Why SaaS Is Indispensable Within the New Normal

As the coronavirus continues wreaking havoc on the world, an unprecedented array of companies are navigating the transition to working remotely – reviewing their technology infrastructure and the tools their staff need to perform their daily tasks. And as it becomes apparent that things may be changing forever, many businesses are wondering how they can adapt their existing workflow processes in order to run their operations effectively now and in the future.

Many businesses have been finding out the hard way that on-premise core business applications are impractical for a remote workforce. In contrast, Software as a Service (SaaS) allows people to access the same software from any device with an Internet connection. Instead of relying on expensive, inflexible solutions installed on particular in-office computers, staff can access the software they need from their home computer or any other device, anywhere in the world.

The emergence of SaaS in the late 90s has disrupted the entire software ecosystem, changing the game for technology. Things like Box, Slack, Docusign, Go-To-Meeting, Facebook or Netflix have become intertwined with our lives because they’re accessible wherever we go, united on one platform: the Internet. 

Before COVID-19, experts predicted that 86% of companies would be using only SaaS software by 2023. As you can imagine, that number has been rising in recent months. In terms of revenue, the SaaS sector was poised to grow at the incredible rate of 69% over a five-year period beginning in 2015, rising from $78.4B to a whopping $132 billion. It’s no wonder that within the COVID-19 crisis, the SaaS industry is receiving record investment. Now, a broader range of companies is adopting SaaS solutions because, in a post-pandemic world, they’re often the only option that makes sense.

Here at Workbooks we were in a position where the swap from office to home working was easy to achieve, at least from a technology point of view – and many of our customers have made the leap to working remotely almost effortlessly, since they were already using our SaaS solution. In fact, when we surveyed our users on the impact of the pandemic on their business and their daily work, almost 90% confirmed they had access to the tools and information they needed to do their job, and 50% said they felt that they were even more productive than before!

The pandemic has pushed companies to become more agile in their data management, which will affect their ability to persevere through this crisis and future ones. This agility allows companies to adeptly manage their customer relationships.  

Now is the time to enable an adaptable, tech-savvy organisation that can provide the best experience for your customers and prospects. Review where you can optimise your operations and how you can succeed in the ‘new normal’, leveraging what Saas has to offer.

Let’s take a look at the key factors making SaaS CRM invaluable to companies of all sizes:

Practicality

This is the central reason why companies are moving to SaaS CRM solutions. Using traditional software installed on individual computers simply isn’t feasible when staff are working in different locations. With on-premise software, sales team members may not have all the details they need about a given customer or lead, which can lead to mismanaged or lost relationships, causing customers (and potential customers) to believe they aren’t a priority for the company. Staff may have to call and email coworkers in an effort to track down needed customer information or figure out what communication the company has had with a lead. 

That’s hardly a sustainable way of operating. 

Since most teams will be working remotely to some degree for the foreseeable future, SaaS CRM is an essential investment for any company. It allows for a smooth workflow that keeps all staff on the same page, providing quick access to information and thereby saving time. Instead of bungled relationships, companies that use SaaS CRM solutions will have satisfied customers that view them as professional and reliable. 

Plus, SaaS CRM options can give all of your staff access to the same performance metrics, allowing them to see where they should focus on improving. Decision-making at a distance will become exponentially easier, allowing employees to operate as a fully functioning team no matter how far apart they are geographically. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from any device is now becoming the norm!

Cost

As SaaS solutions become more affordable, growing businesses are finding them essential. Particularly at a time when companies are looking at cost optimisation, the option to subscribe to an SaaS CRM solution can really help. Rather than paying a high upfront cost, they can pay a much smaller amount on a monthly or annual basis, which proves far more feasible for many businesses. The lower upfront cost also minimises risk. Your SaaS CRM can grow with you and scale easily. And, of course, by reducing inefficiencies and freeing up staff to spend more time on the work that matters most, you’ll get tremendous rewards from this investment. 

Maintenance

When deploying software on premise, you are responsible for the ongoing cost of the server hardware, space, power consumption etc. With an SaaS solution, there is no need for an army to deploy and maintain, and you don’t have all of the cost associated with those either. Automatic updates are applied seamlessly, you are always up-to-date and the responsibility for availability etc is firmly with your supplier – not your team. There’s no need to manually install updates on a broad range of machines or to keep track of when they’re supposed to happen. Companies don’t need to invest in costly upkeep of their software; instead, if they have an issue, they can simply contact the provider, who will resolve it or walk them through the steps needed to resolve it.  

Speed

SaaS often works far more quickly than traditional hardware, regardless of the number of users logged in to the system. This speed boosts businesses’ productivity and agility, allowing them to quickly respond to customer questions in a climate where a speedy response can mean the difference between a loyal customer and a lost prospect.

Flexibility

Because SaaS CRM software can be used from anywhere, companies can look more widely for new talent rather than being limited to local candidates. Scaling up (or down) has never been easier – this is particularly important in this changing economic climate which sees businesses need to respond quickly to change. 

There’s no need to wait to get your new staff members started, and the talent pool has broadened widely. Moreover, new employees can start working immediately after onboarding, as all they need is the log-in information and some training on the application. 

As your competitors quickly make the leap to an SaaS system (if they weren’t using one already), don’t be left behind. An SaaS is indispensable for any company that needs to operate remotely – which, for the foreseeable future, is many of us.

When looking for an SaaS CRM solution, choose a product that allows you to customise it to your needs. While some products on the market offer a more generic solution that doesn’t meet the needs of all businesses, a select few can be adapted to the specific needs of your staff. You’ll also want to choose a product that provides optimal security to keep your customers’ sensitive data as safe as possible. At Workbooks, we take security very seriously. We are ISO27001 certified, which is the only international standard that actually defines the requirements of any information security management system. Meaning your data is safe from cyber attacks, hacks, data leaks or theft. If you would like to learn more our information security policy is here and our compliance FAQ is here.  

By choosing a reliable, reputable, and flexible SaaS CRM system, you’ll ensure convenient access to your critical information and business insights for all of your employees, no matter where they are.