subject: Launching A Web-based Business: Software As A Service [print this page] Read the latest about information technology and youll see the acronym SaaS popping up again and again. SaaS (Software as a Service) is a movement towards software applications being provided over websites rather than as downloaded and installed programs on personal or work computers. Businesses and consumers alike are using SaaS on a daily basis, as processing of difficult and specialized tasks with SaaS depend only on internet connection speeds and not the power and memory of the clients computer.
Developing SaaS
If you are considing starting a SaaS business, you will need both technical skills and marketing skills within your team. To be successful, you will need a technically savvy director or manager with the company, even if large portions of the softwares development is contracted to another company. Only with an experienced manager directing the development effort will you be able to judge the quality of what is being created, look for cost-saving measures, and know if you are getting the right product for the right price.
Marketing must start even before this development with competitor research into the existing SaaS and traditional software that your customer market uses and customer research into the needs and demographics of these target users. Without this research in hand, you will waste money developing features that are not valued or that do not create any advantage over competitors.
Customer Concerns About SaaS
Just because SaaS is growing in popularity does not mean that it is the natural answer for every user and every software need. There are significant concerns that some users have about SaaS. Some dont like the idea of data that was previously housed only on their computer now being on a remote server and passing over the internet. They worry about privacy and security risks associated with this situation. Regardless of whether these fears are founded or not with your service, you must answer them to assure customers.
