Software as a Service (or SaaS) is a way of delivering applications over the Internet as a service. Instead of installing and maintaining software, you simply access it via the Internet, freeing yourself from complex software and hardware management.
High Adoption
SaaS applications are available from any computer or any device, anytime, anywhere. Because most people are familiar with using the Internet to find what they need, SaaS apps tend to have high adoption rates, with a lower learning curve.
Lower Initial Costs
SaaS applications are subscription-based. Having the provider managing IT infrastructure means lowering software and hardware costs, as well as for the personnel to control it all.
Painless Upgrades
Because the SaaS provider manages all updates and upgrades, there are no patches for customers to download or install. The SaaS provider also manages availability, so there’s no need for customers to add hardware, software, or bandwidth as the user base grows.
Why SaaS is Popular with IT
A recent survey of a thousand IT professionals by Forrester Research found that they are turning to hosted (SaaS) products as a way to offload the management of non-mission-critical applications such as HR and CRM. Plus, the subscription-based SaaS pricing model can keep IT budget costs consistent or lower than packaged or homegrown software.