Software as a service (SaaS) has been increasing over the past few years, thanks to the numerous benefits it provides to its users. Before we dive into SaaS world and see how the different types of SaaS can help scale your firm, let us gain a clear understanding of what SaaS is.
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What is SaaS?
Software as a Service (SaaS) is essentially software that is available for people and companies to use without the need for installing the complete software on their hardware. This type of cloud computing enables users to access the full potential of software in return for a periodical payment, which is usually auto-renewable.
It is a way for users to minimize their costs and efforts to get work done. There are many ways by which this is achieved and is unique to each service. Let us take a look at some of the most popular SaaS services that have made a profound impact on companies all over the globe. The software development process can be a tedious undertaking. Make sure you know what you are getting into.
Onboarding Software
One of the best SaaS services that save company officials a lot of work and hassle is, undeniably, onboarding software. The role of a Human Resource (HR) manager can be daunting because of the paperwork involved. HR managers are responsible for:
- Onboarding employees
- Training the employees
- Overseeing their recruits during the training or internship period
- Offboarding employees, trainees, and interns
Understandably, a single person can’t do all of these tasks effectively. With the help of an employee onboarding platform, companies can save money by automating many of the manual HR processes which would otherwise call for the hiring of more people in the HR department.
Some of the renowned onboarding software are:
- GoCo
- BambooHR
- WorkBright
- Lessonly
- ClearCompany
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
Customer satisfaction is one of the pillars on which a business can run sustainably. However, catering to every customer’s needs is challenging, especially when the customer or user base of your product or service is extensive.
Conventionally, you would have to hire a more significant number of people to work in your company as customer support as your user or client base increases. But this is not the best option, financially, for a company.
Using a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool, your company’s employees’ productivity in the customer support division radically goes up because of the automation the software offers. Once done manually, tasks can now be automated, thereby enabling a single employee to serve and address more customers than ever before.
By logging communications with customers, providing personalized assistance, managing leads and a plethora of other features, CRM tools have become indispensable for large organizations. They are increasingly becoming popular among smaller companies as well.
Some of the top CRM software are:
- Salesforce
- HubSpot CRM
- Zoho CRM
- Keap
- Insightly
Preventive Maintenance Software
This SaaS solution is particularly useful for companies that have a large number of assets. For example, a trucking company with a large fleet might face a lot of challenges to keep every vehicle in its fleet in good condition. Managers are often given the task of scheduling maintenance operations.
As the number of assets grows, it becomes impractical for a small group of people to manually keep track of all records, and store, and catalog them. The use of preventive maintenance software is a solution to this problem.
It helps in asset tracking, budgeting, scheduling, planning, and so much more to decrease operational costs by eliminating substantial repair costs in exchange for a smaller maintenance cost.
Some prominent preventive maintenance tools are:
- MaintainX
- UpKeep
- Asset Panda
- eMaint
- ManagerPlus
Email Marketing Software
Email marketing is an integral part of a digital marketing campaign. While advertisements on social media platforms and other places on the internet help a brand generate sales, it is also essential for businesses to be in constant touch with their customers and potential customers.
Email marketing software helps businesses do the following:
- Keep the user base in the loop with updates in the relevant field.
- Keep customers updated about the latest products and services.
- Informs the customers about offers and discounts to drive sales.
- Creates a personalized experience for a person with AI and machine learning to improve conversion rates.
Here are some popular email marketing SaaS solutions:
- HubSpot Marketing
- Mailchimp
- Zoho Campaigns
- Salesforce Pardot
- Infusionsoft
Project Management Software
Project management software is beneficial for enterprises to streamline the processes involved in their projects.
This SaaS tool helps plan and schedule projects effectively while maintaining error-free communication among all members involved in the project. The standard features of a reputable project management software include:
- Planning
- Scheduling
- Budgeting
- Documentation
The popular project management tools are:
- Basecamp
- Teamwork Projects
- ProofHub
- Zoho Projects
- Trello
What Are the Advantages of a SaaS Solution?
Off the top, there are three significant advantages of using a SaaS tool for companies.
- Scalability
- Cost reduction
- Customer satisfaction and conversion
Scalability
Since a SaaS tool is cloud-based and is not stored locally on any of the company’s servers or systems, they can conveniently scale up or scale down their assets depending on the dynamics of their business’s performance.
For example, they can buy more hosting space as users increase and get rid of some of the areas when there is a decrement in users all without tampering with the assets of the company.
Cost Reduction
One of the most attractive traits of SaaS services for organizations is that they significantly reduce operational costs by automating a large number of tasks that would otherwise require a considerable amount of workforce. Furthermore, it also saves the company from investing in extra infrastructure.
Customer Satisfaction and Conversion
SaaS services help to address customer needs quickly and efficiently in a personalized manner, thus improving customer satisfaction. With great marketing and documenting tools, they can also drive sales by boosting customers’ conversion rates of a brand.
Conclusion
With the SaaS industry rapidly growing, there is a boom in the number of SaaS products that have emerged in the past few years.
This competitive nature of the niche provides users and companies with higher-quality products and a great variety of choices. Be proper and thorough in your research to select the SaaS tool that suits your business needs.
