In order to choose the best Software as a Service (SaaS) application, it is important that you choose a host that is reputable and which has a history of successfully serving businesses in your field and of your size. In most cases, SaaS application hosts list this information on their websites. Once you have found a number of reliable SaaS hosts, it is a good idea to consider how complex or mature of an application you need. You also should consider factors such as service levels, usability, and compatibility with your existing business systems.
An SaaS application is any kind of software that users can access online. Individuals who use Saas products are often less dependent on Information Technology (IT) services, since upgrades are performed by a vendor. Many proponents of Saas believe that these programs are more user driven since vendors continually communicate with their clients to perfect their systems. In most cases, users pay subscription fees to access SaaS applications.
As with most software products, SaaS applications vary in complexity. By choosing an SaaS application that is more or less complex than you require, you can negatively impact your organization’s daily operations. For example, a small business with a relatively low volume of transactions might benefit from an application that allows users to customize interfaces or accounts for individual customers. Professionals from larger corporations, on the other hand, should seek SaaS applications with source codes that can support a number of different clients at one time. While customization is possible with a complex SaaS application, it can be a time consuming process since professionals on the vendor side might need to write new code.
It is important that you consider a vendor’s service levels prior to signing up for an SaaS application. A service level describes how often users can access an application without problems. While it may be impossible to find a host that has a service level of 100 percent, you should make sure that a vendor guarantees a level of at least 99 percent. Acceptable service levels should be written into a contract with your vendor.
Professionals also consider compatibility when choosing the best SaaS application. Chances are that you need to upload data to a vendor’s server and retrieve information that you can store in your own databases. Make sure that an SaaS application you choose works well with software and document formats that you use in your office.