SaaS (Software as a Service) – What is a SaaS?

A SaaS (Software as a Service), also called Software as a Service,  is a decentralized system hosted on servers external to the company, as well as its maintenance and support.
The company pays for the use of the software that it accesses through the Internet, generally through a web browser, with its entire underlying structure hosted in a location external to it.
It is not necessary, therefore, to install the applications on the company’s computers, thus reducing license costs and improving accessibility from different points.

  

Índice

  1. Features of SaaS (Software as a Service)
  2. Advantages of using a SaaS (Software as a Service)
  3. Popular SaaS Examples

SaaS Features

The most common characteristics of a SaaS are the following:

  • Internet access:  Users can access the service through an Internet browser, that is, its use is not linked to a specific location or a single computer.

  • Hosting, management and support by the provider company:  Everything is hosted by the provider, who also manages the software, maintains it and offers technical support to users.

  • Payment by fee:  The usual thing is to pay a monthly or annual fee for the service.

  • Trial version or freemiun systems:   It is common for a free trial version to exist for a period of time, or a free version that offers more limited software features than the paid version or versions.

Advantages of using a SaaS (Software as a Service)

This type of software has become very popular because it offers various advantages to companies that use them:

  • Cost reduction:  This system reduces licensing, hardware and software costs, as well as maintenance and support expenses.

  • Scalability:  It is very easy to increase or decrease the service according to the needs of the moment.

  • Ease of updating:  The user will not have to worry about updating or maintaining it.

  • Integrations:  They can usually be integrated with other SaaS or applications to combine their use.

Popular SaaS Examples

Some of the most well-known and used Software as a Service are the following:

  • Slack

  • G Suite

  • Adobe Cloud

  • Amazon Web Services (AWS)

  • Oracle

  • GitHub

  • HubSpot

  • SalesForce