Challenges of moving to a SaaS platform

Once a relatively niche market, "software as a service" has had incredible impacts on the tech industry. It's now possible for small and large companies to compete equally and deliver powerful solutions to end users in a unified way. However, like any successful tech solution, it's also important to consider potential challenges such as scalability and security before integrating SaaS into your business strategy. SaaS is a popular trend for businesses of all sizes, but there are some risks and challenges associated with SaaS that you should keep in mind before making the switch.

The use of a cloud network for your company shows that you are invested in keeping up with technological improvements. However, no technology is perfect. While there are a lot of studies and research around AI, it's still considered "cutting edge" and not everyone can use it just yet. When we’re talking about SaaS solutions, they come with their own set of challenges. Let’s discuss them.

What are the Challenges and Pitfalls of using SaaS 

Integration Issues

Inadequate integration can result in all sorts of issues. Accounting data, for example, may not be transferred correctly to your CRM, causing a slew of problems due to the extensive amount of changes made on various systems.A seamless integration has the potential to ensure accuracy through data updates and a more efficient workflow across all connected systems.

Infrastructure

It’s important for businesses to think about the challenges their users may face after integrating on-premises software with cloud-based solutions. While hybrid technology can be beneficial, it can also cause issues by clashing with existing on-premises systems. To ensure the best possible experience for your customers, the service provider and IT staff need to work closely together. You can rely on their extensive experience and industry knowledge to integrate any type of cloud solution seamlessly.

Despite the high number of SaaS providers that offer service integration, IT managers should take the necessary steps to ensure a seamless integration with their existing systems. A cloud service provider can be a great help if the product provider doesn't provide integration services or if your IT team finds it difficult to manage on their own.

Cost of Integration 

Integration can be done by companies that are in the right sector. It's important to think about how virtualization will fit into your company for a seamless and cost-effective process. The best strategy to save costs is to find a solution that provides seamless integration with all of the systems your company is using and, preferably, comes with an open API.

Access Control

One of the main challenges businesses face when moving to SaaS is that they can’t control access in the same ways. Monitoring settings and access control may need adjustment, and this sometimes requires a significant investment. Admins need to have complete control over who can access what, but they might be unaware of access at times, especially during the transition phase.

Time Consuming

Moving from on-site to cloud computing can take a while, which may then affect the operations and revenue of your business. When changing to a cloud-based system, it is common for delays to happen during the transition. It is important that you plan well and make sure your cloud service isn’t interrupted any longer than necessary.

SaaS market saturation

Choosing a SaaS provider can be difficult. There are so many options out there, and it's unclear which one is the right one. IT staff are often confused by having too much choice and will often settle for the wrong solution to avoid decision fatigue.

It's difficult for the IT team to figure out which solutions are worth looking into, so reviews from well-known review sites can help a lot. They'll be able to help you figure out the best solutions without having to try them all. More than 95% of customers read online reviews before making a final decision. Given this compelling statistic, it is worthwhile to devote time to reading reputable software reviews.

Specialist Services

A common thread among SaaS providers is that they claim to offer all-in-one solutions. However, while it is true that some SaaS providers excel at certain tasks, the reality is that this doesn't apply to most SaaS companies. Because of this, you are forced to use several different applications, which can lead to a lack of expertise in a specific area. Integrations allow you to bridge the divide between different operating systems, so it's important to be sure they all work well together.

Choosing the Subscription Plan 

A monthly plan might seem like the most cost-effective option, but it can actually end up being more expensive in the long run. Subscription packages often include hidden costs and fees that are not obvious at first, so considering all of them before making a decision is important. It's vital to ensure you have identified your business needs properly and matched them with what the provider has to offer.

When you purchase a subscription for a year, you will be using the software for maximum benefit. However, if you need to evaluate the product before making a commitment, choose the monthly plan.

SLA mismanagement

An SLA (Service Level Agreement) states what to expect from the provider and how to proceed if something goes wrong. If you don't know what you're agreeing to, you might encounter a lot of issues that can lead to a poor relationship between vendor and client in the future. Businesses must ensure that their SLA meets their specific requirements so that everything written in the agreement is understood by both the company and the client.Here's the link to our simple guide to SLAs.

Data Security

The biggest challenge businesses face when transitioning to cloud-based services is using more secure passwords that are less likely to be guessed by hackers. Employees should also use different passwords for each account they have to avoid exposing everything if one account is hacked.64% of people use the same password for all their accounts, while many use easy-to-guess ones. This means that if a provider is hacked, the hackers are likely to gain access to the customer's other accounts as well.

Data security is a challenge for all businesses, and we're always working to keep your data safe from prying eyes. Some steps you can take to protect your valuable data include two-factor authentication and encryption.

Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services are trustworthy providers of applications, servers, and storage over the internet. The extra money you’ll spend on them will be worth the major benefits they offer in terms of security, which is why more than 70% of people trust their services.

Wrapping up

The SaaS market is growing steadily and will continue to do so despite the setbacks many businesses experience in the process of transitioning. However, the vast majority of these challenges can be overcome by carrying out extensive research, properly integrating with your company, understanding what you need, and carefully selecting your service provider. Implementation and transitioning become much easier with a reliable service provider that is reputable and offers good service. You can't really go wrong when you are in need of this type of technology.