What is SaaS and why is it important?

Software as a Service, also known as SaaS, is a large part of the reason why many people are able to work remotely.

SaaS is a piece of software that can be accessed from any device at any place with an internet connection. It operates like the cloud in the sense that the software is hosted by a third party that makes it available remotely. It is distinct from on-premise software, which can only be accessed at the physical location of a business or other organization.

Biggest SaaS applications

Some SaaS applications that are commonly used by professionals include:

• Google: The tech unicorn has a search engine, a document creation software, an analytics platform, and more services that can be accessed remotely.
• Adobe: From opening PDFs to making life easier for designers, Adobe is no stranger to the SaaS space.
• MailChimp: Email marketing has forever become easier to execute with MailChimp, an SaaS staple in various industries.
• HubSpot: When it comes to inbound marketing that can be enacted remotely, HubSpot is king.
• MathWorks: People in engineering or another form of profession requiring heavy duty math swear by MathWorks products.

SaaS differs from on-premise solutions, which are programs that an employee can access only if they’re at the physical location of their job.

Benefits of SaaS Over On-Premise Solutions

Here are 5 of the biggest benefits that a Software as a Solution provides over traditional on-premise options:

• Compatibility: A powerful element of SaaS is how compatible it is across devices. They give users the ability to access these software from anywhere with Windows, Mac, and Linux devices as long as they have an internet connection. Moreover, a variety of operating systems are remotely compatible with that piece of SaaS.
• Cost: SaaS often uses a subscription model, which covers the software’s license, support, and other fees. It’s more affordable than on-premise models, which can set companies back several times the amount of SaaS every year.
• Flexibility: There is an added layer of flexibility with SaaS because these applications can be customized according to an organization’s needs. This personalization can apply to making adjustments to meet industry governance laws, improving functionality elements such as the look and feel of the dashboard, and more.
• Scalability: Ann organization can alter SaaS applications for scalability. It’s much easier to increase bandwidth with software as a service than with on-premise solutions.
• Security: SaaS and the cloud have a quicker, more automated security process when it comes to backing up data.

In addition to these benefits, there is reason to believe SaaS will become more prevalent as the world moves forward with more work from home opportunities.

RingCentral, and Working from Home

One software subcategory within SaaS is Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS). The term applies to a combination of various cloud-based communication systems for business that can be utilized in various channels and devices.

Leading the charge in the UCaaS space is RingCentral, which makes it easy to send messages, launch a video meeting, or get on the phone from anywhere with an internet connection. Thanks to this technology, working from home is the easiest it’s ever been.

Businesses like RingCentral continuously expand communications offerings to better suit employees working from anywhere across the globe. RingCentral also provides team management and real-time insight solutions through its admin portal–these tools are especially valuable when monitoring employee performances and measuring the efficacy of customer service offerings.

As working from home becomes more prevalent, UCaaS businesses such as RingCentral are adding a layer of convenience for employees with fully-functional communications and analytical solutions.

Automation Anywhere Is Saas on the Cloud

The Automation Anywhere platform is a type of SaaS that operates on the cloud, providing end-to-end automation for any business process. Using robotic process automation (RPA) and artificial intelligence technology, the company creates bots that can gather unstructured or hidden data, which it can then learn from and use to automate processes.

Automation Anywhere also offers real-time RPA analytics at the bot level, as well as the process and business levels.

SaaS and the Future Ahead

SaaS is truly a special technological revolution that is only getting bigger. Thanks to its ability to remote capabilities, cross-OS compatibility, affordability, scalability, and security, it is changing how businesses operate.

With brands such as RingCentral changing the game with unified communications applications, working from home becomes more common (if not the norm). Once that rolls around, SaaS applications will be more prevalent than ever in the professional world.

Originally published Jan 08, 2020, updated Sep 10, 2021