SaaS Solutions: Advantages and disadvantages of the famous Software as a Service
I’m sure you’ve ever heard the acronym SaaS (yes, it’s written like this, the first and last letters in uppercase and the other ones in lowercase), and it’s very likely that you may not know what it stands for. Probably, you might have got here because you were looking for the meaning of this.
We hope to solve some of your doubts. Today we are going to see what SaaS solutions are, some of its features, certain advantages and disadvantages that this can offer you and some examples so that you get a better idea about what we are talking about.
The acronym SaaS stands for SaaS which is an English expression, it is also colloquially known as “Cloud Software”.
Software as a Service is a way to distribute software that has become very popular recently. Its main feature is that the logical support and software data are hosted on the servers of an information and communication technology company, and not on the user’s computer, at least not completely. Therefore, it’s a model very different from the traditional one, which needed the software to be downloaded integrally, or mainly in the user’s equipment so that the same one could be used.
In order to use the services offered by the SaaS, an Internet connection will be needed, so that the user can access the software. It will usually be done through a web browser (Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc).
Due to these features, SaaS solutions offer very interesting advantages, but also certain drawbacks:
Some advantages
– The user’s hard disk space requirements will decrease dramatically, as it won’t be necessary to install the software on that computer, which means some savings in capacity. In some cases, small installations will be made in order to access the service, but usually very light installations. Other times, it will not be necessary to carry out any installation, but the software will be located entirely in the network of the service provider or in that of a third party.
– The “outsourcing” of service offered by the SaaS means that the availability and proper functioning of the SaaS depends on the companies that provide it. This will usually include customer service, which will provide support and eventual improvements of the product.
– One of the main features of the SaaS will be its accessibility. Usually, the user will not need to use his usual computer equipment to access the service, but will be able to do it from any device that has access to the Internet.
– Another key feature will be its flexibility. Normally, it will be possible to use the software not only from different computers, but also through different operating systems, depending on those which the user has access to.
– SaaS will often be flexible in the economic sense. The usual thing is that it is not necessary to pay a one-time amount of money and a complete software package – which means that sometimes the user is forced to pay for features that he will not use – but here the user will pay for use, usually in the form of rent (paid to access the use of the software for a certain period of time, usually monthly). It will also be normal for the cost to be modulated depending on the type of service that is needed or the number of users that will be using it.
Some disadvantages
– User data will not be stored on your computers, as it will be stored remotely (although sometimes the option to export them to the user’s computers will be possible). This means that the security of the system will be of great importance in order to guarantee the control and the privacy of said data.
– Since the user will not have direct access to the program, generally it won’t be possible for the user to make changes to the program. In addition, to use the software, you need access to the Internet so the efficiency of it will depend on the state of the connection.
Some examples of Software as a Service
If you are reading this it is very likely that you have already used SaaS multiple times, even without knowing that you were doing it. In fact, it is very likely that in some of your browser windows you are using some form of Software as a Service right now.
There are many examples of SaaS solutions, programs that we use every day that are already part of our life. An email service such as the popular Hotmail or Gmail works as a SaaS (do you even need to download your emails on your computer in order to access them?). Others like the popular free blogging platforms WordPress or Blogger are also forms of SaaS. Does Facebook sound familiar to you? Have you ever wondered where the photos that you uploaded to the social network are located once you have deleted them from your computer? Correct, Facebook also works as SaaS.
Recently SaaS solutions have spread very quickly, and it seems that the trend is not only continuing, but also even increasing in the future. Over the past few years, it has grown at a rate of about 30% per year. Have not you noticed that it is becoming less frequent the need to download programs on your computer? This is happening, to a large extent, because of the expansion of the Software as a Service.
This is an approximation of the concept of SaaS and a generalized description of some features that the Software as a Service usually has. EHorus is a form of SaaS and has its own particularities. If you want to know what it can offer you and how eHorus works, you can find it here: https://ehorus.com
You can also send your queries to the forum of eHorus, where you will talk to specialized people of our team and users of this tool, if you have any doubts access to the contact us section.
