Things To Take Care of While Opting for Cloud-Based SaaS Service
When one has to choose a Cloud-based SaaS service, many businesses seem to get confused and find it difficult to understand. Cloud-based SaaS can be a real asset to an organisation. However, there are few things you need to keep in mind before implementing it for your business is one of the most rewarding investments you can do for your business operations.
Cloud-based SaaS solutions are becoming increasingly popular with many big companies investing in it and reaping enormous benefits from it. Of late, many small businesses and companies are also getting aware of the enormous possibilities small business SaaS has over the manual processes and have started investing in it.
Companies who have invested in Cloud-based SaaS service would tell you that this investment would offer you the benefit of reduction in total ownership cost and would bring about enhanced market agility and enterprise collaboration. However, if done wrong, it can prove to be a serious liability or worse bring about huge losses to your company. You need to have the right approach and follow the necessary guidelines to be able to implement the SaaS solution. Not only that, when you decide to implement Cloud-based SaaS service in your company, you need to be sure of few things before you start. If SaaS solution is in your mind, here are few pointers that would help you get started.
Top things that you must take care of while opting for Cloud-based SaaS service?
No matter what your reason is for opting for SaaS service, you need to have a clear idea of how your business will be impacted by this decision and what sort of changes you need o bring about for the implementation to be a success.
1. Thorough understanding of the need for implementation
This should ideally be the first step after deciding to opt for a cloud-based SaaS service. When you figure out your need to implement SaaS service, you must be able to answer if there are any other ways of accomplishing the same result as required by you. Also, understanding your need to implement would help you zero-in on the kind of SaaS solution that would suit your requirement. You would be able to decide whether you want superior performance and speed or more user access.
2. Infrastructural changes
While opting for a SaaS solution, the first thing you need to take care of is to ensure that the implementation can happen with minimum or no major infrastructural changes. Opting for a solution which involves major infrastructural changes would mean a lot of investment and might backfire if the cloud-based SaaS service didn’t work as expected. The best possible solution for a small business is to opt for a SaaS cloud application which can run on the existing platform.
3. Knowing all the contents of your SLA
Your service level agreement or SLA is an important piece of document and you must have a thorough understanding of all the clauses in it. Ideally, this is a binding document and clearly states all the deliverables promised by your SaaS solution provider. You need to be sure that all that you expect out of your cloud-based SaaS service is mentioned in the SLA. This would minimise any problems in the later stage. In case your service provider is located in another country with a different time zone, you need to make sure all the clauses mentioned in the SLAs meet your business requirements and if they are available 24/7 in case of any issue resolution.
4. Figure out everything about IT support
For a small business with limited resources, IT support services are of utmost importance after a SaaS solution implementation. This would mean additional manpower and IT backup team which directly correlates to additional expenses. This is not always lucrative for a small business with a tight budget. Instead, check out for cloud service providers who can give you virtual assistance 24/7 during and after the implantation to avoid any hassle. Also, check if the vendor has a clear documented instruction manual or written a procedure to help you understand and carry out the implementation yourself with the existing IT manpower you possess.
5. Provide training during and post implementation
SaaS implementation is a huge investment for a small business and a pretty big decision to make. Hence it is important that you do everything to ensure it is a success. SaaS application can be successful only if your employees are comfortable using it and are adept at handling it. This can only be possible if you give your employees proper training and learning support to enable the transition in a smooth manner. You should train your employees to access and use the new software services even before the initial setup phase to avoid any delay in productivity. They must also be aware of all the software that comes with the package and should be able to use it from the first day after implementation. Your IT team must also be trained so that they are adept at troubleshooting and resolving any issues post implementation at a short notice.
6. Have a backup plan or an exit strategy
Nobody would want their cloud-based saas implementation to be a failure. However, sometimes things do not go as per your plan and you should always have a backup plan in case the implementation doesn’t work the way you wanted. You should be clear about the contract duration and whether you can leave a SaaS solution provider at any point in time. You should also be conscious of the cost involved in migrating to another service provider immediately after one fails to deliver. Sometimes when a SaaS implementation doesn’t work as planned, businesses might find it easier to return back to the on-premises structure they initially had than looking for a different service provider.
You must be able to decide if that would be your game plan or you would rather go for a different provider. The https://larsremodel.com/ company in California is specialized in whole house remodel including custom kitchen remodel as well. One more thing you need to keep in mind is the status of all the data which is stored on your SaaS solution provider’s cloud. Will you be able to recover the entirety of your data stored on their cloud or would they keep some data with them as a backup. You should also be sure of the confidentiality clause involved for your data in case you pull out from that service provider.
Conclusion
Like we keep iterating, a cloud-based SaaS service is a huge step for a small business and requires a great deal of care and research. You should be well aware of all things pertaining to the implementation and your service provider before making the leap. Always have a plan B to avoid huge repercussions on your business.
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