AFTER months of relying on digital tech and communications assets, and as more of us make our way back to our offices, now really is a good time to take a look at what works – and what doesn’t. In no time at all, you can easily ensure that you’re working on all cylinders with the simplest, most effective systems yet.
Now that you have mastered the cloud, Microsoft Teams and VoIP using broadband networks, there’s now a brand new approach to making things better and cheaper, and it’s already powering thousands of businesses across the UK and Ireland.
SaaS, otherwise known as ‘Software as a Service’ is a relatively new term but easily explained. Sometimes referred to as “on demand software”, it works to deliver computing services through applications over the internet on a subscription basis using the cloud. Hence, you now no longer have to buy the software you need, and manually install and maintaining it.
Now that cloud computing is the new way of travel and not just all the rage, for every business, this SaaS software distribution also means businesses can remove the need for expensive provisioning and maintenance.
Compared with on site or legacy systems, SaaS will suit growing businesses with changing needs and it easily accommodates flexible home and remote working – something most firms will be embracing long into the future. By getting SaaS-ready, you’ll also be reinforcing the systems, lightening the workload and removing unnecessary costs and unnecessary time spent on IT.
In today’s more technologically advanced world, you can easily and cost-effectively access new and exciting productivity tools in HR, finance, payroll, project management and sales at the touch of a button anytime, anywhere.
As with other cloud services, firms typically pay for SaaS applications through a subscription fee, on a monthly or annual basis, contrasting with the traditional model of paying for software through a perpetual license, with an upfront cost and optional ongoing support fees.
Using the cloud, businesses can also use many SaaS products on Apple, Android, tablets and mobile phones – not just windows. Software updates are automatic and often weekly or monthly to make sure you’re using these applications at their best and most secure.
Security is key, and with SaaS, it can be easily centralised so that all devices can be strategically and effectively managed using the cloud for users based in the office, at home or out on the road. That means less time spent on IT and more on getting on with business.
Additionally, SaaS is scalable in that if you need to add more users to your service, or conversely reduce them, you simply adjust your billing plan accordingly rather than having to buy in more hardware.
According to PwC, companies making the strategic choice of migrating their software business model from a traditional perpetual license to a subscription license-based SaaS product are doing so to drive stronger long-term relationships and business growth.
But SaaS isn’t just for the big business guns. Tailored effectively to individual business needs, it can help revolutionise and simplify the way you run your operation.
In today’s challenging climate, the less time spent grappling with your IT and communications system, the more time you’ll have to reshape your operating model, ramp up your sales and be more productive – and profitable – than you have ever been.
Now is a great time to take a fresh look at the technology you use or don’t use and what could really help your business. Be in the best shape you can.
:: Eric Carson is co-founder, owner and chair of Rainbow, Northern Ireland’s largest independent supplier of telecommunications services
