Tag: SaaS products

What Is The Saas Life Cycle-Application And Development

Posted on by Jay

A SaaS Project Management & Team Communication tool, the enterprises that purchase the services of SaaS providers will always come out on top with efficient operations and organized teams – said by Basecamp.

The Saas Life Cycle is a term used in the software industry to describe the process of creating a new software product. It’s a generic way of understanding the different phases that a software project goes through from the moment you start developing a new application to the moment you release it for users.

If you’re new to the Saas Life Cycle, you might be wondering what exactly it means. Or you might be wondering how you can take your new project through this process to make it more successful. Either way, you’ll learn more about the Saas Life Cycle and how it can help your new software project succeed with this article.

SaaS Development

From the view of experts, SaaS development is unique. It requires a specific skill-set and an open-minded approach.

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Here are some benefits of using a SaaS:

  • Lower costs. Since SaaS is a “cloud” solution the prices customers are required to pay are much lower than on-premise solutions.
  • Scalability. SaaS is an already developed solution, customers do not need to do much planning, as SaaS are highly scalable.
  • Upgrades. SaaS provides all the upgrades themselves, which is highly convenient for the users.
  • Integration. SaaS are perfect platforms for integration with other services
  • User Experience. SaaS solutions always try to make their UX enjoyable. Which lets their customers spend less time learning how to use the software.

The SaaS Development Life Cycle Must Begin With A Vision

You need to conduct a lot of research if you are willing to develop a great tool. Beginning with, identifying the needs of an organization is a crucial part to fulfill.

Gathering the ideas and evaluating the market will give you an idea of a product that is going to be useful and successful.

The Planning Stage

You can’t develop a SaaS Application much without having a great plan. You and your developing authority must understand how are you going to develop your SaaS, how much it will cost, when will you be able to launch it, and how is the marketing strategy going to look.

Software Development Strategies for your SaaS solution may help with answering those questions.

The Subscription Stage

After all decisions regarding cost and architecture have been finalized comes the time to choose your cloud provider. While there are many decisions to be made regarding a SaaS platform, the cloud provider selection is, probably, the most important one.

Subscription

The Development Stage

The Development stage is a complex stage. There are many decisions to make regarding the project’s architecture.

Actually, there is no point in developing a SaaS application unless it is suitable for all targeted users and has the potential to scale.

Below I have listed some of the essential requirements for a SaaS development to meet to be considered valuable for users and profitable for developers as well:

  • User Experience. The software must be easy to use and user-friendly.
  • Security. SaaS must to provide a high level of security, and its customers must believe in the exceptional security of their data.
  • Customer Support. The Built-in support processes, 24-hour access, and frequent, non-disruptive updates must all take place in a SaaS Application.

By keeping these basic practices in mind, the SaaS development process will mean the following:

Selection Af A Development Methodology

There is a large amount of methodologies available and that are known as the “Software Development Lifecycle”. Let’s break down some of the most common ones below:

  • Rapid – quickly to put together and speed-up the development, and then tested.
  • Spiral – here development divided into cycles, each of which is evaluated to then later influence the next cycle and better the methodology.
  • Agile – development methodology where each iteration gets evaluated after it ends, so that positive change and adaptation of plans can take place before the next iteration begins.

Agile Methodology

SaaS Will Mean HTML5

New products mean using the HTML5 technology. It is one of the most suitable for today’s environment. This technology provides rich Internet applications so, do not need the legacy plugins.

“When back in 2014 Microsoft announced that they will be discontinuing the support of Windows XP, Microsoft platforms that could not support HTML5 slowly began to die off.”

But there still may be some glitch issues with the use of HTML5 on mobile devices, but there are less and less of those each day. If there are any issues, then a native mobile app may be the best course of action.

SaaS Requires Published API’s

SaaS products must have API’s that provide for the development of external widgets and extensions by value-added resellers and other third-party developers.

APIs have to be consistent and should be maintained after publishing. Developers should ensure that APIs must be extended, which requires a very accurate architecture.

SaaS And Stateless Architecture

Stateless architecture is preferred because it provides smooth performance, elasticity, scalability, and fault tolerance. If applications are stateless, there is no need to allocate storage of previous requests, making the cost lower.

These applications can also scale easily, making it perfect for dealing with spikes in usage. Stateful architecture, on the other hand, requires more management and takes up more infrastructure resources.

Stateless architecture is not a requirement for SaaS, though it just may provide the best performance.

SaaS Upgrades

Upgrades must be built into the architecture in a way that will not disrupt user experience.

SaaS companies do not put out different version there – usually there are only two. If a new version is developed, it can be done on a separate server without any migrated clients to minimize disruptions.

Operations – Requirements For Development

New tenant on-boarding and billing services must be built into the SaaS architecture. IaaS and PaaS providers (if they are used), and third-party tools may help with managing that, though their integration must be in the software product itself. There isn’t a defined model for all of this, which means that the developers will have to get creative.

SaaS Implementation Methodology And Deployment

Once the software is deployed, frequent updates and security patches should take place to keep the support requests to a minimum while continually improving the UX.

Helpdesk calls and/or support tickets all result in increased operational costs, so the goal is to automate those tasks as much as possible and. Remember – constant monitoring and patches/updates will keep your customers happy.

SaaS Development, Operations, And Management Are Unique

Everyone must consider SaaS development, invest heavily in the talent of the people developing it.

This is the most expensive part of the endeavor – the requirement for a very specific skill set.

And, if you intend to have a top-rated piece of software – robust, expansion-ready, innovative, with well-received UI and UX, secure, and reliable in its implementation – then you must be prepared for the high costs involved.

Saas Development Tools

SaaS projects are usually complex and oftentimes unique. It means there is no defined stack of tools mandatory for SaaS development. You can build your SaaS development stack off of your project requirements, your architecture and your marketing strategy.

I’ve worked with the team at Andolasoft on multiple websites. They are professional, responsive, & easy to work with. I’ve had great experiences & would recommend their services to anyone.

Ruthie Miller, Sr. Mktg. Specialist

Salesforce, Houston, Texas

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Nevertheless, some of the more popular tools for SaaS development are listed below:

Server-side development:

Conclusion

SaaS solutions have become the best options for many businesses these days. Their availability, scalability, and pricing policies all provide their users with an abundance of benefits.

Whether you are looking to adopt a SaaS in your business, or you are planning to develop a SaaS of your own, the concept is as innovative as it gets and it is worth all the attention it has recently been getting.

How SaaS Products Can Expand Your Dream Business

Posted on by Debanjana Ghosh

Want To Gain Huge Revenues With Less Investment?

Investing in SaaS products is a great idea if you want to grow your business quickly without spending too much money on manufacturing, operations, and IT departments.

Implementation of SaaS products in organizations serve for versatile purposes to expand your business at its optimum level.

What Is SaaS?

Software as a service is the program integrated into the cloud-based infrastructure to store data in the servers that can be accessed online.

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Hence, the third-party vendor provides the cloud servers to store the data from where the consumers can retrieve the online data from their computer systems.

The SaaS provider distributes the software integrated to the cloud servers to the businesses purchasing the SaaS products.

Why SaaS?

SaaS Products are gaining huge attention due to low cost as compared to the traditional setup.

1. Flexible Deployment

The deployment of cloud-based software is extremely convenient as it does not require any prior hardware setup. Hence, no need to invest in workforce and maintenance charges to set up the software. A sustainable and effective solution to deploy IT software into the systems.

2. Subscription Payment Model

No need to worry about purchasing a license by paying a huge sum of money. All you need to do is subscribe to the SaaS products on a monthly or yearly basis. Hence, extremely cost-effective by paying only a nominal amount as per your requirement.

3. Customization

Cloud computing has made it possible to customize software at ease. Tweak your dashboard with the information required to be displayed. Avail the features with different levels of payment. Hence, highly customizable to meet the organization’s requirements.

4. Scalable And Reliable

The extensive data and activity reports are stored in cloud servers, hence highly scalable to handle huge volumes of data in the server.

SaaS vendors accept to protect the privacy of the client. Hence, the client’s data and information are extremely protected and confined to prevent any data leakage.

5. Trouble-Free Setup

The easy setup of the software is hassle-free and user-friendly. All you need is a good and reliable internet connection to access your data from the cloud.

6. Cost-Effective

Deployment of SaaS products gets rid of manufacturing and maintenance costs, hereby no need for technical employees to set-up software. Hence, extremely cost-effective due to low investment.

Transition To SaaS Products

In the emergence of the digital world, the evolution of SaaS products is happening at an accelerating rate. Industries across the world are demanding SaaS tools to manage and expand the businesses.

Source: BetterCloud

According to Better Cloud March 2015 poll, the average number of SaaS applications used by IT is almost double of 2015. Hence, a dramatic increase in the usage of SaaS applications was observed in 2 years.

Hence, SaaS applications are becoming the driving force to boost productivity.

According to the 2017 research report of BetterCloud, nearly 73% of companies will completely adopt SaaS-based technologies by the year 2020.

Moreover, 86% of end-users have believed that SaaS-based applications have generated higher success rates than desktop technologies.

Therefore, SaaS technologies are no longer alternative solutions for business processes. However, it has become the integral core to carry out all the business operations at its optimum level.

Hence, the potential of SaaS technologies is increasing with the evolution of digital space.

How Do SaaS Products Grow Businesses?

The prerequisites of a successful business are engaging workforce and efficient management.

A business will grow in real terms when more revenue is generated with lower investments. In other words, more clients are generating and retaining.

You have a fixed budget to set up a business, imagine if you are spending a huge proportion of the amount to the development and maintenance of the software with a skilled workforce. This leads to the investment at three levels, manufacturing, maintenance, and labor.

But if you are integrating SaaS-based technologies in your business operations, you can bypass the multi-levels of investment. Hence, a one-time investment in SaaS products saves the company’s resources.

Top SaaS Tools To Grow Business

The SaaS Products has lots of potential applications serving different purposes for different teams to effectively run the business operations.

You don’t have to be a techie expert to choose the SaaS tool for your company. Just focus on the features required to meet your company’s requirements.

Here, we are outlining the important SaaS Products to run and grow your business effectively.

Project Management

Project management tools are important to track your tasks to accomplish the projects and deliver them on time.

Proofhub is an easy to use project management software integrated with collaboration chat, organized files, and feedback platforms to facilitate a simplified and coordinated work approach.

Human Resource Management

HR management software is predominantly used in all organizations to hire the right talent and manage employees’ requirements.

BambooHR provides a user-friendly dashboard displaying insight reports on employee’s activities. The effective tool to manage employees starting from hiring the right talent, on-boarding, fulfilling compensation, and promoting friendly culture.

Team Collaboration

Setting up meetings and to get ready for video chat, communication with your team and manager is critical to gain better clarity on work progress and to discuss the solutions to challenges elaborately and effectively.

I’ve worked with the team at Andolasoft on multiple websites. They are professional, responsive, & easy to work with. I’ve had great experiences & would recommend their services to anyone.

Ruthie Miller, Sr. Mktg. Specialist

Salesforce, Houston, Texas

LEARN MORE

Zoom is the perfect tool to communicate with remote teams. Zoom allows video conferencing along with the options to share screen, file share, and messaging.

Employee Monitoring Management

When it comes to managing employees, employee monitoring tools are important to track your employees’ daily productivity.

WorkTrak is an effective SaaS tool that generates insight reports of employee’s daily productivity. Get acquainted with your employees’ performance, attendance, idle and active times and protect your company’s valuable data from insider theft. The best part is the tool comes with a load of premium features at extremely competitive prices.

Conclusion

The broad spectrum of SaaS products available can grow your business at an accelerating rate with less investment. Beat your competitors by integrating the SaaS tools into your daily operations.

What Makes SaaS Marketing Unique And How To Do It Well

Posted on by Michael Dehoyos

Software as a Service (SaaS) marketing encompasses a specific niche in the eCommerce market, but a pretty large niche. According to surveys, 80% of businesses use at least one SaaS product, and 73% predict nearly all of their most-used services will be SaaS by the end of this year.

That being said, this multi-billion dollar industry operates on a unique model, and as a result, requires a unique marketing approach.

A SaaS business host software and make them available to users through the internet, often via a subscription fee.

This is why traditional marketing tips are not always applicable to SaaS marketing: there is no physical product to showcase, the service is often constantly changing and updating, or it is highly specialized to suit a handful of companies.

Even the few users who fully appreciate the usefulness of the software don’t necessarily “own” the product.

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It’s due to all of these unique challenges that a specific breed of SaaS marketing has emerged. Some of these tips will seem counter intuitive to some marketers, but they are all designed to highlight the strengths of SaaS.

More Than Free Samples

If you can conjure up any examples of SaaS products, the first thing you’ll likely notice is that they’re all free, at least for a time.

Free trials are the lifeblood of SaaS, as it gives users the chance to try out the software, get hooked and convince them to continue onto the full subscription.

Compare this to traditional marketing: most companies wouldn’t dream of giving out complete access to their product for free.

That is the difference between direct ownership and SaaS, one relies on the specific instance of sale while the other is a long game that relies on protracted investment and engagement.

Make It Quick

Another thing that sets apart SaaS from regular products is the speed of sales. In B2C SaaS interactions, the time between a customer discovering your service and signing up for a free trial is often a matter of hours.

This is one of the advantages of the free trial: it encourages your customers to engage quickly because there is practically no barrier to entry. Often customers will look to SaaS products because they solve a particular need that has suddenly arisen, rather than a long decision process.

Seeing as 89% of SaaS businesses depend on new customer acquisition for growth, capitalizing on this sudden need is essential.

This means the way you make sales has to facilitate this speed of entry. A SaaS customer will usually make a purchase decision not long after visiting your product’s landing page.

Compare this to product marketing, which could mean days or weeks of research and deliberation, allowing for a more wide-net internet presence.

For SaaS landing pages it is more important than ever to sell your product succinctly, after which try to put as few barriers as possible between your landing page and your checkout page.

Stand Out, But Not With Price

As the SaaS market is expanding os rapidly, you can be pretty sure that, whatever your product offers, there will be competitors out there offering similar services.

It begs the question: how do you stand out in such a crowded market? The first inclination might be to undercut on price.

It’s a common tactic from traditional product marketing; offering the same product for less; and while some statistics show a 1% price reduction boosts sales by 11%, it’s not always a sustainable tactic in the SaaS game.

Due to the iterative and constantly updating nature of SaaS, you might be able to offer the cheapest option for some time but eventually, another company can come in and undercut you, dragging the price down for the whole market.

I’ve worked with the team at Andolasoft on multiple websites. They are professional, responsive, & easy to work with. I’ve had great experiences & would recommend their services to anyone.

Ruthie Miller, Sr. Mktg. Specialist

Salesforce, Houston, Texas

LEARN MORE

If you base your offer on pricing then suddenly you don’t have a leg to stand on. Much better is to advertise the quality of your features first, something that takes a lot more work to beat.

The Way Forward

This is only the beginning of what makes SaaS marketing, what gets your customers in the door. The hard part is continuing to engage them in your service, and that’s all down to the quality of your product.

Put the quality of your software first and the marketing will follow.