Why Software as a Service?
Thanks to Software as a Service (SaaS), Overspending is Over
January 12, 2020 | Frank Mastrobuono
“I’d rather just buy the software outright and install it on my computer once,” is a statement many customers shopping for software make because, “that’s the way we’ve always done it.”
But according to most major technology companies, you don’t. Believe it or not, you really don’t want to install anything—at all.
There’s a reason why subscription-style platforms, also called ‘Software as a Service’ (SaaS), have become so popular as technology has developed: they’re faster, cheaper, and more efficient than standalone installations, and because they’re web-based, there actually are not any installations to make, ever. Recent articles published by Forbes, IBM, and more all outline the same benefits, over and over. Here’s a brief review of what they’ve said:
SaaS is Cheaper
Pay only for what you need—Most SaaS applications are designed to be modular, meaning you only pay for software to match the scale and complexity of your business and not a one-size-fits-all option.
Stop spending money to replace out-of-date software—Because updates are handled on the cloud (and by the IT professionals), just log in to your application every day, and you’re always using the most up-to-date technology—never shop for newer software again.
No specific hardware to buy—SaaS platforms today are mainly web-based applications that work through browsing software such as Google Chrome or Safari. Without any application to install, you’re not bound to any specific hardware devices for compatibility’s sake. Everything works in a web browser.
SaaS is More Efficient
Never install an update again—Because you’re not using software installed on a dedicated device, there are never any updates to download and install, and finally, your software will never go out of date.
Anyone can use it, from any device—All you need to access a web-based application is a web browser. Work with volunteers? Have 30 employees, all with different devices in different places? No worries, just send them a link and they’re good to go.
It grows with you, and to you
It scales almost instantly and with less cost—Your job scope just doubled with the complexity of your organization as it gained new business. To grow the software application accordingly in a traditional environment, you’d have to make changes to every single piece of equipment used by your staff, consuming lots of time, and money. But with SaaS platforms, scaling the complexity of your software solution is often as simple as making a phone call and signing an invoice, after which changes can be made company-wide literally overnight.
1. Add more users at any time—Hired a new employee? Working with a subcontractor? Simply create a username and send them a link. That’s it. There’s no new hardware to purchase and no software to install, so they can be up and running on their first day of work.
2. Customizable modules—More advanced SaaS platforms have modules you can add-on to a base package that allows different user groups to customize their software solutions to a higher degree than any traditional installation. More customization means more efficient solutions that adapt to the scope of your work as it grows.
Most SaaS applications are configurable to match your workflow—In addition to add-on modules, subscription software platforms generally offer some degree of configurability right out of the box, so even when your organization is implementing a basic solution, it’s still more tailored to your needs than the one-size-fits-all approach taken by standard installations.
You’re always using the latest tech
Because SaaS applications are web-based, when new technology becomes available, companies often integrate new developments into existing software platforms to remain competitive. The benefit? You’ll have the newest technological solutions, as they become available, in the palm of your hand (literally).
Today, many businesses are run almost exclusively on SaaS platforms. Quickbooks, the Google Suite, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and any other member of the Office suite are just a few examples of the many software applications that have transitioned over to subscription-style.
Software as a Service (SaaS) has become so popular as technology has developed: they’re faster, cheaper, and more efficient than standalone installations.
Test drive TreePlotter
When crafting the TreePlotter Software Suite, including INVENTORY, CANOPY, PARKS, and JOBS we chose to create a subscription-based platform because that’s where the latest technology was being developed. We’re proud to stay in step with that progress because it means our clients benefit from having the most up-to-date tools to efficiently manage the challenges they face in their daily lives.
See what SaaS is all about by taking TreePlotter for a test drive in our free demo application.
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TreePlotter™ Software Suite Brochure
TreePlotter™ Software Suite offers the latest in web, mobile, and GIS technologies in urban parks, forestry, and arboriculture. Created by PlanIT Geo™, an urban forestry software and consulting firm, TreePlotter was built by certified arborists and GIS experts.
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We love to share industry-related news, software tutorials, blogs, and company news across our social channels.