Have you thought about expanding your e-commerce services, or introducing an e-commerce concept away from traditional e-stores, offering the user real products that he buys and deliver to his door? What are your thoughts?
As long as enterprises and institutions provide customers with physical products, such as restaurants, clothing stores, computer accessories, electrical appliances, etc., or service organizations that sell intangible services to customers, such as travel companies and educational institutions, with the development of technology, these institutions have changed from the traditional The way of selling is shifting to that of modern technology and considering providing electronic services in addition to their services or offering them online.
Definition of Software as a Service (SaaS) System
What we mentioned above is the so-called “software”, which is a service software company that provides services through the Internet instead of downloading applications on computers or mobile phones, and then allows customers to benefit from the program at a specific time, for example, Or it may vary from one application to another depending on the services it provides. It acts as a lessor of services, so that the sites providing the services are not sold themselves, but allow a proportion of them to be used in proportion to the needs of the customers.
For example, these services are offered through these companies on a monthly subscription basis, and the services and prices vary according to the size of the company requesting the services. Service companies provide different packages according to the type of customers and usage needs. their service. The purpose of these services varies according to the diversity of human needs, including entertainment such as Netflix or business promotion such as Zoom.
To give a simple example, Photoshop is a service, but you need to buy the program, and then get busy installing and decoding it. You may buy a version today and develop a new version tomorrow. Users may need it for simple design purposes and don’t want to Paying for the old and complicated version, so Canva offers a design service that you can access over the internet without installing apps or downloading programs, and with the tools available, you can design easily and simply away from the complexity of Photoshop what you want.
Service software function
1. Less running time
Instead of calling a technician to install a program, enter its requirements, and adjust its settings, all that’s needed to access the service is to enter your account’s username and password, and enter your bank’s card information for payments.
2. Integration and scalability
The customer challenge is always evolving, you don’t need to call a new server or use a new program, all you have to do is upgrade the package you bought until you get more or less service as needed.
3. Upgrades and new versions
The upgrades launched by various service provider sites do not need to update software, because they can be easily and continuously updated on the site, and some updates do not even require additional payment, which is different from the traditional way of updating new versions. You may be asked to purchase the product as if you were purchasing it for the first time.
Beyond application upgrades, there is no need to stress internal IT staff.
4. Smooth use
Usually these companies offer a seamless solution that is far less complex and less tangled than a program installed on a server, and as in the aforementioned example, we can be sure that using Canva is much easier than using Photoshop and not It needs to be prepared in advance. The design experience and even the tools used, instead, design relies heavily on “drag and drop”.
Any device connected to the Internet can be used, which brings an additional advantage to the software service.
5. Customization and compatibility with other business systems
Such as ERP system, POS system, etc. As well as easily tailoring these programs to meet the needs of customers.
6. Cost-effectiveness
Compared to installing software and using supporting hardware, the cost is low, and the ability to stop paying when users need it.
service software defect
Although service software has advantages, it will definitely be offset by some disadvantages, as follows:
1. Incomplete control over the program
Control over the software is incomplete since an external company is responsible for providing the service.
2. Requires a permanent internet connection
This can be an advantage as well as a disadvantage, since the internet is available almost everywhere, but there can also be situations where the internet connection is cut off, such as in remote places, or if the electricity supply fails, then the internet connection is cut off. was cut off. would be a reason for the slow progress of work.
3. Execution speed is slower than traditional methods
Since software installed on a device is often faster than a system used over the internet, this may be affected by internet connection delays or other factors.
What is the importance of service software for e-commerce?
1. Speed of implementation
One of the most important reasons driving e-commerce platforms to rely on service software is the speed of online stores, saving the cost of store design and development, and the rapid growth of stores after online and this growth depends on many factors, the most important of which is monitoring Changes in customer behavior and improving user experience as these apps change customer behavior buying makes it possible for successful companies to benefit from these changes and adapt to them. their favour.
2. Focus on what works for your eCommerce business
When you have your own program, you will have to devote your full attention to maintenance, constant updates, technical development, maintaining safety standards, etc. When a third party distributes these, you take the burden off your shoulders and devote yourself to focusing What serves your online store and supports its success. That’s what this service software offers to electronics store owners.
3. Wider integration options
SaaS platforms offer less time to implement and integrate with other business software than most existing solutions because they include a wider range of options and more features that can be fully serviced faster than other solutions.
4. E-commerce has a better return on investment
SaaS e-commerce solutions reduce or eliminate the high costs of licensing, expensive hardware, additional IT wages, etc., making e-commerce businesses have a higher return on investment while reducing these unnecessary expenses. Additionally, most SOA services are available on a monthly subscription basis, which is much cheaper than purchasing a traditional e-commerce platform.
Risks of Using SaaS Platforms for E-Commerce
Before proceeding with SaaS service software platforms, there are some important questions to ask in order to develop a clear understanding of using them and understand the challenges you may face as an online store owner so that you can control them before they occur or according to the available ability.
What if I depend on a service provider and they no longer provide the service?
First of all, you need to know that your data is your own, not obtained by the service software, so when the website fails, you can migrate the data to you. It is worth mentioning that you must confirm the service before signing the service agreement There is a clause in the agreement guaranteeing your rights to the data and the ability to export the data at any time.
Another aspect that must be ensured is the existence of alternatives to the service provider, and do not worry about this as there are many competitors in this field, so in any case your alternative should be offered.
Is the data of the online store protected?
After confirming the terms that safeguard your data rights, you must examine the cloud services provided by the SaaS service software and its mechanism and nature, and remember that all service providers are aware of this concern of their customers, so they always strive to provide them with security s Choice.
In any case, data security has nothing to do with the existence of a server near you or in a remote location. SaaS providers are able to invest more in security, backup, and maintenance than any SMB because it is the foundation of their business, success, and industry reliability.
Arab companies using software-as-a-service (SaaS) systems
Arabian companies have followed developments in this field and are pioneers in the service sector. We mention some of these companies here, such as but not limited to:
1. Sarah Basket
Basket Platform lets you create your online store in minutes and offers product management tools, trusted by over 18,000 stores registered with Basket Platform. Supports all payment methods and provides detailed reports to measure the performance of its registered stores.
2. My location
Makani is a site dedicated to creating online stores and growing e-commerce businesses with an integrated team that requires no previous technical experience and connects stores with shipping and e-payments companies.
3. Husub website
A site that manages the largest Arab online freelancer platforms Freelancer and Fiverr, with more than 2 million registered members, dedicated to providing payment services and secure money delivery between freelancers and employers, who can search for suitable freelance jobs or his opinion about the job, the freelancer can apply for jobs in the preferred project at the same time.
A software-as-a-service system relieves you of the hassle of development, maintenance, and technical challenges faced by many who are considering setting up an online store, so it offers a simple solution, but it is worth understanding the challenges you may face and the The flaws of the system in order to know what the turnout is and what are the good things that really make you use the system, take into account all the flaws and consider what is necessary to deal with them.