Software as a service (SaaS) is rapidly becoming the dominant model for enterprise platforms. SaaS certainly comes with a number of distinct advantages that traditional formats can’t match. The cloud makes it easier to adapt to the needs of customers, and it ensures a steady income source that can turn a single product into a reliable single revenue stream for a company. While SaaS models may vary wildly depending on their purpose, there are a few features that are essential for any SaaS platform.
Scalability
A SaaS platform that can’t scale to the needs of a wide range of different consumers is missing out on one of the major advantages that this model brings. SaaS should be a one-size-fits-all platform and one that can grow or shrink with the demands of a business. A platform that’s not built for scalability and stress tested thoroughly will lose customers as they grow out of the software’s usefulness. It can also cause a company to miss out on an entire segment of the market that’s too small to make proper use of the product.
Security and Redundancy
The cloud-based technology that powers SaaS allows customers to save enormously by not having to maintain their own servers. However, the fact that their information exists in a cloud server means that security falls on the part of the app developer – and even the most well-designed platform won’t maintain a user base if they believe their data is at risk. Just as important is the need to build redundancies in place. Backing up all information ensures that users are still protected even in the case of an unexpected disaster.
Connectivity
As more businesses outsource their needs to SaaS services, their operations begin to increasingly exist in a cloud ecosystem. Inventory, sales, and customer relationship management have to function together, and information on one platform needs to be able to migrate smartly over. That’s why it’s imperative to make sure that your platform plays well with others. It’s important to think not just of how customers will be using your platform but to also think of what utilities they’ll be working in conjunction with. Putting compatibility front and center from the start and ensuring that you have the APIs in place to connect your platform with the software your customers already use can make all the difference in the world.