SaaS: 5 common preconceptions - true or false?

but first of all, what is SaaS?

SaaS” stands for “Software as a Service”. This refers to providing computer software by installing and hosting it on a remote server (datacentre)
The software is accessed over the internet and the application is billed in the form of a monthly or annual subscription, with a price proportional to use. This subscription is designed be “all-inclusive”, meaning that it generally includes all the costs of the support the customer receives.
It’s a very topical issue: SaaS has slowly become a familiar sight not only in the world of business but also in our everyday lives. It is found in traditional office automation tools (e-mail inboxes, etc.), management systems (ERP, CRM, etc.) but also supply chain tools (WMS, TMS, etc.). This application provision mode is an alternative to the On-Premises mode, which traditionally consists of installing software on an internal company server and purchasing licenses.
SaaS mode has plenty of benefits and it is just as suitable for SMEs and big businesses in search of increased flexibility and agility.
In spite of the increasingly widespread use of this software acquisition mode, some remain wary, often wrongfully.

FALSE

1 -Saas exposes you to availability problems...

As the application is hosted at a remote datacentre off your company’s premises, you access it whenever you want by simply connecting to the internet.
Accessible anywhere and anytime, having your application provided in SaaS mode guarantees you responsiveness and operational gains matching your business’s ambitions. The availability of your application is guaranteed by your supplier’s commitment in the SLA (Service Level Agreement), which is generally more than 99%.
This application provision mode requires suppliers to aim for excellence. Since it is shared, it will be unavailable to all customers if it goes down. This means that publishers have to put in place high-quality processes, often far better than average traditional specific apps. By committing to a high service level, your supplier will be able to offer you a stable and highly-available application.
THE BENEFITS FOR YOUR COMPANY:
INCREASED RESPONSIVENESS
MORE SECURITY

TRUE

2 - SaaS is easy to implement

SaaS means rapid deployment, with no technical installation on your site. What’s more, the proposed solution is often pre-configured.
This means you can launch a business faster, saving precious time and generating immediate efficiency and productivity.
THE BENEFITS FOR YOUR COMPANY:
GREATER RESPONSIVENESS

FALSE

3 - SaaS is expensive

Contrary to this common preconception regarding its cost, SaaS is an often more financially-advantageous mode than a project in On-Premises mode.
On top of controlling and being able to anticipate your costs, you reduce the purchase price by eliminating costs incurred investing in hardware and licenses. IT infrastructure maintenance costs are also eliminated. You can then reroute resources that were initially allocated to this area to higher-added-value tasks.
Please also note that the subscription is proportional to use and includes upgrades to new versions not included in On-Premises mode.
Plus publishers who offer their solutions in SaaS mode take account of standardisation and will avoid pushing you to choose complex and expensive-to-maintain specifics.
THE BENEFITS FOR YOUR COMPANY:
FASTER ROI

TRUE

4 - SaaS offers increased upgradeability and flexibility

SaaS provides scalability and accompanies your growth: the applications and subscription are adjusted to meet your needs and use. This system also offers you the option of adding services or functions, benefiting from automatic updates and patches, etc.
This allows you to use a functional scope fully-tailored to your activity. If your activity changes (e.g. with a TMS need), you can then enable the function that meets your need without switching to project mode.
THE BENEFITS FOR YOUR COMPANY:
A CONSTANTLY UP-TO-DATE APP

FALSE

5 - SaaS isn’t secure

One of the prejudices we often hear about SaaS relates to security. A fair share of its critics are afraid of the idea that the application and data it contains are stored off company premises.
The reality is quite different as data is far more secure in a professional datacentre, offering high-level security, than on a company’s server.
These professional hosters’ teams include cybersecurity experts who guarantee much higher service quality than with an application hosted internally by businesses.
THE BENEFITS FOR YOUR COMPANY:
YOU FOCUS ON YOUR WORK, UNDISTURBED, AND LEAVE THE EXPERTS TO LOOK AFTER YOUR APP.

WHAT DOES SAVOYE OFFER?

SAVOYE, an international player in the design and integration of materials, IT solutions and automatized systems, offers a wide range of solutions (OMS, WMS, WCS, TMS, EDI) available in SaaS mode, and related Cloud-type services, meeting the needs of logistical organisations, from the simplest to the most complex.
Supply Chain Execution solutions are hosted at secure Datacentres in the Private Cloud and Public Cloud, and we guarantee our customers a SL (Service Level) of over 99%.
SAVOYE guarantees high-level support at every stage of the construction of the solution and training programmes in the form of e-learning modules accessible via a dedicated platform.