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In fact, it’s estimated that by 2025, 85% of business apps will be SaaS-based. But as SaaS falls into the ever-growing pool of martech buzzwords, it's important to break down the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of a SaaS content management system (CMS), so you can consider the long-term impact a SaaS investment can have on your ability to gain and maintain a competitive edge. SaaS is one of several cloud computing solutions for business IT issues. By outsourcing software management to a SaaS business, companies can concentrate on their core competencies and strategic initiatives rather than getting involved in software development and maintenance. Find out if a SaaS CMS is right for you.
The SaaS market is growing rapidly. In fact, it’s estimated that by 2025, 85% of business apps will be SaaS-based. As business models say goodbye to traditional software and adapt to innovations in technology, Software as a service applications have become indispensable to the way modern businesses work.
These cloud-based apps provide unprecedented flexibility, enable teams to collaborate effectively across the globe, and unburden both IT and marketing teams.
But as SaaS falls into the ever-growing pool of martech buzzwords, it's important to break down the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of a SaaS content management system (CMS), so you can consider the long-term impact a SaaS investment can have on your ability to gain and maintain a competitive edge.
A SaaS solution is a software delivery model that exists entirely in a cloud environment versus on-premises and allows end users to access software applications as long as they have an internet connection. The first known SaaS applications were simple web-based tools such as email, messaging, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and project management software.
Today, nearly every type of core business function — from human resources to enterprise resource planning — is available via SaaS providers.
SaaS is one of several cloud computing solutions for business IT issues. Other ‘as-a-Service’ options include:
By comparison, an on-premises CMS is installed in a company’s datacenter, so users can manage your website's content through a web-based interface. While this is the primary difference between SaaS providers and on-premises software solutions, it only scratches the surface in terms of its benefits.
The scalability and flexibility of the cloud service also equips both small businesses and enterprises with the ability to efficiently manage any volume of content from any location. In the case with Sitecore’s SaaS offering, the solution is headless, freeing up marketers to create content once and deliver it anywhere while also providing back-end developers the freedom to build user experiences with the tools they know and love.
SaaS removes the need for organizations to install and run applications on their own computers or in their own data centers.
With SaaS, there’s no need to worry about uptime, support, or maintenance. Freed from these concerns, organizations can focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences and iterating quickly to improve experiences based on customer cues and data.
Whether you’re a mid-market business looking to spin up a site quickly or an enterprise organization needing to support multiple brands across regions and languages, SaaS products offer big benefits.
Given the pace of digital, the old saying "time is money" has never been truer. A SaaS platform gets your experiences live faster. Efficient and simple installation gets you off the ground quickly. But the advantages really shine through once you’re flying and able to launch new experiences in a fraction of the time compared with traditional on-premises solutions.
By outsourcing software management to a SaaS business, companies can concentrate on their core competencies and strategic initiatives rather than getting involved in software development and maintenance. This allows businesses to allocate resources more effectively and focus on activities that directly contribute to growth and competitiveness.
How much time does your organization spend monitoring applications? When you move to a SaaS CMS, your vendor typically takes on the responsibilities of maintaining the system and ensuring it’s secure and scalable. With Sitecore's SaaS CMS, support is included, so you can rest assured that maintenance and infrastructure are taken care of for you. If issues arise, they’ll be addressed quickly and efficiently. And your always-on infrastructure will continue to enable your brand to meet future market trends.
The SaaS CMS model offers marketers increased speed to market and reduced friction with functionalities such as out-of-the-box templates. Day-to-day tasks, such as publishing or updating content, can be accomplished quicker. And adapting to new market trends and improving marketing automation is easier as the entire change process is streamlined. For example, the out-of-the-box templates in Sitecore’s SaaS CMS enables marketers to easily create and update content and layouts. By reducing friction in the content creation and go-to-market processes, marketers can be more responsive and deliver assets within minutes.
With a consistent cadence of software releases and upgrades provided by your SaaS vendor, you can depend on the most up-to-date version of the software without needing to re-implement your solution. As a result, a SaaS CMS can be a convenient and cost-effective solution for businesses that want to manage their website content without having to invest in traditional infrastructure or software upgrades.
SaaS eliminates the need for companies to invest in expensive hardware infrastructure and software licenses since it usually resides in a shared or multi-tenant environment. Instead, they can subscribe to a SaaS service and pay a regular subscription fee, often on a per-user basis. This allows businesses to reduce upfront costs and save on operational budgets associated with maintaining and upgrading software. This is also why many startups prefer the SaaS business model.
SaaS applications are designed to integrate with other software and systems, enabling seamless data flow and enhancing productivity. Many SaaS providers offer APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) or pre-built integrations with popular tools and platforms, such as ERP systems or email clients, making it easier to connect different systems and streamline workflows.
The right SaaS offers invaluable benefits for your business, your internal teams, and your customers. But both on-premises and SaaS applications have their place. Your unique business requirements and infrastructure needs will inform which route is best for your organization.
Sitecore understands each brand’s needs are unique and are dedicated to maintaining and evolving both our on-premises offering and our SaaS solutions to meet your needs.
Find out if a SaaS CMS is right for you. Request a custom demo today!