{"id":104520,"date":"2023-09-22T17:04:52","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T17:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com"},"modified":"2023-09-22T17:04:52","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T17:04:52","slug":"what-distinguishes-saas-from-regular-software-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/what-distinguishes-saas-from-regular-software-applications","title":{"rendered":"What Distinguishes SaaS From Regular Software Applications?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brace yourself for mind-blowing growth in the software as a service <\/a>(SaaS) market, as predicted by top industry analysts at McKinsey & Company.<\/p>\n

A massive shift is underway towards cloud-based software as businesses move from on-premise installations to SaaS offerings.<\/p>\n

With forecasts pointing towards a staggering $200 billion market by 2024<\/a>, you’ll likely experience the incredible rise of SaaS products, changing the productivity game for businesses and consumers.<\/p>\n

As companies fully embrace the potential of SaaS, it becomes crucial to acknowledge the driving forces behind this significant shift.<\/p>\n

With cloud-based solutions’ convenience, businesses benefit from increased scalability, streamlined processes, and cost-effectiveness, from project management to customer relationship management.<\/p>\n

Remembering the 2000s<\/span><\/h2>\n

Ah, do you remember the good old days of installing software from a CD and downloading the updates to combat the latest vulnerabilities or to acquire the latest functionality?<\/p>\n

It was an experience full of indifference and annoyance, especially if the installation crashed, for you to restart the whole process.<\/p>\n

Now, thanks to the wonders of technology, those days are long gone. With the advent of cloud computing and high-speed internet connectivity, software installation has become a breeze.<\/p>\n

We no longer have to fuss with CDs or worry about compatibility issues. All we require is a fast, stable internet connection, and within a few clicks, we can have the latest software up and running.<\/p>\n

But wait, I hear you ask. Is there still a requirement to download anything anymore? Oh, you’re thinking of Software as a Service<\/a> (SaaS).<\/p>\n

SaaS: What Has It Done for You Lately?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Firstly, it has eliminated the need for physical media, reducing waste and contributing to a more environmentally friendly approach, acknowledging those Environmental, Social, and Governance<\/a> (ESG) management responsibilities.<\/p>\n

With SaaS, gone are the days of manually downloading and installing patches; now, updates are seamlessly integrated into the application directly, ensuring end users have access to the latest features, benefits, and security enhancements.<\/p>\n

Additionally, SaaS offers greater flexibility and accessibility. With traditional software applications, depending on your licensing type, you were limited to using it on a specific device or operating system. But with a SaaS solution, you can access your applications and data from any device with an internet connection. This means you can work on your projects from your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, providing your business and workforce unparalleled convenience and freedom.<\/p>\n

This convenience and freedom are made possible because of the five characteristics of cloud services, all managed by the cloud service provider and application vendor relationship.<\/p>\n