Software development is a valuable skill. With mobile technology becoming a normal way of life, there’s no escaping the fact that app software development is going to be a key skill that can get you ahead in the job market and the marketplace.
Installing and uninstalling software can consume a lot of time and resources. And with more companies providing a greater number of remote work opportunities, IT departments are busier than ever with resolving technical problems. It pays to have an infrastructure-as-a-service platform which acts as a liaison among apps and servers, and that’s where the SaaS software solution steps in.
What is a SaaS app?
SaaS stands for “software as a service.” It is very practical for business applications and is very useful for accessing and managing professional software. The goal of SaaS is easy access without the hassle of having to manually install software, plus there’s no need to worry about upkeep and maintenance. The idea of software as a service development can make it a lot easier to build a SaaS product and create a SaaS application for professional use. This easy to use software provides businesses a fast and friendly way to access all software applications without the hassle of installation. It also reduces the cost of purchasing software and can save revenue.
Checklist: Before building a SaaS app
App development is something you can do on your own with a reliable tool like SaaS. There are a few items you should include as part of your pre-development checklist before you get started. You’ll need to make sure you have a smooth and solid working system put together in order to meet your company’s business goals.
There are five tips to follow before delving into SaaS product development. Each gives businesses and individuals a glimpse into what they can expect before using a Saas platform.
1. Have a reliable service
Your software service should be strong, secure and reliable for your team and your clients. What this entails is something that can reach a wider audience and provide the necessary benefits for your business model. For this, you’ll need an app that clearly fits in the software as a service model. This is especially true in cases where your project or app requires them to purchase a subscription. The service you provide should be consistent and ongoing while still profitable for businesses. Additionally, what you offer should be something that meets current consumer demands.
2. Get to know your competitors
What your competition does makes an impact on your business. It can be something that will improve how things are done, and that includes software development and design. If you have an idea for a new app, it pays to do the research on your competitors to see if they have developed an app that uses the SaaS business model. And even if they don’t use a SaaS model, that’s okay. The main thing is that your app appeals to a greater audience who are willing to purchase a subscription to it. It is from there that you could consider using the SaaS business concept for your app project.
3. Choose your SaaS technology stack
Full stack web development is a complete package that’s good for forming the backbone of your software. Essentially, a full stack is exactly what runs the software on your app, and it’s just the thing you need to keep it all going. The challenge lies in building one, so having the right set of programming languages for both the front and back end of your software is vital before you get started. Projected revenue and company growth should be considered when looking at this leg of your venture. You’ll also need to consider any start up costs that might be involved in getting your project going. This can make using the SaaS programming language much simpler when you build your next project.
4. Determine your marketing strategy
When showcasing your new app online, it is considered best practices to offer the most popular features for free. You can study your app and see how well a free version of it does in the Apple or Google Play stores. If you get mainly good reviews, then it’s time to take it to the next step and offer a subscription. You can then have a paid version with enhanced features such as an ad-free user experience, for example. In short, you can convert your subscribers from freemium to premium users.
5. Start finding reputable SaaS developers
A custom-built SaaS platform should be able to withstand regular and consistent updates, so shopping around for a fine, reputable Saas developer is vital to getting your project off of the ground. In some cases, it may be wise to consider hiring an entire crew of SaaS developers, especially for continuing projects or new app software.
The pros and cons of SaaS development
Pros:
The SaaS software development framework has several advantages. One is cost savings. There is no need to purchase a separate type of software; everything you need is a new program or an upgrade. The SaaS setup can do it all for you, including the upgrades. Therefore, there is no need to install or uninstall anything thanks to the new SaaS app features.
Another positive feature is the software’s ease of accessibility. This special feature allows the user to download and access the app without installing any software. All that is needed is a strong, secure internet connection and everything can be accessed from any device. Cloud storage helps make that possible, along with a SaaS architecture design that allows each customer the freedom to download or purchase an app online with ease.
SaaS can also make it easy to add new users without the fuss through effortless scalability. Gone are the days when companies and even individuals had to get additional software licenses and purchase more space on an app. SaaS has the platform-as-a-service feature, which keeps the software going without hassle.
Hassle-free updates are a major part of SaaS development best practices in that they can eliminate those tasks that were once undertaken by your IT team, that of manual updates. This frees them for other tasks, such as software development and new app integration. Plus, your software will have excellent backup in the event of a crash.
Cons:
However, SaaS software developers can face a few disadvantages when trying to develop apps. Part of SaaS software development best practices involves looking at the downsides of using SaaS. These facts are bleak but will give developers a clearer picture of what to do.
One problem that developers may experience is a shortfall in data security. Your company could be at risk for data breaches and possible identity theft. Your IT team should remain on board to address these issues right away. For those who are looking for a SaaS model to rely on, this runs a danger in less business and lost revenue. It could also impact your company’s reputation quickly and easily. This problem also poses a challenge with federal, state and local regulations which are designed to guard against identity theft and HIPAA violations.
Another danger of the SaaS model is low performance and limited data mobility. Both share the same issues regarding efficiency and speed. Your data may download at a far lower speed at one computer. You could run into further complications when transferring data and may need to store it in the event that you should need to switch your internet service provider. In other cases, you may encounter software integration problems. In any case, it’s best to run a compatibility test when developing a new software.
Creating a market strategy
Your SaaS monetization model should be based upon developing and implementing your market strategy. Once you’ve created this vital blueprint, you can continue your mission by developing the software needed to establish your brand. The secret lies in finding ways to achieve sustainable growth, which means putting quality over quantity when acquiring new customers.
There are steps you can take on the path to developing your SaaS software projects for your business. Whether you’re building medium-scale SaaS projects or large-scale SaaS projects, there are some methods you should follow.
Steps to develop your SaaS model
Competitor Analysis and Market Fit
This preliminary method involves getting to know your competitors and their market strategies. What do they do? At this point, you should look at the apps they use and determine if they might fit well with the SaaS model. From there, you can check the trends to see if your software might be a good market fit.
Find a Strategy
Your strategy should include your vision for your business and what you wish to accomplish. Do you want to reduce costs by purchasing the cheapest cloud storage? Or do you wish to invest more in quality? If your company is just starting out, it may be best to reduce costs. But for larger companies, quality is key. It must go hand-in-hand with your mission.
Features and Functions
Your SaaS application software uses a lot of cloud storage, which helps with companies who hire remotely. It also has other features from which you can choose, such as the ability to use a content delivery network where users can retrieve information from any device, at any location, at any time. You can set the pace to determine how you wish to set up either of these features.
Choose Your Design
The question to ask yourself is which design might be best for your software project. Could you benefit from a single-tenant architecture, which focuses on serving only one customer
through a single database. A multi-tenant method has multiple customers using the same software applications. Whatever you decide to do, you should consider the cost and level of security needed. Multi-tenant designs may cost less but could run the risk of a security breach, whereas single-tenant approaches use better security measures with a tailored approach to data use and consumer interface.
Choosing a Database
Here you’ll need to think about which Database you want. There are two main kinds: relational and non-relational. Something that’s relational stores your data into chart form, whereas the non-relational database relies on a far less organized form. Either one of them can be used alone or combined.
SaaS Software Testing
Software testing is vital for the ongoing functionality of your system. Once your project is completed, having it tested is the next step. From there, you can decide if it meets current market trends and what can be done to improve it.
Managing and Monitoring
SaaS app development is ongoing. Managing and monitoring your software should be done at least annually to keep up with the current trends and to resolve security issues. This helps with easy-to-consume APIs that are needed for your business and your customers.
Is there any cost involved?
The costs involved range from $50k to $500k at Yalantis. This cost includes getting your design together and developing your app. It also covers testing your idea and debugging where necessary.
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About Author: Yalantis builds custom software that allows businesses to meet their needs and work within their constraints. We help our clients digitally transform to improve their products, speed up service delivery, increase operational efficiency, and expand to new markets.
Your post is very good. This has helped me a lot.
Thanks for the post, nice information about the SAAS app development guide.