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Software as a Service (SaaS) has been the new buzzword in the app development realm. Although this concept is relatively new, it has been slowly replacing the traditional software licenses and becoming the new sales model. One of the main reasons why this cloud-based web app is making headlines is it minimizes the extra hardware requirements and thus is very cost-effective.
SaaS app development is primarily designed to help salespeople. Gone are the days when buying software meant going to a local electronics store and buying a CD online. Technology has improved by leaps and bounds in the past two decades or so and the SaaS development framework has become very crucial in the development, delivery, and pricing of software. Moreover, the number of SaaS cloud apps is growing across the globe as these apps are highly adjustable and allow the business houses to be on top of their mark while delivering services to their clients.
Here, we will understand in-depth the SaaS development framework and study how a cloud-based SaaS application is being made in 6 steps. In addition, we will also see the benefits of SaaS app development and what can be the best languages of SaaS.
But first, let us begin with the basics:
What is a SaaS application?
The full form of SaaS is Software as a Service and it is an approach to software delivery and maintenance where the business enterprises promote their software as a service through a subscription model. Yes, as the name suggests, here the enterprises do not sell their programs with a lifetime license or wait for a new version to release the updates of the SaaS mobile apps.
The new-age SaaS technology enables the integration of modern technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and working on large amounts of data with precision. Along with IoT, SaaS mobile applications work in tandem with Big Data, and thus creating a SaaS solution can be a wise investment option.
Now, with the cloud-based SaaS applications, the services are hosted in the cloud and thus there is no need to install servers physically. Therefore, SaaS customers don’t have to worry about app compliance, security, or maintenance.
Cloud-based SaaS app development in 6 simple steps
After getting a brief understanding of what SaaS-based apps really are, it is time to dive straight into the 6 step app development process. These steps are easy to implement and are designed by keeping the evolving nature of the market in mind.
1. Be sure about the programming language (technology stack)
It is very important to choose the best languages for SaaS according to the nature of the cloud-based application. To work efficiently on the SaaS development framework, the developers must be well-versed in Python, .net, PHP, C#, and Java.
In addition, the developers would require tools such as HTML+CSS, Angular, React, Vue.js, etc. to develop the client-facing components. On the other hand, understanding corresponding frameworks such as JavaScript, PHP (Laravel), and Ruby on Rails will come in handy for server-side development.
Moreover, for impeccable SaaS app development, it inevitably becomes a database for back-end storage. The leading relational databases for this purpose are PostgreSQL and MySQL.
2. Always have a controlled database
Having a functional database is very important as it helps in competing with conventional relational databases. The choice of database is critical in developing cloud-based SaaS applications as it has a direct impact on the programming experience. Moreover, business houses need to understand that every database is independent of each other in SaaS-based applications. Thus, having a controlled database becomes even more necessary if it is not, things could go haywire at any time.
3. Do in-depth market research
While developing SaaS mobile applications, many business owners forget to validate their business idea by doing in-depth market research. The best way to understand whether your app development idea is better is to understand what your competitors are doing.
Also, organizations need to see whether their competitors have begun working on the SaaS model. They also need to check if their target audience is willing to put their hand up and sign up for a subscription model.
The business enterprises would get a plethora of information if they do their homework about the market well. Moreover, well-thought market research will also keep the business organizations informed about the latest trends and technologies as well. This will allow the enterprise to constantly look for opportunities to woo their customers and create a win-win situation.
4. Always be consistent in your service
Business houses need to understand that essentially SaaS development framework is a subscription-based model. Thus, they have no choice but to be at their best in terms of rendering top-quality service. There is a myriad of software that renders top-quality service, but they are not used as often for a user to have their subscription. For example, if one needs to convert PDF to MS Word or vice versa, they would simply search for an online free converter and complete the work that is required. The user would not have a weekly, monthly, or yearly subscription for a thing that they are not using frequently.
Therefore, a SaaS app development framework is best suited when:
- The target audience uses the service on a regular basis
- It renders temporary benefits to the customers
- The software appeals to a wide range of audience
Thus, the business houses must understand the utility factor of their software before taking SaaS app development ahead.
5. Have an asynchronous communication protocol
If a software development business organization utilizes the queueing mechanism to good effect, it could do wonders for them. The Queuing method is nothing but having an asynchronous communication process and saving time.
The SaaS mobile applications interact with various third-party software on a consistent basis. Therefore, an asynchronous communication protocol will eliminate the need for the sender and receiver to interact at the same time to make the process faster.
6. Have a competent pricing strategy
Many business organizations tend to ignore this, but pricing strategy can be a make or break factor for SaaS mobile applications. Although there are no hard rules here, the pricing strategies must be according to the service.
One of the great ways to attract customers is to render them a freemium pricing model. Here, the end-users would get a handful of services for free. Moreover, if they wish to have access to more, they would have to pay for this. Through this, the business organization would get an idea about what are the services for which the customers are willing to pay extra.
The other pricing model can be premium. Here, customers would get access to each and every feature of the application but they have to pay charges for it.
In today’s competitive market, it is advised to render a few services for free, especially diving into a niche community. The free or low subscription rate would work as a positive marketing strategy for the SaaS mobile app and would add to its user base.
Advantages of SaaS applications
There are umpteen business advantages of SaaS-based applications. For the benefit of our readers, we have listed a few of the top below:
- It helps in lowering the up-front cost for the end-users.
- Creates sources for regular and long-lasting revenue sources for the app developers.
- Due to low up-front costs, the business organization can attract a larger audience.
- It has a trial period that allows the user to settle down and see whether the service is actually useful or not.
- Regular and instant updates for the users without putting any money into new purchases.
- SaaS development- the framework is highly adaptable and renders tailor-made solutions according to changing requirements.
Benefits of the SaaS-based business model
As the SaaS applications render a plethora of benefits for the users, the SaaS-based business model is a boon for organizations and customers. Let us have a look:
- The business models are flexible and allow the end customers to adjust their costs according to their use.
- It enhances the overall product versatility. Moreover, the solutions are cloud-based, which reduces the client’s infrastructure cost.
- In most cases, accessing the product features of a SaaS mobile application is very simple.
- It is very popular and is adopted largely all across the world.
How much will it cost to hire a SaaS developer?
The cost of developing a SaaS-based mobile application depends on the complexity of the app. The other factors that impact the cost of hiring SaaS developers are the demographic location of the SaaS app development firm and the total experience of the developers. We have listed the cost of hiring SaaS developers according to the different locations:
US: $150-$180 per hour
Eastern Europe: $40-$75 per hour
Western Europe: $90-$120 per hour
India: $10-$25 per hour
Final thoughts
The SaaS-based apps are quickly expanding their horizon and are emerging as a popular solution for businesses irrespective of their industry sector. But, to avail the full benefits of this cloud-based app, here leading SaaS bases app development service providers. Hiring experienced SaaS-based service providers will help the business organizations in the long run and allow them to expand their user base.
