Category: SaaS (Software-as-a-Service)

Digital transformation is affecting pretty much everything right now, and companies are being forced to adapt. But guess what? Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions might help them with all the changes.

If you read about trends and technology, you have surely heard about digital transformation or at least browsed through articles that talk about it.

The problem is, many companies that claim to have gone digital, have not properly carried out the process.

Digital transformation is not about building an app or joining social media.

It is about going completely digital. It is a structural change that involves inserting technology in all areas of your company.

This reality has already been adopted by many SaaS companies, which are often examples of businesses that find it easy to transform themselves digitally.

The simplification and optimization of internal processes are much more recurrent when using software as a service.

Plus, SaaS is web-based and more flexible as customer behavior changes.

So, in this article, you will see the benefits of digital transformation (with examples of successful companies) and how to change with the help of SaaS.

Check it out!

A New Business Model

Digital transformation is more than simply employing SaaS and expecting achievements to come without effort.

Organizations that invest in digital transformation and successfully drive it forward are growth-oriented and willing to put in the time and effort to make internal changes.

This is because technology doesn’t wait. It is always evolving, and society keeps up with its new possibilities.

This factor forces companies to start thinking from the inside out.

• How do I put the customer at the center of my strategy?
• How can I improve the customer experience?
• What change is needed to improve retention?
• How do I listen to my customers and deliver value?

These questions loom large in the minds of leaders responsible for digital business transformation.

And they really need to be considered.

Companies that decide to migrate to this new model have to change how they operate and the interplay of their functions.

This is especially necessary for the SaaS model, where technology is central, and the impact is more potent.

Benefits Of SaaS For Digital Transformation

As you can see, customer needs are not the only thing that is changing really fast.

Technological innovations are also arriving at high speed, and SaaS provides organizations with a cloud-oriented mindset.

This perspective enables business leaders to create solutions at scale together with the IT and Marketing teams.

Learn about some of the many benefits SaaS brings to digital transformation:

Cost Structure

Many organizations are in a situation where they can afford an ongoing structural cost but may struggle with huge upfront payments.

SaaS allows organizations the flexibility to pay for advanced technology within their operating budget, increasing the chances of approval for transformative projects.

Growth Possibility

Cloud-based software delivery allows even smaller organizations to become players.

As the cost of data storage continues to decrease, SaaS may be the biggest game-changer in business, offering greater growth opportunities to companies of all sizes.

Agile Change

Having the flexibility to make quick changes in your strategy is not an easy task in traditional software models and can include more than 12 to 18 months of scoping, contract negotiation, and finally, development.

With SaaS, new off-the-shelf features can be activated and configured quickly, promoting a reduced time to achieve higher ROI rates.

Scalable

Again, SaaS provides organizations with the ability to start with smaller budgets and scale quickly.

It also allows seasonal organizations to scale down for a certain period of the year and scale up quickly as needed when business picks up.

This would be nearly impossible to structure with traditional software collections.

Furthermore, SaaS uses traceable and measurable functionalities to understand which would be the best investment at any point in time.

Markets With SaaS-Based Digital Transformation

Several companies we know have taken advantage of this model to perform their digital transformations.

These companies are not only technology companies, and you probably know a few that we are going to mention throughout this article.

Various sectors are embracing the possibilities that technological advancement has brought us to change the way they work.

Let’s get to know some of them:

Industries

Businesses such as Uber brought a new mobility concept that affected several chains.

Car manufacturing companies that didn’t want to be left behind started to invest in the subscription car service.

Through an app, the user can purchase a high-end car and exchange it every 12 months, paying only a monthly fee.

Smartphone companies are already doing this as well.

Apple, for example, has the iPhone Upgrade Program, which allows you to exchange your phone every year for the newest model.

Quick delivery companies like Postmates, instant-read book services like 12min, and online movie consumption platforms like Netflix are making a difference.

And many other businesses are emerging on a daily basis to revolutionize industries.

Even the way we communicate has changed dramatically in the last ten years.

Instead of picking up a phone to contact someone, you are much more likely to send a message on social media, WhatsApp, or even Skype.

Therefore, leaders in these industries must be agile and able to change with customer demand — making the SaaS model so attractive.

Insurance Companies

Companies’ willingness to adopt SaaS depends on their comfort with data security, which is particularly true for insurance companies.

However, as cloud providers have increased investment in security and scalability over the past years, customers and prospects are becoming highly confident.

For instance, Microsoft alone invests over a billion dollars a year in security research and development.

With market speed, some insurers are completing digital transformation projects in months, not years.

In addition, they are launching new cloud products and segments — whether IT augmentation or the so-called “greenfield” opportunities — that are going into production even faster.

Another benefit relates to the fact that technology is constantly evolving.

Maintenance and upgrades are time-consuming and can have unintended consequences for systems, which can severely disincentive innovation.

In a mature SaaS environment, where the provider manages the maintenance, updates, and integrations, these problems do not arise.

So insurance companies reap the rewards of digital transformation almost immediately.

Financial

Although the financial services industry has traditionally been at the forefront of technological change, this sector has been cautious about adopting the cloud because of its data.

However, as the roles of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) have changed dramatically to strategically align IT with digital transformation, the overall goals of the entire enterprise are shifting.

In this context, using the cloud has become a priority.

With SaaS, finance professionals can:

• Better manage their savings.
• Easily migrate to better systems.
• Increase mobility and agility.
• Improve operational efficiencies.
• Focus on business results.

It’s no wonder that the public cloud market is set to reach US $597 billion by 2023.

These significant investments are proving instrumental in bringing cloud-based software-as-a-service solutions to market, designed to meet the specific needs of users in the financial sector.

How To Do Digital Transformation With SaaS

Learn how your company can accomplish the digital transformation of your business with SaaS:

On-Demand Self Service

Organizations are rethinking their business models for the fast-paced digital age.

On-demand self-service models are creating new digital routes and services for consumers. Spotify, for example, offers music on-demand, Netflix offers video streaming services, and Uber offers mobility services.

Broader Access For Consumers

Consumers are connected via cell phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. An online service model addresses all of these customers using an integrated platform.

This approach is convenient and easy for consumers, leading to widespread adoption across all geographic locations.

Speed And Scalability

The on-demand service model enables user applications to utilize resources in direct proportion to customer requirements.

Resources such as networks, servers, storage, and services can be scaled up or down depending on the application’s needs.

Measure And Configure Services

With on-demand services, customers pay only for what they use. Enterprises can also measure their service usage.

Therefore, a measured service allows an enterprise to examine resource usage, billing, and capacity planning, and to think proactively about the application’s use.

Site Independence

With software as a service, there are no restrictions on the location of customers. The service provider can choose and configure the options.

In addition, customers all over the world can access the same services. For example, media and news companies can use digital channels for expansion between locations. This allows users to access digital news from any place.

Integrated Data

The on-demand service model allows companies to integrate all application data. This integrated data is crucial for standards and information control.

Performance targets, customer service, and complete administrative activities can be planned using such data. For instance, you can extract information to look for user age groups, locations, times of frequent use, complaints, and more.

Infrastructure And Security Layer

The cloud infrastructure layer can be provisioned depending on the requirements of the enterprise’s applications and services.

With cloud capabilities, companies can reduce the IT infrastructure and the staff needed to manage them.

Another important issue is that you can achieve application security with the right cloud infrastructure, with security policies for access, permission, and identity management.

Seamless Integrations Of Legacy Systems

Companies are looking for digital ways to optimize their processes. When services are new and you try to introduce them into business processes, it is vital to integrate legacy systems and their data.

This happens, for example, when a real estate rental company starts using digital contracts and electronically signed documentation for leasing its properties.

All lease renewals, rent payments, and documentation now run on cloud-based services. In this context, data from legacy systems also account for the seamless transition.

Continuous Updates And Evolution

Digital transformation is a continuous process. Tools and technologies change frequently, and companies need to keep up with the changing times.

With SaaS, organizations can continuously update their services. In addition, updates and enhancements can be enjoyed by customers at once without significant downtime for the company.

Experimentation And Innovation

Innovation is a dire need in the business world, especially when waves of digitalization constantly challenge businesses.

On-demand services and cloud software make room for experimentation and innovation that encompasses new technologies.

Companies are using the SaaS model to reshape their existing products and services. They apply digital innovations to deliver customized experiences, enriching customer interactions and transforming their enterprises.

Ready For Digital Transformation?

As you can see, technology is a strong ally in the process of improving your marketing efforts if used effectively. Contact Epic IT Automations to access interesting insights on how to strengthen your marking strategies through technology! With our insight and highly trained staff, you can maximize the efficiency of your business workflow through successful digital transformation and effectively using SaaS solutions. Give us a call at (608) 496-8660 to discuss your needs with one of our team members.

Source: rockcontent

SaaS stands for software-as-a-service, a licensing model in which software is centrally hosted on external rather than internal servers. SaaS integration involves linking a SaaS application with other, separate systems or applications, resulting in one greater system in which all components work together. Here are some important things to know about the integration process and its benefits.

What Is SaaS Integration?

On a very basic level, SaaS integration connects various applications together and allows them to communicate with one another. It lets you synchronize data in multiple locations and move it from application to application, automating the processes that these tasks require. Common examples include emails, shared calendars, and office-related applications like word processing and spreadsheet tools. SaaS integration joins these products into one complete software solution, which you buy on a pay-as-you-go basis from a cloud provider.

What Are The Benefits?

Employee productivity and workloads are streamlined, resulting in greater efficiency and smoother workflow. Customers will reap the rewards of an easy, effortless system that generates the quality goods or services your business provides. Because data is easily accessible across all systems, your staff can locate information quickly. This improves transparency, keeps all team members on the same page, and ensures high levels of customer service.

SaaS integration also saves significant time since you don’t need to enter data in multiple, separate applications. As a result, you and your team have more time to focus on other responsibilities, and reduces the risk of human error. This system sends correct information from one application to another, requiring no middlemen to input data at every point. Using SaaS integration for hundreds of apps across multiple departments allows business processes to be more scalable.

Ready To Benefit From SaaS Integration?

You can experience these benefits for your business by turning to us.  Call us today at 608-496-8660 or schedule your consultation.

Gone are the days when software platforms were limited to the devices they were installed into, strictly required an on-premise use for the employees to operate on the same. These were the software solutions that bound users to a specific device or location to avail of their functionality.

Over time, the need for flexibility has increased and employees wanted to break free from the pattern of working from a single dedicated device and location all day. Also, owing to an increase in the amount of data managed by organizations daily, the traditional software platforms often limited the storing and accessing of datasets by the users.

This issue was resolved with the advent of SaaS integrations.

What Is SaaS Integration?

SaaS stands for software as a service. As the name suggests, SaaS involves a dedicated service provider developing an application that can be implemented within your organization, according to your specific needs and preferences.

Integration into a SaaS application involves installing a software platform to serve specific purposes and achieving specific organizational goals. Whether you are willing to integrate a CRM platform to manage your customer database, an online collaborative platform to set up a virtual workspace, or a business analytics platform to make better sense of your datasets, SaaS integration helps you avail of the services that a dedicated local or global developer is willing to provide.

Advantages Of SaaS Integration

A Cloud Based Approach

SaaS integration often comes hand-in-hand with cloud management services. As opposed to traditional software development that restricted the use of applications to a great extent, SaaS integration involves setting up cloud-based platforms that are highly flexible and customizable.

With seamless cloud computing web services, you can get a software platform implemented that can be accessed by your employees from any location and at any time. All they need are their login credentials and an internet connection. This helps you and your team to keep everyone on the same page and make necessary updates in real-time.

Increased Transparency

SaaS integration helps you get rid of the rigid nature of traditional software platforms and increases transparency in the processes carried out.

Unless a user is restricted to access specific tools or records, each of your team member can have a look at the progress your company has been making, access important reports, and obtain valuable insights that help make them work better.

Seamless Upgrades

As mentioned earlier, SaaS applications are highly flexible and customizable. In 2021, technological advancements are rapid and an organization needs to be in sync with the latest trends to stay relevant.

SaaS integration allows you to upgrade to a newer edition of a software platform without having to go through tedious and time-consuming programming. A few simple clicks would provide you with upgraded tools and new editions to scale up your business processes.

Importance Of SaaS Integration for SMBs

Cost-Effective Solutions

Cost is always one of the primary factors influencing the decisions made by small and medium enterprises. Through SaaS integration, you can save up on the cost of heavy installation. As opposed to traditional software development, SaaS integration does not involve on-premise installation or infrastructure required for the same.

Moreover, you can reduce the costs involved in carrying our regular checkups, audits, and upgrades as it does not require you to spend money on hardware resources.

Also, several SaaS platforms come with a “pay-as-you-go” model. This allows you to spend money only on the tools you use instead of paying for the entire package at once.

Saving Time

Implementing a SaaS platform takes considerably less time as compared to setting up an on-premise software platform. All you need to do is go to the dedicated platform’s official website, register yourself as a user, pay for the package you are willing to install and start using it right away.

Even if you are willing to implement a personalized SaaS application within your organization, it does not take much time for the developers to make the necessary customizations and go live with the services.

Mobile Customizations

Not every employee working in a small business has access to a desktop or a laptop. In such cases, they can easily log into a SaaS application on their mobile phones or tablets and carry on with their work on the go.

Guarantee Of Service And Data Backup

Most traditional software platforms do not provide a complete guarantee of service and can crash if faced with unexpected circumstances. On the other hand, most SaaS applications provide users with a guarantee that the platform will be functioning all the time. Also, while backing up data in traditional platforms is quite labor-intensive, the same can be done on SaaS applications with a few simple clicks.

The Future Of SaaS Applications

Looking at how SaaS applications are being adopted by organizations across the world, it is safe to say that their prominence will only increase with time.

Since the summer of 2020, professionals have been forced to work remotely and organizations have started setting up virtual workspaces. In such cases, it is practically impossible to set up on-premise software going the traditional way. Some of the most commonly used platforms in the last couple of years are SaaS applications, whether it is Salesforce, Office 365, Workday, Sharepoint, SAP Concur would suite Fission’s expertise.

This makes it clear that SaaS is the thing of the future and it is advisable for businesses to integrate SaaS platforms before it is too late.

It’s Time For SaaS Integration

Connect with Epic IT Automations today and learn how we can help you implement SaaS into your business processes and strategies. Start reaping the benefits of SaaS integration, call us at 608-496-8660 or schedule a consultation to get started.