathedral Method’ With SaaS, you have much lower cost of entry without having to pay for hardware or worrying about hosting. With SaaS plug and play model, you only need to pay for what you need. Rapid Prototyping In a SaaS model where the software application is pre-installation and configured, it means there is a reduced time of benefit and the application can be ready to use much faster. Pay as you use SaaS software gives you the benefit for paying only for the active use and not for the unused licensed bundled items. Cut costs With SaaS software there is no upfront cost of purchase or installation saving you big bucks. There is also a flow of predictable cost because of subscription which allows businesses to allocate budget accordingly. No Stress Upgrade You don’t have to keep your resources occupied regarding the upkeep of the software as the SaaS service provider will ensure that the software is up-to-date and secure. Easy to change vendors Since, SaaS is often sold on a monthly subscription basis, if you are not happy with your service provider, you can easily change without incurring additional cost. Less-Risky Instead of going all out with the ‘cathedral method’ which can cost exponentially without the surety of returns, SaaS allows for a monthly subscription which is less risky monetarily. Onus on vendor If the software doesn’t work properly, it is the service provider who needs to fix it. You can just sit back and relax. SaaS (Software as a service) can be a great way to help you make the most of your IT budget, whilst providing the access to the latest technology aided by professional support. However, before jumping on the bandwagon, ensure that you are choosing a reliable IT partner for SaaS needs. We at RailsCarma help you adopt SaaS technology in the best possible way by offering expert assistance, for designing, developing and managing SaaS applications.