SaaS Software: The Good, The Bad, & The Crucial
It’s pretty impossible to run a company without using some kind of software to help manage the workload. Even before the internet was a household item, companies would routinely use both software and hardware that would provide a necessary service.
In recent years, instead of using physical software, companies have turned to Software as a Service (SaaS). These platforms and apps are much easier to attain and often much cheaper than similar software would have been in the olden days.
In fact, a lot of these essential software options are available to download and use on your mobile phone.
What Is SaaS?
SaaS is also known as cloud software and has slowly become the new standard versus traditional software for businesses to use in their daily operations. There are plenty of benefits to using public cloud-based software deployment methods.
Instead of requiring physical copies to install, it does not take long to install and you don't need to install on every system individually. Another benefit to cloud services and SaaS applications is that they're often cheaper to purchase and only require an internet connection. They also regularly receive patches and security updates from your SaaS provider.
Instead of a large lump sum, in the beginning, you will be able to pay software vendors for the services monthly, allowing you to budget more easily. Due to the incredible convenience of downloading and accessing SaaS integrations anywhere, it’s extremely rare to see any companies using older physical versions.
Although most SaaS models will be beneficial in one way or another, they can be broken down into good, bad, and crucial.
The Good SaaS Vendors
These SaaS cloud computing options are overall fairly beneficial and worth looking into for your company. Although they might not necessarily fall under the “essential services” category, they can certainly help to make life much easier for you and your team members.
Dialed
As a business grows, so too will the list of important numbers and contacts on your mobile device. You will need to be able to quickly access your CRM and store information about your partners, customer data, vendors, suppliers, retailers, and lots of others on your smartphone. Dialed is an app that can help you just do just that by organizing and managing the contacts on your phone.
Not only will Dialed help create contact sheets containing all previous calls and texts with the number, but it will also allow you to create customizable labels, groups, and filters to keep them organized. As an added bonus, Dialed can even block out spam callers and keep your line clear for important phone calls only.
Trello
A business will often require new and intensive projects in order to stay operational and scale properly. Attempting to oversee and manage these projects can quickly become overwhelming when using a pen and notepad.
Instead of outdated methods, using the Trello app can help to organize, coordinate, and track your projects. Trello is based on the Kanban workflow method that places a heavy emphasis on visualizing the tasks of a project. It can be used as an app or within your web browser from your desktop computer. Using this SaaS software, you will be able to create and manage your very own visual Kanban board.
You and your team members will be able to easily access the app and be able to pinpoint the exact amount of work that has been done, is currently being worked on, and what’s left to do. The app will allow for much easier collaboration between users, and everyone will know their tasks as well as the tasks of others.
The Bad SaaS
There really aren’t many “bad” SaaS options for a business, but some just aren’t as good as others. This list contains a few examples of SaaS that are just not really worth using either because there are better options, it’s not very helpful on a daily basis, or it's low-quality software.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft Office had been used by companies for decades as physical software before rebranding in 2017 as a SaaS. Now known as Microsoft 365, the cloud-based subscription model is still a fairly decent product and can provide several useful features and services.
However, it’s just not as dominant as it used to be, and you will largely be paying for the name and not the features. Instead of using Microsoft 365, you can use Google’s “G Suite” and get better features for a lower price.
RightSignature
This SaaS is very specific and meets one need for a business: helping their users to sign documents electronically. It’s not an unnecessary SaaS and can often be very beneficial and convenient, but it’s nowhere near as important as some of the other software to make these lists.
If you do operate a business where you would need a SaaS to help with electronically signing documents, PandaDoc or DocuSign are superior options.
The Crucial SaaS
The SaaS on this list are extremely important for a company to have. Trying to run a business without using these SaaS is almost like driving a car without a steering wheel. While it’s technically possible to do so, it won’t be very long before a crash.
Although you might not choose to use these specific SaaS, you will certainly need to use a similar version of this software>
Slack
One of the most important factors involved with properly running a business is communication. Employees at every level of an operation should be able to get in touch with their coworkers quickly.
This is especially true for business owners and project managers. Slack is an app that is becoming increasingly more common in the world of business. Instead of using email to maintain communication, Slack is able to quickly keep employees in contact with one another by using chat messages and texting.
Although emails have long been used in business, they often take a long time to get a response. Similar to the way that phone calls replaced letters in the mail, Slack and other similar messaging apps are replacing emails.
QuickBooks
Accounting is one of the most important departments in the entire business. They will be involved in almost every single aspect of a business and can often be the reason for a business failing. Trying to maintain all the important roles of accounting can be an incredibly difficult task, which is why so many businesses use SaaS to help.
QuickBooks is by far one of the more popular choices for accounting-based software. The software is commonly regarded as very easy to use and comes with advanced features that can benefit a scaling company.
Depending on the package chosen, these features can include inventory management, highly detailed and customizable financial reports, payroll features, and budgeting. No matter the size of the business or industry it’s in, accounting is an area that should not be taken for granted.
The Takeaway
Software-as-a-Service has gone from being a luxury and is now the standard for most businesses. There is just no way to beat the convenience of using SaaS software, especially when some provide such critical services.
It’s important to remember that not all SaaS software options are created equal. Even though some of the services will ride the line between being important and being a necessity, there are plenty of others that would be a waste of money.
It’s important to utilize any free trials that a SaaS software option may provide. It’s the only way to see for yourself if their service will be worth the monthly subscription. Download one of the good guys now at dialed.com.
SOURCES:
What is SaaS? 10 FAQs About Software as a Service
G Suite vs. Office 365: What's the best office suite for business?
