Last updated on Apr 2, 2024
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- Software as a Service (SaaS)
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Define your goals and criteria
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Research and compare features and benefits
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Assess the security and reliability of the SaaS solution
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Consider the integration and customization options of the SaaS solution
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Evaluate the cost and value of the SaaS solution
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Test and validate the SaaS solution before making a decision
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Here’s what else to consider
Software as a service (SaaS) is a popular and convenient way to access cloud-based applications without installing or maintaining them on your own devices. However, with so many SaaS options available, how do you choose the best one for your specific needs and requirements? In this article, we will share some tips and best practices to help you compare and select the best SaaS solutions for your business or personal use.
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- Shobit Jaiswal Director Enterprise Sales at Celoxis | Consultative Sales Professional | Driving Digital transformation through B2B IT…
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- Stewart Marshall SaaS Advisor ♦ LinkedIn Top Voice ♦ Bestselling Author of "Kick Some SaaS" ♦AI Ethicist ♦ Investor ♦ Scale-up Mentor…
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- Abdul Aziz Focused on Helping Startups Build Their MVPs and SaaS Web Apps | CEO at Binary Marvels
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1 Define your goals and criteria
Before you start browsing and comparing different SaaS solutions, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what you expect from them. Think about your goals, challenges, budget, preferences, and requirements for the SaaS solution you are looking for. For example, you might want a SaaS solution that can help you automate your marketing campaigns, integrate with your existing tools, offer reliable security and support, and fit within your price range. Write down your goals and criteria and use them as a guide to narrow down your options.
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- Shobit Jaiswal Director Enterprise Sales at Celoxis | Consultative Sales Professional | Driving Digital transformation through B2B IT Solutions | Effective Storyteller | Travel Junkie
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Choosing the right SaaS solution involves three key considerations:1) Does it help solve your business problems and add value?2) Is it user-friendly for seamless adoption by every team member? A lot of clients I met have paid quite a price for complicated and uneasy software.3) What level of support is provided during migration and post-go-live?By prioritizing these factors, you can ensure a smooth transition and maximize the benefits of your chosen solution.
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- Abdul Aziz Focused on Helping Startups Build Their MVPs and SaaS Web Apps | CEO at Binary Marvels
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Start small and rethink your MVP (minimum viable product). YNAB started out as a $20 Excel spreadsheet. Nomad List started out as a Google sheet anyone could edit. CovertKit really started with the founder writing books on how to build an audience and authority using your blog. Don't think, "What can I code?" Think, "What can I scrape together in 3 days and sell for $20 or get feedback on?" So rule out just putting out a PDF or spreadsheet one month.
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- Utsavkumar Naik Co-founder at Salonior | Specializing in Java Microservice Architecture, Spring Boot 3.0, Spring Cloud | Expert in Angular, Redux, and Ngrx | Revolutionizing #SaaS for Salon Software and CRM #Innovator #TechLeader
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I found one of the Saas which focus on deep undestanding of specific industry unresolved issue and solved it And helped them to organized Business in Structured way to serve end customers globally. #Salonior to help Salon Owner to #StreamlineBusiness.
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- Prasanna Vaidya Co-Founder at Gyde
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I found one of the recent SaaS evaluations by one of our prospects perfect. They already knew the must-have & nice-to-have to have features. Every feature was tied to the business benefit & they were given the appropriate weightage. It was a simple Excel sheet but acted as a single truth for them to compare the vendors. It made the vendor selection objective.
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2 Research and compare features and benefits
Once you have a list of potential SaaS solutions that match your goals and criteria, you need to research and compare their features and benefits. Look for information on their websites, reviews, testimonials, case studies, demos, and free trials. Pay attention to how they solve your specific problems, how they differ from their competitors, and how they add value to your business or personal use. You can also use comparison websites or tools to help you evaluate and contrast different SaaS solutions based on various factors such as functionality, usability, performance, scalability, and customer satisfaction.
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- Tobias Hagenau CEO @ awork | for the joy of work 🎉✊
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In addition to just checking what's available from the vendors website etc., as a vendor I highly recommend to look for testimonials and use-cases of existing users. These give a better understanding of how the product works in practice. Many vendors also offer personal demos - again, I highly recommend making use of these after taking a look at the product's trial first hand.
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- AnilKumar Podugu Sr.Client Partner @ Pronix Inc | Digital Applications Practice
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When evaluating SaaS options, research and compare features, benefits, and user feedback to find a solution that aligns with your needs. Utilize comparison tools for a comprehensive evaluation based on factors like functionality, usability, performance, scalability, and customer satisfaction.
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3 Assess the security and reliability of the SaaS solution
Security and reliability are crucial aspects of any SaaS solution, as they affect the safety and availability of your data and applications. You need to assess how the SaaS provider protects your data from unauthorized access, breaches, or loss, and how they ensure the uptime and performance of their service. You can check their security policies, certifications, standards, and audits, as well as their backup, recovery, and disaster recovery plans. You can also look for indicators of their reliability such as their service level agreements (SLAs), uptime guarantees, and customer feedback.
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- Stewart Marshall SaaS Advisor ♦ LinkedIn Top Voice ♦ Bestselling Author of "Kick Some SaaS" ♦AI Ethicist ♦ Investor ♦ Scale-up Mentor Creating Global Impact ♦ Digital Leadership ♦ Speaker ♦ Translator of IT Gibberish
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Most reputable vendors will be more than happy to jump through every hoop you give them, so don't be shy in asking for as much information as you need. And remember, the only dumb questions are the ones you don't bother to ask.
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- AnilKumar Podugu Sr.Client Partner @ Pronix Inc | Digital Applications Practice
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Evaluate the security and reliability of a SaaS solution by scrutinizing measures against unauthorized access, assessing performance assurances, and reviewing security policies, certifications, and disaster recovery plans. Look for indicators like SLAs, uptime guarantees, and customer feedback for reliability assurance.
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4 Consider the integration and customization options of the SaaS solution
Integration and customization are important features of any SaaS solution, as they enable you to connect and adapt the service to your existing workflows, systems, and preferences. You need to consider how the SaaS solution integrates with your other tools and platforms, and how easy or difficult it is to configure and customize the service to suit your specific needs and requirements. You can look for information on their integration capabilities, APIs, SDKs, and documentation, as well as their customization options, settings, and support.
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- AnilKumar Podugu Sr.Client Partner @ Pronix Inc | Digital Applications Practice
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When evaluating a SaaS solution, prioritize assessing its integration capabilities (APIs, SDKs) and customization options. Thorough documentation and support ensure seamless alignment with your organization's needs and existing technological landscape.
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- Stewart Marshall SaaS Advisor ♦ LinkedIn Top Voice ♦ Bestselling Author of "Kick Some SaaS" ♦AI Ethicist ♦ Investor ♦ Scale-up Mentor Creating Global Impact ♦ Digital Leadership ♦ Speaker ♦ Translator of IT Gibberish
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Before you try to digitize any process, first make sure the process has been optimized. Also be sure to understand the reality behind integration. Having an available API means there's every chance you and/or your team will have to write code to make it work the way you need. OK if you have an in house team, but often rather expensive if you don't.
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5 Evaluate the cost and value of the SaaS solution
Cost and value are key factors in choosing the best SaaS solution for your specific needs and requirements, as they determine the return on investment (ROI) and the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the service. You need to evaluate how much the SaaS solution costs, what features and benefits are included in the price, and what additional fees or charges might apply. You also need to evaluate how much value the SaaS solution provides, how it helps you save time, money, or resources, and how it impacts your business or personal outcomes. You can use tools or calculators to help you estimate and compare the cost and value of different SaaS solutions.
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- AnilKumar Podugu Sr.Client Partner @ Pronix Inc | Digital Applications Practice
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Evaluate the cost by considering subscription fees, additional charges, and scalability. Assess the value based on features, user experience, security, and potential ROI, using tools like calculators and comparisons for an informed SaaS solution choice.
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- Stewart Marshall SaaS Advisor ♦ LinkedIn Top Voice ♦ Bestselling Author of "Kick Some SaaS" ♦AI Ethicist ♦ Investor ♦ Scale-up Mentor Creating Global Impact ♦ Digital Leadership ♦ Speaker ♦ Translator of IT Gibberish
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Time to politely disagree again. Value is the key factor in choosing a software solution, SaaS or otherwise. I have at least 30 different ways that tech delivers business value in my book 'Kick Some SaaS' and if it delivers a huge value you should expect to pay for it. Far too many purchases get frightened by the price unnecessarily. After all, if it delivers $1,000,000 of value every year, paying $100,000 is entirely reasonable.
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6 Test and validate the SaaS solution before making a decision
The final step in choosing the best SaaS solution for your specific needs and requirements is to test and validate the service before making a final decision. You need to experience the SaaS solution firsthand, see how it works in practice, and verify that it meets your expectations and criteria. You can use free trials, demos, or sandbox environments to test and validate the SaaS solution, and ask for feedback from your team, customers, or users. You can also contact the SaaS provider and ask for references, testimonials, or case studies to validate their claims and reputation.
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- Stewart Marshall SaaS Advisor ♦ LinkedIn Top Voice ♦ Bestselling Author of "Kick Some SaaS" ♦AI Ethicist ♦ Investor ♦ Scale-up Mentor Creating Global Impact ♦ Digital Leadership ♦ Speaker ♦ Translator of IT Gibberish
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Free trials are risky, particularly for bigger platforms that need training and a more robust implementation plan. It's all too easy for prospects to fail to understand the platform properly and not to recognise its true value.As ever, the best tool for the job is the one you implement properly.
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- Tobias Hagenau CEO @ awork | for the joy of work 🎉✊
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Especially for larger, more complex solutions, I'd recommend working closely with the vendors' customer success teams. If a trial is to be implemented, make sure that it's taken seriously by the team working on it. Free implementations are usually unsucessful not because the tools don't keep their promises, but because teams don't invest the necessary resources into an unlimited free test.
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- AnilKumar Podugu Sr.Client Partner @ Pronix Inc | Digital Applications Practice
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In selecting a SaaS solution, it's vital to test and validate it firsthand through free trials or demos. Gathering feedback from your team and verifying the provider's reputation through references or testimonials is crucial in making an informed decision.
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7 Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
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- AnilKumar Podugu Sr.Client Partner @ Pronix Inc | Digital Applications Practice
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In evaluating a SaaS solution, hands-on testing through trials and team feedback provided practical insights beyond the initial criteria. Anecdotes highlighted the value of real-world experiences in navigating the SaaS landscape.
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- Wayne Scott Regulatory Compliance Solutions Lead @Escode (an NCC Group company) | Global Financial Services Regulations - Resilience - Non-cyber risk - stressed exit planning
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Remember whatever service you choose you as the end user remain responsible for the resilience of that service. All the conversations you'll have, all the data presented to you and every topic the SaaS provider will talk about will revolve around cyber security because cyber security is (partially) their responsibility. Ensure you ask about their plans to cope with supplier failure, service deterioration and concentration risk. Ensure there is a stressed exit plan in place that allows you to cope with their failure. The velocity of a SaaS provider's insolvency is rapid, it hits hard and fast and is very expensive to rectify.
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