SaaS is quickly becoming the way of the future for many software development companies. Software which uses the SaaS method is usually deployed either by the user logging in to a hosted service on the internet, or by the user downloading the software to their device. In both cases the software license enables the user to access the software for limited amount of time (based on how much time they pay for). The software is then disabled after the licensed time period expires unless the user replenishes the time.
Now this may sound annoying and possibly more expensive, but it’s actually quite the opposite. Here are some of the benefits that far out-weigh the traditional method of software deployment (Traditional Method: Purchase a boxed software package and install it on each computer).
1. The software is provided more like a service meaning that when you use the software, you are always using the latest version with all of the latest tools and functionality. You don’t need to wait for the next version to come out, and then wait for most people in the organisation agree to purchase it before you get all of these new features.
2. You don’t need to buy a software package for each computer system in your office, you simply log in from any computer with an internet connection. This significantly reduces the cost in most cases. You don’t pay for the full system when you only need to use about a quarter of it’s power. SaaS is generally a ‘pay only for what you need’ service.
3. You’re not paying for manufacture of the software package including CD or DVD to store the installation files, the packaging and printing of the box, manuals and license details, not to mention all that other junk that’s useless to most of us like stickers and promotional flyers, then there’s the warranty cards and extra plastic wrapping that’s for, umm yeah, haven’t worked that one out yet, maybe it’s to stop the printed material from rubbing together and smudging? Not only are you not paying for this but you’re also reducing the environmental impacts from the manufacture of these items, and getting them from some other country to your door.
4. Example: With the traditional software package installed on that computer in the back room, how do you get the new guy to use the system on his new computer? You would have to install a new package. Ok, but what if you can only buy the new version which has incompatibilities with the old version that everyone else has? Now you either have to send the new guy into the back room (or give him the old busted looking computer), or upgrade every computer with the new version of the software. That sounds like an extremely expensive and time-consuming operation to me. Using SaaS, you can share licenses, or in some cases like www.workflowcentral.com.au, you get unlimited licenses.
5. Another example of the flexibility of SaaS is the ability for people to work from home without installing a costly traditional software package on their home computer. With SaaS, people can now simply log in and get to work. This is particularly attractive to parents, people with disabilities and sometimes people with physical injuries that make it very difficult to take the commute to work but are quite happy to work from home.
6. New features requested by a user from one company can immediately benefit all users of the software once the new features have been implemented. This gives other users a pleasant surprise that they don’t have to pay any extra for.
So if you’re looking for a solution for business organisational issues, give SaaS a go by heading to www.workflowcentral.com.au. Your staff can get together online (no matter where they are in the world) and exchange ideas, collaborate and most of all, keep the business organised with ease and flexibility. See how Workflow Central can help your business succeed.
Tags: saas, software, software as a service, workflow, workflow central
