One of the 3 major categories of cloud computing: Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a service (SaaS), SaaS is a model of software delivery and distribution wherein a provider is responsible to host and manage your application and make it available to the end-users over Internet. To achieve successful SaaS implementation to your business infrastructure, here are some of the steps your business MUST take:
1. Understand the ‘why’ of implementing SaaS
Understanding the ‘why’ of implementing SaaS to your business infrastructure will help you arrive at the ‘how’ of it rather more efficiently. There can be several reasons to implement SaaS for your business, ranging from improving the operational efficiency, to being able to focus better on the core business activities but the starting point for a business should be to understand this purpose clearly. In addition to this, a clear understanding of how the existing systems work, also help a business implement SaaS to their existing system easily.
2. Understand the prerequisites to achieve this reason for implementing SaaS
Once the purpose of SaaS implementation is known, the prerequisites of achieving this purpose can be achieved. This is like going into further details of ‘exactly what features their software should possess’ and ‘what all functions it should be enabled to perform in order to achieve its very purpose’. By answering these questions, a business can figure exactly what kind of SaaS service or solution it needs to implement.
3. Enter a Service Level Agreement before signing the contract
Entering a Service Level Agreement helps you clearly define the scope of SaaS implementation services offered by your provider and the exact nature of association between your provider and your business along with the consequences of all possible situations to avoid any potential issues related to the service delivery once you have signed the contract.
4. Ensure the suitability of the agreement clauses to your business needs
You must make sure that the clauses of the agreement suit to the critical needs of your business as well along with their suitability to the vendor’s needs. There can be many considerations for example the timings of the availability of the services, for which the suitability of both the parties may differ for example because of different geographies. So, the clauses should be scrutinized to ensure that they meet the suitability of both the parties to avoid any issues in the future.
5. Ensure that your team is trained well
This point is likely to be missed out on by many businesses owing to the fact that SaaS implementation in itself us a simple and straight forward procedure for them. So, to ensure that your business faces no issues once SaaS implementation has been accomplished, you must impart the requisite training to the staff just the way it is imparted in case of implementing any other new software.
6. Reduce the number of machines in existing infrastructure of your business
With SaaS, the hosting of software applications goes out of the scope of work for your business and this should translate into a reduced number of physical servers and software licenses as compared to what used to be required earlier. This means the need for a lesser number of machines required within your existing infrastructure.
7. Be sure of what you are paying for
The mode of payment is radically different for SaaS implementation services as compared to that for a regular software which is because of the different in the type of the offering. So, in this case, in place of a single upfront cost, a monthly fee or a pay-as-you-go model is usually followed. In addition to these there can be more payment considerations as well depending upon the licensing issues involved related to the use by multiple users and the concern related to storage space in the providers’ data-centers if its usage is needed by your business. The business should be in a position to make a fair estimate of their precise use of all these services to be cost-effective with their Saas Implementation.
Following these steps and tips, a business can ensure successful implementation of SaaS to their business and make the most of their endeavors.
