SaaS (Software as a Service)

SaaS, or ‘Software as a Service’ is a software distribution model in which a creator or supplier of a certain software hosts the application on the Internet, making it available to anyone with an Internet connection.

In the SaaS model, the organization saves the need to install, configure, and run software applications on their local machines and instead accesses the software on the internet via a web-browser. This removes the need for hardware acquisition and software licensing, while easing installation, maintenance and support. Further, businesses can often save on IT costs when using SaaS due to the software provided handling automatic updates to the application.  

As opposed to buying software to install locally along with any additional accompanying hardware, SaaS users generally pay on a subscription basis. This is normally on a monthly basis. This payment system allows customers to more accurately anticipate budgeting as well as allow them to stop recurring payments at any time.

SaaS in known to be highly scalable giving customers the option to access only the services and features they need but with the ability to add additional features at any time with ease.

SaaS is a fast growing and multi-billion dollar market with projected 2016 sales reaching over $100 billion.