7 Good Reasons for Renting SaaS

SaaS, or Software as a Service is web-based technology that you subscribe to on a rental basis, instead of developing or buying and installing a computer system. You may also have heard it referred to as Cloud Computing. It sounds cutting-edge, but it's been around for nearly 10 years now, and well-established and widely used in a number of countries. There are many advantages to the SaaS approach, both technical and financial. Here are 7 of the best.

1.SaaS can save you money. Because it is a service rather than a system, there are no installation costs. Your training costs will be dramatically reduced, because SaaS is very easy to set up and to use. There is no need to replace the service after a few years as most providers give their customers regular free upgrades. You don't have to sign up for an expensive, long-term contract; just rent what you need, typically by paying per user per month.

2.It can make you more productive. Most SaaS services come with a range of tools and features designed to allow you and your staff to work more efficiently and productively. These will of course vary depending on which provider you choose, but the best can offer you a complete range. The most popular features include Document Management, Project Planning, Resource Management, Web Publishing and Business Intelligence.

3.Flexibility. Add users or remove them whenever you want. A good SaaS system is just as suitable for a large corporation as it is for a small business, and can handle from a single user up to many thousands. So no need to change systems when your business expands. If you decide to switch to a different provider or an alternative system it is easy to zip up your data files and download them.

4.Portability. All your files, folders and project plans are stored on servers maintained by your SaaS provider, and are accessed via the Internet. You can access them to read, update or share with colleagues from anywhere in the world. With SaaS you are no longer tied to your company's network or server, so you are free to access your data from home, while travelling, or from a client's office.

5.SaaS is easy to use. A typical SaaS system is easy to set up and easy to use without any expert assistance from your IT department. If you are a competent user of the Internet and the most popular PC applications, you will feel at home with SaaS. With just a little initial training and some guidance you should find yourself quickly becoming an adept SaaS user.

6.The Cloud is a secure place to keep your data. A reputable SaaS provider should be ISO20000-certified, and will regularly back up all your files and folders. All data transmitted via the internet should be fully secure and encrypted. The IT environment should include fire protection, climate control and multiple internet connections with a range of internet providers. That should leave you free to spend more time doing what you are good at - running your business!

7.You can try SaaS before you buy it. To help you avoid making an expensive mistake it is critical that you try your new SaaS service out before paying for it. Most providers will offer a free trial, some will let you use their service for as much as a whole month for free. At the end of your free trial you should be able to extract all your data and move to another system, if you wish, or continue working with the files, folders and project plans you have already set up, without and further setup effort. So there is very little risk of losing any information or wasting your valuable time.