SAAS

Software as a Service (SaaS)

Software as a Service (SaaS) are applications that are run from a network or cloud instead of being installed on a local computer. Beyond a web browser and operating system, the user does not install anything on their computer. SaaS allows the developer to seamlessly update the application on a continuous basis without the need for user-installed updates.

Whether it’s checking email, office tools like word processing, customer relationship management, or project coordination, the Software as a Service model enjoys increasingly wide adoption in both enterprise and personal computing. While some applications have migrated to SaaS (like Microsoft Outlook), still others (such as Salesforce) have been cloud-based since their inception.

Delivering SaaS solutions that power business and education forward.

Productivity

One of the more ubiquitous applications is productivity. For example, Microsoft’s Office suite, one of the longest-running and most popular software packages, is available as a SaaS subscription as Office 365. Users can access their email, presentations, spreadsheets, and word documents from any computer or mobile device. Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, as well as their popular Gmail suite is another example of online productivity being delivered as a service.

Project Management

Applications like Zoom, Slack, Box, and Microsoft Teams also have a tremendous userbase, providing team collaboration and file-sharing tools that enable groups spanning the globe to work as if they are together in a central location. The ability to share comments and questions, provide updates, and manage products collaboratively enables speed and efficiency.

CRM

Salesforce, considered to be one of the first SaaS applications, is a great tool for Customer Relationship Management (CRM), market automation, and analytics. Case, task, and issue management are simplified and can be tracked from end to end.

Specialized Applications

The list of modern SaaS applications is vast, including tools for media production like Lumen5, financial and accounting software like NetSuite, and document/signature verification like DocuSign. As the SaaS model continues to grow in popularity and usage, it’s not hard to imagine a day when virtually all computing tasks are accessed this way.