It’s important to understand the different types of cloud computing solutions because there are many options. The most popular option is SaaS, which stands for Software as a Service. In the last post, we covered some of the best SaaS solutions for businesses. In this one, I want to focus on CRM software in particular because it is useful no matter what size your company is. Let’s learn about the types of SaaS.

An Overview of the Different Types of SaaS

There are four main categories of cloud computing: – Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – Platform as a Service (PaaS) – Software as a service(Saas), and finally, – Business Process Outsourcing.

 

When it comes to IT, there are two major schools of thought: public cloud computing and private servers. A good example is if you have a small business with 10 employees, the former might be more suitable.

Private cloud: Businesses own the infrastructure and have complete control over data. High upfront costs, but lower maintenance fees.

Hybrid cloud services allow users to have a private and public cloud solution for their data.

The idea of a community cloud is that it can be shared between businesses and organizations with the same goal. Click To Tweet

Universities are often seen as an example because they share resources for research.

IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS are all a part of cloud computing. I refer to it as the “cloud pyramid.” At the bottom is infrastructure (Iaas), which can be thought of as providing hardware resources such as servers, storage, or networking capabilities that other services need in order to run on top.

Types of SaaS Solutions

There are a lot of cloud-based software solutions out there, and some specialize in certain niches. We’ll only cover the most popular ones here.

 

CRMs

Customer Relation Management software automates the sales and marketing process by providing an easy way to address customer concerns in a timely manner. These systems also allow businesses to stay up-to-date with their customers while managing profiles more effectively.

A CRM is software that collects and tracks customer information across different channels, including the website, support logs, reviews, and feedback. The system also records which salesperson was in contact with them last or what type of content they were interested in.

Businesses need to know what their customers think about them and the products/services they offer. The more information you have, the better your chance of retaining those customers or converting new ones.

ERPs

Oracle and other enterprise resource planning software allow organizations to manage their business processes in real-time. This ultimately boosts customer satisfaction, as well as revenue by providing one source of up-to-date information.

ERPs are computerized systems that handle sales, inventory, and other business processes. The software is designed around a defined schema of data structures that allow for all information to be stored in one place.

• Reduced operational and management costs
• Improved business insight
• Consistent infrastructure
• Improved efficiency
• Reduced risk
• Enhanced collaboration
• Better user adoption rates

Project Management Solutions

In a previous article, we talked about how SaaS is changing the way that people think of project management. In this article, I will go over some common tools for cloud-based PM and what they can do to help you with your projects.

• Connected teams, access from anywhere
• Reliable access without having to ask team members to find and send final versions of documents
• Reduced upfront costs
• Low maintenance so the teams can focus more on managing projects instead of technical aspects
• More flexibility
• Built-in security and disaster recovery
• Easier setup and automatic feature updates/security patches

If you are struggling to stay on top of your project updates, using SaaS PM software will help because it provides up-to-date information that is accessible in real-time. This means team members can make impactful and timely decisions.

Billing Solutions 

These solutions are able to help with all aspects of payment handling, including reporting.

It is almost impossible to scale from $1 million in revenue up to $10 million without a modern billing solution. Although the needs of customers can vary, SaaS solutions help automate many processes and make it easier for businesses like ours.

Collaboration and Communication Solutions

There are many solutions that come with benefits and drawbacks. Slack is an example of a tool that allows team members to organize, search, and collaborate effectively as well as making businesses more adaptable. Centralized workspaces can be used by employees, partners, suppliers, or customers to communicate using one platform.

It’s important to find the right type of solution for your needs. For example, Slack is a good casual communication app and Google Drive can be used as an easy way to share files but if you want something more professional then there are other options that have been proven over time such as web conferencing solutions.

Accounting

Choosing the right accounting software for your business is not an easy task. Each solution offers different features and capabilities, so it’s important to consider what you need before making a decision.

One of the biggest hurdles for small businesses is figuring out which accounting software to buy. The reality is that many SMBs are not technical, and they may need a checklist in order to decide what features they should be looking for. It’s important to make sure you get all your necessary needs met without overpaying or skipping on key aspects.

HR/HRM Solutions

HR types of SaaS solutions make it easier for businesses to handle their HR needs. It helps managers and employees focus on the important things like strategy instead of wasting time dealing with administrative tasks.

HRM systems can be implemented fairly quickly and are highly scalable. For example, if a business wants to add an LMS (Learning Management System), they will not have any problems with scalability when using SaaS solutions. Each provider has its own unique features but the core components of HRM include:

• Applicant tracking
• Recruiting
• Interview scheduling and pre-screening
• Job board posting
• Attendance and leave management
• Compliance
• Learning and development
• Notices, forms, and announcements
• Performance management
• Reporting
• Employee review system
• Performance analysis
• Talent management
• Payroll management
• People analytics
• Engagement management

Web Hosting/CMS and E-Commerce

Web hosting services and e-commerce solutions are both offered by the company. Web hosts include Content Management Systems such as WordPress, shopping carts like Shopify, message boards along with web hosting services. E-Commerce Solutions cover payment integration for online transactions in addition to product management.

There are two types of e-commerce solutions: Open Source and SaaS. Examples of the former include Magento, WooCommerce, Zen Cart, and OpenCart while examples for the latter include Shopify, Volusion, Big Cartel 3dcart, and Big Commerce. Web hosting is a requirement for both these solutions.

Niche/Specialty/Vertical SaaS Solutions

Beyond the enterprise SaaS applications that are general in nature, there is also a huge variety of niche-specific ones. These can be anything from software for martial arts dojos to saloons or content moderation services.

Conclusion

When businesses are considering the types of SaaS software they need, they should be careful to avoid these costly mistakes. They need to consider how the demand for this type of software is growing steadily and that more small and medium-sized companies have been adopting it.

In the next five years, this industry is expected to grow by more than 100 billion dollars. Click To Tweet

The reason for this growth is pretty obvious: many software companies have already switched over and their success has been evident.

Cloud computing and different categories of SaaS solutions can be a game-changer for businesses, especially SMBs. It allows companies to easily scale their operations while meeting customer expectations by leveraging existing data. Cloud computing has leveled the playing field in many ways; it enables smaller business owners to enjoy technology that was once reserved only for large enterprises.