SaaS or Software as a Service is a software distribution model under which a third-party supplier hosts and manages software licensed on a subscription basis. Since the onset of the SaaS model, it has revolutionized the use of software applications for both large and small businesses and how they use software to grow their business in the era of digitalization. Software applications under SaaS are acknowledged as affordable, time-convenient, and flexible substitutes to the traditional software install models that used to be built from scratch and required a lot of resources to customize as per the requirement. Reliable internet today and multiple market entries due to low barriers have created an unparalleled demand for SaaS across various industries. In this article, we will delve into the evolution of SaaS Software and look into the past, present, and future trends of SaaS.
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The Past: Tracking back the Root of SaaS
The evolution of SaaS can be traced back to the onset of the computing days in the 1960s and 1970s when the concept of time-sharing systems and services gained acceleration. The idea of time-sharing computers refers to the concept of multiple users accessing one large-frame computer or device through various terminals at the same time remotely. The idea required dedicated and costly software and is referred to as the precursor for the onset of the SaaS model in the field of technology. In the 1980s we saw a rise in the hardware as individual users started to opt for personal computers, however, the software was still expensive and time-consuming to install, manage and maintain.
Early Days:
The first ideal software as a service model can however be traced to the 1990s when the world was introduced to the realm of the Internet and it became much cheaper for various Internet vendors to sell their products and services online and hence reducing the cost and time effectively with the rise of web-based applications. The Introduction of the ASP Mode or the Application Service Provider further accelerated the concept of software as a service. Under the Application Service Provider model, software was accessed over the Internet and was managed and hosted by a third-party provider.
Breakthrough:
The breakthrough in the SaaS model was however recorded in early 2000 with the arrival of different Content Management Systems and various software-as-a-service models like Salesforce, Microsoft, etc. The new SaaS model made software more customizable and on a ready-to-go basis as per user requirement and could be easily hosted on the cloud and accessed through web-based applications over the internet. It only reduced the overall expenses and time for companies to manage and access the software, but it also made it easy to use in terms of scalability and understanding for a larger user base in general. The initial SaaS software was simple such as calendaring, email, and bookkeeping tools, and later evolved to cater to many more sophisticated businesses and functions. It is often marked as the turning point for the SaaS software delivery model.
The Present: The Rise and Scalability of the SaaS Model:
In Present times, when we are living in a world of internet and digitalization. The rise of software as a service delivery model is itself a testimony of the evolution of technology to ease man’s work and increase profitability for giant, medium, and small businesses. Today SaaS is referred to as the most dominant and prominent software delivery model all across the globe to cater to software application requirements for businesses as well as individual users. The rise and scalability of the SaaS model can be attributed to several factors that we will talk about in detail below:
The Onset of the Internet:
The rise and popularity of the world wide web and the Internet is the first and foremost reason for the growth of Software as a service tool. The Internet not only connected the entire world and made any information easily accessible, but it also made the reality of SaaS possible by allowing companies to host and access web-based software applications from any corner of the world and keep it on a subscription basis, rather than developing the software from scratch.
Low Entry Barriers:
Unlike traditional software installs that required longer installations hours and licensing along with high cost and manpower to build them, Software as a Service was a more affordable and convenient option for both tech giants and individuals users and hence it has to face comparatively low entry barriers to revolutionize the field of technology and market. It also marginalized the cost of hardware development and software licensing hassles. Due to the low entry barriers, SaaS created an environment of equal opportunities for medium and small-size businesses to be at par with the giants in their respective industries by having access to high-quality software tools.
The Subscription Delivery:
The SaaS is a subscription-based software delivery model that requires businesses to get a subscription to the software tools they need for their business from a third-party provider and go on pay as you go basis model as per their usage and requirements. The subscription-based model makes SaaS more convenient and easy to use as compared to traditional software that required licensing and maintenance. The subscription model allows businesses to focus more on their needs and outcomes as all updates and maintenance are catered by the third-party provider over the cloud.
The Ease of Cloud Storage:
The SaaS model also owes its popularity and success to the fact it almost eliminated the need for a heavily dedicated hardware setup to cater to the software requirements. Now, businesses and third-party providers can share and manage all the data over the cloud on the internet. Eliminating the chunk of technical aspects required earlier with traditional software models.
The Future: The Scope of SaaS and its Trend:
The SaaS or Software as a service delivery model has gained a lot of traction in the last few decades and is set to trend popularity in the upcoming future and scale expectantly. Last year in 2022 the SaaS market was at a whopping $123 Billion dollars valuation and it is expected to scale up to approx. $203 Billion dollars by 2027.
The Saas model is expected to ease almost every industry in the market with different, innovative, and unique tools that will cater to the needs of all. SaaS is currently exploring edge computing technology and capabilities to be at the top of the market. Let us look at some of the major upcoming expected trends in the SaaS model that can further scale the software as a service model in the market:
Internet of Things (IoT):
The Internet of Things or IoT devices are basically hyper interlinked networks of devices across the Internet through a centralized system that needs to collect and process data in real-time and make data analysis more feasible. The SaaS tools are said to be the key factor that will connect different devices and models in real-time and will manage and process them to improve the overall performance and reduce any on-time latency.
The World of Virtual Reality and META:
The popularity and craze of virtual reality and applications that make the dream come true possible are unparalleled and hence it creates a huge market for SaaS tools providers to cater to the increased demand for software tools for virtual reality that will increase the immersive and interactive virtual world for the users in a more affordable and convenient manner. Alongside VR, the world of META is also gaining popularity and companies are looking for SaaS options that will help them sell their products and services over the virtual world of META.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are clearly a big leap in the future of technology. AI and Machine learning is not only offering automation and time-saving tools for companies, but they are also making it easier for users to get recommendations and corrections that can help them build their business in a cost-effective manner. Integration of AI and ML in SaaS is the need of the hour and can create wonderful outcomes in the near future.
Conclusion
The Evolution of software as a service model is a perfect example of the technological advancement that we have witnessed in the last few decades Right from the early 1960s when time-sharing computers became a reality to today’s world of cloud computing-based SaaS delivery model handled by third-party providers, the journey of SaaS has come a long way.
The success and popularity of the SaaS model are due to the fact that it not only makes the software application affordable and cost-efficient but also eliminated the time and investment on dedicated hardware and licensing. In a way, it also eliminated the monopoly of tech giants over access to high-quality software.
The future of the SaaS model also looks promising and highly scalable due to the onset of IoT, AI, and ML which will make it more user-friendly and easily accessible for individual users across the globe. The SaaS model also offers greater customizability and innovation to adapt and change as per the needs of the current technological era.
