How Software as a Service is Driving Business Success

By Mike Lillis, Chief Commercial Officer, Storm Technology

Nowadays, when companies look at their business applications and technological needs, the conversation often becomes abstract and filled with buzzwords such as agility, productivity and efficiency.

In reality, when you strip this back to the basics, it really comes down to what enables people within an organisation and how they can be more successful. Getting this right can be truly transformative in terms of future growth both for the team and the business as a whole.

The shift to Software as a Service

Looking at our own journey within Storm Technology, as well as what we see across our customers, it’s clear that a shift is happening. Increasingly, companies are turning to Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions and seeing a return on this investment both in terms of empowering employees and improving operations.

Before we get around to the benefits of the SaaS approach, we must first look at what’s driving this shift. Firstly, and while not realised by many, those who are overly reliant on old-school on-prem technology are facing a shortage of legacy technology professionals who can provide the support required to effectively leverage such systems.

As well as experienced professionals moving to the cloud, so too are new software engineers. Not only is this creating a skills gap and making such capabilities more niche, it’s also driving up the cost of owning on-prem systems.

The benefits for businesses

While the decision to move to SaaS might be out of their control, organisations are enjoying considerable advantages of this model, including streamlined operations and enhanced user experience.

Furthermore, with increased security and malware threats, having a multi-billion-dollar entity like Microsoft – which is updating its technology all the time – manage such risks makes business sense, reducing the pressure on in-house teams and saving on costs.

Speaking of costs, SaaS means your company can change from a cumbersome annual or upgrade cycle-driven Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) to a manageable and predictable Operating Expenses (OPEX) model.

Along with keeping CFOs happy and unlike legacy systems which require costly upgrades or maintenance, SaaS solutions remain evergreen with continual upgrades delivered by the technology provider.

The Mould for the modern workplace

Specific departments can also gain more value through SaaS, particularly within the modern workplace which is defined by greater flexibility and scalability. In fact, such systems provide businesses with the ability to quickly and easily flex technology capabilities and licenses as they grow.

Moreover, to strengthen our internal HR systems, we invested in OurTandem, a cloud-based people-driven tool that improves things such as goal-setting and internal feedback. It delivers the same instantaneous feedback, once covered in-person over coffee, to a workforce operating in a hybrid environment.

Where legacy on-prem technologies can be constrained by VPNs or localised access, SaaS solutions are designed and developed for the mobile generation. They enable staff and managers to connect on the devices that best suit their individual needs and preferences, regardless of physical location.

The devil is in the data

Looking at another example, Microsoft Dynamics 365 can deliver a wealth of real-time data to business leaders which allow them to make better-informed strategic decisions around team structure (including resource allocation and hiring) and business processes (including sales and financial).

Alongside useful insights, such SaaS technologies also offer the latest protection and feature functionality to organisations, thus supporting how they work – both today and in the future – and actually equipping them with the means to practise and realise those buzzwords of agility, productivity and efficiency.