SaaS: the future is Cloud!
| December 4, 2023
In recent years services provided by businesses evolved into intricate and complex solutions. The role of applications, their features as well, is indispensable to keep track of one’s own activities. Be it marketing, commercial or sales sectors it is impossible to manage all activities without the use of personalized and customisable software. Yet these integrations take its tools. Memory being one of them, if not the first one. That’s where working in cloud comes into place, and so does “on demand” services such as SaaS.
Software as a Service, also known as SaaS, refers to a cloud computing service model where software applications are provided over the internet on a subscription basis. There are a variety of popular SaaS examples, especially on B2B applications. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and ERP systems are but a few of them. There are also project management tools and collaboration platforms to be considered.
As magnificent and innovative as it sounds, it is impossible not to come up with some questions about this revolutionary technology. Is it that important to start working 100% Cloud? How can SaaS be related to B2B activities? Is it applicable to B2C as well? And what are its implications?
Never fear, BeCloud’s here to unravel all the mysteries surrounding this service!
SAAS: A HISTORY
Centralized hosting of business applications dates back to 1960s, with utility computing. The service, also known as time-sharing, offered database storage banks to big companies to store their data. It is, though, in the 1990s that software providers introduced a subscription basis, creating SaaS as we know it today.
The acronym itself comes from a 2001 article from F. Hoch, M. Kerr and A. Griffith “Strategic Backgrounder”. The authors talked about the future of information systems and its architecture, and the new business models emerging from it. Through reports and studies, they defied the notion of on-site services in favor of cloud ones.
In time the term gained popularity in business and organizations, and its adoption as well.
SaaS IN B2B: CHARACTERISTICS AND BENEFITS
There are many reasons to adopt a Software as a Service and its approach in your business interactions.
Here you’ll find three major characteristics to keep in consideration when opting for a SaaS solution in a B2B context.
Accessibility and Scalability
SaaS applications are accessed through a web browser. Users can log into the software from anywhere with an internet connection. This accessibility is particularly beneficial for businesses with distributed teams or those that require flexibility in their operations. Additionally, SaaS solutions can often scale easily to accommodate the growing needs of a business. Datas are cloud archived, making curruption and loss impossible.
Automatic Updates and Maintenance
SaaS providers are responsible for maintaining and updating the software. This includes implementing security patches, introducing new features, and ensuring that the software is running smoothly. This eliminates the burden of maintenance from businesses end.
Cost-Effectiveness
SaaS eliminates the need for businesses to invest in expensive hardware or IT infrastructure. Instead, they can simply subscribe to the software and access it through the internet, paying only for the features and resources they need.
BEINCONTACT: A STEP FORWOARD
As technology continues to advance, the future of SaaS holds exciting possibilities. BeCloud is no stranger to innovations and evolutions, BeInContact, our own SaaS platform, being one of them. No on-site physical installation is needed for it to properly work, and its integrations are limitless. The platform can work for B2B interactions to B2C as well providing a complete reshape of business interactions. Here’s some of its prominent features.
An omnichannel cloud contact center
BeInContact allows simultaneous interaction with all clients on different configurable contact channels. Agents will be able to manage interactions through one single web interface.
Artificial Intelligence
The integration of (AI) and machine learning (ML) into SaaS applications enhances automation, predictive analytics, and overall system intelligence.
Outbound calls and predictive dialer
BeInContact ACD functionality, the predictive dialer system, elaborates a forecast on conversation time. It then records the contact’s info to forward the call to a suitable operator to tend to customers needs. The predictive dialer feature optimizes the agent’s time. It maximizes the number of hourly contacts, increasing productivity/sales opportunities.
Analysis and report
BeInContact provides various dashboards to show real time analysed data. Supervisors will have a broader vison on agent statuses, answering timings and services delivery as well.
As you can see, SaaS implications are not limited to B2B interactions. Customers too can benefit from the service and its features. Customer Experience a Support, core of all business activities, will forever change thanks to Software as a Service such as BeInContact.
CONCLUSIONS
Software as a Service stands as a pivotal force in reshaping the software delivery landscape. It offers businesses a flexible, cost-effective, and collaborative approach to software utilization. Its impact on B2B operations is undeniable, providing organizations with the tools to enhance efficiency, scalability, and innovation.
Thanks to BeInContact, using SaaS in B2C interactions is a reality. As businesses continue to navigate the digital age, SaaS remains a cornerstone in their pursuit of agility and competitiveness.
M. Cereda
