Software as a Service (SaaS) has become the preferred model for businesses that need to deploy custom software solutions on an ongoing basis. SaaS is also known as cloud software, which refers to the ability of users to access these applications from remote locations via an internet browser.
In this blog post, we’ll highlight some of the challenges involved with building a SaaS application and offer some useful solutions for your specific needs. We’ll also share some of the many benefits you can expect from working directly with an experienced SaaS app development team.
What is SaaS App Development?
The acronym SaaS stands for “Software as a Service.” This is the preferred model for businesses that need custom SaaS development on an ongoing basis. It allows clients to access those SaaS applications from remote locations, such as their desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, etc.
SaaS can be used for software products that are scalable, have a low upfront cost, and can be maintained on a regular basis by a third party. The software is hosted on the cloud, which allows users to access and interact with the software via the internet.
There are many advantages to leveraging SaaS software solutions. They include:
Scalability
The ability to grow with your business as it expands.
Cost Efficiency
SaaS providers pass on the cost savings of not having to maintain their own servers by leasing them to their customers.
Flexibility
You can adapt to the changing needs of your business by adding new features, increasing the number of users, or modifying existing functionality.
Security
Cloud-based providers handle the server infrastructure, patches, updates, backups and other maintenance tasks that are required when managing your own servers.
What Makes SaaS App Development Unique?
SaaS app development is unique in that it requires a high level of communication and collaboration between stakeholders. It’s not uncommon to have a team of between five and 10 people working together on a single project.
This is due, in part, to the fact that SaaS development requires a high level of scalability. This means that the software needs to be able to scale up or down to support different numbers of users or devices.
If a business grows from 100 to 500 users (increased scalability), the systems need to be able to support the additional load. If the business shrinks to 100 users (decreased scalability), the systems must be able to support a reduced load.
Which Types of Software Require SaaS Development?
Any type of software that needs to be launched on a recurring basis can be built as SaaS. The two most common types are business apps and digital products.
Examples of business apps include CRM, HR, Sales, and Marketing solutions.
Digital products include software built to solve specific niche problems, such as specialized apps for real estate agents, car dealerships, healthcare professionals, and more.
SaaS app development is also well suited for businesses that need to maintain high levels of data security. In fact, you’ll often see SaaS apps used for sensitive data, such as healthcare records, employee information, financial data, etc.
SaaS Development Challenges
SaaS development requires a high level of effort, time, and investment from all stakeholders. Because of the complexity of the project, it’s not uncommon for SaaS projects to last anywhere from six to 12 months.
The high level of effort and cost associated with SaaS development mean that you’ll likely want to outsource the work to a third-party development team. This allows you to focus on your core business functions while still deploying a reliable, scalable solution.
Data Protection and Security in a SaaS Environment
When you build a SaaS app, your data is often stored on servers located in a public data center. This means that your data isn’t fully protected. That’s why it’s important to select the right SaaS app development partner.
There are several things to look for when selecting an SaaS app development partner:
Special Requirements
If your project has special requirements, then make sure that the development team that you pick has the qualifications to handle those requirements. For example, building an app with access to classified or restricted information means that you need a development team with security clearance. Be clear about your requirements ahead of time so that you know your developer has the right qualifications for the job.
Experience
You want to know what the team’s experience with SaaS apps is. The more experience they have building SaaS apps from start to finish, the better at the process they likely are. Look for a team with a significant amount of experience and a considerable number of completed projects under their belt. You can usually find this kind of information from a development team’s portfolio.
References
Ask to speak with current customers to get their perspective on the team’s work and professionalism. If you are going to invest a lot of time and money into a project using this team, it's always a great idea to try to validate that team’s skills ahead of time.
Why You Should Outsource SaaS App Development
SaaS development is complex and requires a great deal of effort. If your organization doesn’t already have a team of developers, hiring and training employees to build the application properly will take months.
Even if you already have internal resources, they’ll likely be overworked or under pressure to meet the project timeline. Working with an external SaaS development team will allow your internal developers to focus on their core responsibilities. It will give your team the opportunity to focus on strategic initiatives while the SaaS development team handles all of the heavy lifting.
Make KitelyTech Your SaaS Development Team
SaaS development is a complex process and requires a high-level of effort. Your internal resources may be overworked, and it may take months for them to complete the project. Let KitelyTech handle the app development for you. At KitelyTech, we work with companies to develop apps that fit their needs, including SaaS apps. Call us at (800) 274-2908 to discuss our qualifications to help you with your next project.
