Contributed article in our business series. Enjoy! – Kimberly
Modern business apps offer more than just a helping hand with emails and fundraising, they are essential to entrepreneurs in order to manage business as usual, leaving you free to focus on business development and growth. Integrated, cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions are able to work on desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones in order to handle tasks such as project management, video conferencing, internal communication and much, much more. In addition, the SaaS revolution has also enabled many entrepreneurs to get their businesses off the ground quickly. Instead of the need to code your own internal platforms to take care of processes, there is a variety of ready-made options to choose from. Here are just some of the ways in which SaaS is enabling startups to be more efficient and competitive.
Demand-based Scale
Keeping money flexible is a crucial part of staying agile. Most SaaS applications will offer services that can be easily scaled to match the needs of the user. Because of this, there is no longer a need for startups to invest a five figure amount in sever capacity that they may not even need in a year or two – with SaaS services such as Dropbox, there is the option to keep the money liquid by only updating as and when it is needed.
Connectivity from Anywhere
Flexibility is the birth right of startups, so why give this away by using software that’s only installed on office computers, meaning that employees must be tied down to their desks in order to get any work done? cloud HR systems and SaaS apps can connect employees to their work and colleagues wherever they are, meaning that work can be completed from home, the airport terminal, or even the local coffee shop. Not only does this bring about more flexibility for businesses when it comes to recruitment, it also means that work gets done faster.
Customization and Integration
Although enterprise application systems can be useful, many of these all-in-one software packages can eventually become frustrating should the components not work well in your startup environment. Instead, SaaS tools provide the opportunity for integration, and by integrating multiple SaaS apps and tools you can create a workflow system that is customised using nothing but proven and effective programs.
Stay on the Cutting Edge
SaaS programs and applications are constantly evolving, innovating and streamlining their operations in entirely new ways. An example of this would be Slack’s assault on the email, with a communication platform that works across multiple devices and essentially replaces the internal email inbox, making communication with clients, workers and others much more efficient. Fast action in order to embrace these types of new applications can keep startups ahead of lumbering corporate giants by leaps and bounds.
With hundreds of cloud services out there available for small businesses, it’s important that you don’t just jump on the next popular SaaS solution. Instead, evaluate your business’ needs, and where possible try out different SaaS services to determine which ones work best for you.
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