“So you have a business idea that can not squeeze itself into an off-the-shelf software application? Well, that's when you know you need to give custom SaaS development a thought, as it can solve your unique business problems, fitting in your needs like a glove. Not just that, custom SaaS development also opens up the doorway for your business to stand out amidst the enormous crowd of this digital expanse with a strategic competitive advantage.”
Let’s face it, cookie-cutter COTS software has lost a lion-share of its past charm. So with the ever-advancing technologies and mounting business demands, rounding the USP edges to fit into limited-functionality software is not advisable. Doesn’t it only translate into losing potential business opportunities, if you compromise on your differentiating factors simply by opting for a generic workflow as followed by thousands of others (if not more!) in the digital space?
Loads of folks aren't even aware of how many SaaS applications they use every day without really knowing what SaaS is all about. Whether attending work meetings, binge-watching your favorite shows, or shopping for your favorite brand in the comfort of your home, everything happens like clockwork, thanks to SaaS.
As a leading custom SaaS development company, we at BinaryFolks have experience in crafting sophisticated SaaS applications and delivering distinctive solutions for clients spanning diverse business sectors. Before jumping on to the details of that let's take a small trip around the world of custom SaaS development. Or if you’re all set with your idea, skip straight to,
Avail No Cost SaaS Consultation
Custom Software As A Service: A General Overview
SaaS comes as a subset of cloud computing. Cloud computing refers to a technical infrastructure facility offered via the Internet. It provides various on-demand self-services such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), Storage as a Service (STaaS), and, so on.
If we look back to a few short years ago, purchasing software from a company meant installing and maintaining it locally on a fixed physical device. And once the one-time payment was done, expecting any future assistance or modification of any kind from the development company was like living in a fool’s paradise. Once the software was sold, the development company would wash its hands off and never look back. Good news, ‘cause times have changed. All thanks to SaaS, developing, customizing, and maintaining software applications is reaching new heights. And that has become possible as SaaS accelerates the deployment process, reduces the IT burden, and increases the scalability and overall efficiency of applications.
Custom SaaS(Software-as-a-Service), provides a cloud-based web-hosted solution designed to fulfill specific business needs that off-the-shelf software typically can't address. In the case of SaaS applications maintenance of servers, databases, code, etc. is typically carried out by the SaaS provider and the users do not have to fret about it. It is the providers' responsibility to manage and ensure the smooth operation of databases, security patches, code updates, servers, and other necessary technical aspects. The user's primary focus is on using the application; everything else is taken care of by the software provider. Hence we can say that it is significantly more convenient and hassle-free compared to the traditional software used previously.
Distinctive Features Of Custom SaaS Are Outlined Below:
Cost Advantages:
(a) Reduction of Per Unit Expense in the Long Run
Yes, you pay a high price(development cost) to start your custom SaaS development journey, but the future return on the investment makes it all worthwhile. Your customers pay a recurring fee at regular intervals to use your SaaS product. The cost you incur to serve ten customers remains identical to the cost of serving a hundred. Hence with the same amount of investment, you can serve an expanding customer base and generate exponential revenue. Now, doesn't that sound like a fantastic deal?
(b) Lifetime Value
Custom SaaS applications offer scalability and customization at multiple levels. Upgradation and modification are viable even after the project is deployed and fully operational hence you can stay up-to-date with the latest tools and technologies. So, even as your business evolves or achieves new heights, the functionality of your application will remain timeless and never go out of style.
Development Advantages:
(a) Customization
This point doesn’t even need an explanation as the name “custom SaaS” says it all. Imagine it like purchasing clothing from a mall, where one size is designed to fit a wide range of people, versus having a garment meticulously crafted by a personal tailor who takes precise measurements just for you. While pre-made SaaS isn’t necessarily subpar, if you're someone who thrives on standing out and wants to build a strong USP for yourself, then custom SaaS might be a steal deal for you.
(b) Your Software, Your Way
You have a complete grip on the wheel of your software project. You get to decide all the factors and functionality that your project needs to have and you can adjust, change, add, and opt for whichever modification you want on the go to direct & redirect your boat with full control & ownership.
(c) Tailored to the Industry
SaaS enables you to develop industry-specific software, granting you the flexibility to cater to niche businesses/customers by addressing their precise requirements, figuring out their pain points, and delivering a tailored solution that seamlessly aligns with that.
(d) Security
Maintaining the security of your application is not on your shoulders and hence your entire focus can be on using it for your business. The custom SaaS provider will handle all the essential security measures that need to be implemented.
(e) Scalability
Businesses are designed to expand, and when growth occurs, it's crucial to be ready to manage it effectively. However, it's a bummer if your software falls short of keeping pace and adjusting to the increased volume or new demands. SaaS can efficiently handle your increasing levels of data, usage, and workload without compromising on performance or user experience. So with custom SaaS applications, you need not worry, as they are remarkably scalable.
(f) Flexibility
Customization and flexibility are closely intertwined. When you have the power to tailor your application to your needs, the process naturally becomes flexible. You incorporate what's essential and eliminate what's unnecessary. There are no strict regulations that you must adhere to. Hence with SaaS, it is ensured that you receive exactly what you need without any shortfall or excess.
Distribution Channel Benefits
(a) Simple and cost-effective Installation
Gone are the days when you had to give hours of labor and money to install any software. Given that these applications are accessible online, there's no requirement for any hardware configuration.
(b) Multi-device Availability
No restriction on the number of devices that you can run the SaaS application on. So, regardless of your location or the number of devices you possess, as long as you have an internet connection, you're good to go.
(c) Swift and Consistent Updates
Since you can be in direct touch with the developers you can communicate your requirements for any change or upgradation in a bat of an eyelid. Consequently, they can briskly start the work of incorporating those updates into your application.
Maintenance Benefits
(a) Customer Support
At any juncture, whether it's during the development process or for maintenance purposes after deployment, customer support will be readily available to assist with any issues you encounter related to the application, so you can rest assured knowing that you're in good hands.
(b) Maintenance
After a project is deployed, SaaS developers take care of various maintenance-related issues. These can include bug fixing, updates and patches, security audits, data management, performance optimization, regulatory compliance, and much more.
Readymade Vs Custom SaaS
Now if you are all in for a SaaS application you might be questioning the need for custom SaaS development when a plethora of off-the-shelf SaaS products are readily available in the market. To address this query, let's compare the two options by highlighting the key aspects, allowing you to make an informed decision. However, if you have already set your eyes on developing your own custom SaaS, you can straightaway jump to,
A step-by-step approach to our SaaS development process
| Point of Comparison | Custom SaaS Applications | Readymade SaaS Products |
|---|---|---|
| Monetary Aspect | Customization comes with a price tag. Developing your own custom SaaS product demands a significant upfront investment. However, as your customer base expands, you'll experience exponential revenue growth with the same initial investment. | Readymade SaaS applications are significantly more cost-effective than tailored products as you are charged based on your usage. The downside to this is that you miss out on your chance to build a notable USP |
| Ownership & Maintenance | You're the one calling the shots whether you're developing your own custom SaaS product. You possess the authority to make decisions concerning features, functionality, design, access control, management, and various other aspects. | The primary SaaS provider takes care of all of these responsibilities. They dictate the selection of features to incorporate, manage essential security protocols, and oversee a range of additional responsibilities. |
| Quality | The quality of your custom SaaS app is shaped by your selection of developers. Opt for skilled ones, and you'll achieve impressive outcomes; however, making the wrong choice can lead your project astray in an instant. | The quality of the product relies heavily on the service provider, and you have limited influence over it. |
How To Recognize That Your Business Needs Custom SaaS Software?
We get it if you are still uncertain about choosing custom SaaS or feeling overwhelmed by the vast amount of information available online. Maybe we can assist you in developing a preliminary understanding of whether it aligns with your preferences. So here is a list of factors that one should keep in mind if they are planning to build a custom SaaS model.
- Your Business Type: If you're a B2B company, you're well aware of the challenges of standing out and gaining recognition in a competitive landscape. If you aim to achieve distinctive recognition, you must deliver extraordinary products unique to your brand. Now, If your company operates in the B2C space, your product needs to address a diverse range of customers, each with its specific requirements. What could be better than a custom SaaS in this case, which can pay meticulous attention to the smallest details of your unique customer needs and devise suitable solutions for them?
- Your Company Goals: As stated above unique ideas require unique solutions. So, do you have an out-of-the-box idea? Is your company equipped with a considerably sizable customer base? Do your customers possess a wide range of demands that can't be easily met by an off-the-shelf product? If any of these questions hold true for you then, your search ends here - Custom SaaS Development is your solution.
- Budget: Budget is undeniably one of the most critical considerations when it comes to customization. When a product is specifically designed to fit your requirement, it's only fair for it to come with a slightly higher price tag compared to generic alternatives. So if you don’t mind spending some extra dollars to keep your well-built USP intact & stay on the frontlines of the race then custom SaaS is your best friend.
Navigating Challenges In Custom SaaS Development With Effective Solutions
If you have made up your mind and you want to go for custom SaaS then there are certain key points to bear in mind. These will help you avoid stumbling midway or misallocating your funds.
(1) The Complex Development Process
The Complex Development Process: Building a custom SaaS model is not an easy task. In order to develop a product that caters specifically to your unique requirements the developers cannot afford to overlook even the smallest details. It demands a profound understanding of advanced and sophisticated technical aspects and the latest technologies to successfully execute such endeavors. Hence, when assembling your development team, ensure you have the cream of the crop onboard.
(2) Management and Maintenance Issues
The story doesn’t end at just development. If your development team is not competent enough to keep up with the management and maintenance aspects of the project then your application model can come crashing down at any point. It's imperative to ensure your team is skilled and capable of multitasking right from the outset
(3) Zero-downtime Deployment Strategy
This is a pretty serious issue when it comes to custom SaaS models. With continuous changes in business specifications, making changes in the model simultaneously is very necessary. That might look pretty simple from the point of view of a customer as he just needs to click on the “Upgrade” button and boom! The application is all new and upgraded ready to be used. However, navigating through this entire process is just as hard on the developer’s end. They have to ensure that the process of transition from an older to a newer version happens without a hitch and while doing this developers have to consider numerous instances.
Various strategies need to be undertaken to make sure that the new update slowly seeps through while the older version fades out at the same time, there is no disruption or downtime of any ongoing processes during the process of updation, the pre-existing elements of the model should not be affected by any of the new changes made, etc. So a team that is well-equipped with these strategies is a must need.
(4) Every Challenge has a Solution!
The majority of the problems stated above will not remain so if you master the strategy of leveraging an efficient team. The ultimate decision will be yours but here are various methods through which you can assemble a capable team of developers:
- In-house: In-house refers to the recruitment of full-time employees separately and assimilating them into a cohesive team. Hence your company can have a dedicated group of personnel who can work solely to solve your company’s business problem. There’s no doubt that it is an intriguing prospect, however, it has its share of challenges. Firstly, the cost involved in hiring and furnishing each individual with the essential resources for constructing an entire model from scratch can be pretty substantial. This is particularly pertinent if your company doesn't plan on engaging in multiple projects in the foreseeable future.
- Freelancers: Freelancing involves onboarding an independent professional individual/team with specialized expertise in a specific domain who is not associated with any company or business. There is no need to hire them as a full-time employee and they work remotely for you. The cost of hiring freelancers is notably more economical than other options, yet this choice brings in its drawbacks. As individuals unaffiliated with established or experienced companies, entrusting them with significant project responsibilities carries inherent risk. In case of any mishap, they might acquit themselves of accountability and disengage from the commitment. If taking such a risk is not within your comfort zone, it's advisable to steer clear of this approach.
- Outsourcing: The idea of outsourcing involves appointing a company or team with in-house developers to handle your project. The choice can be between a local business or an offshore company, based on your business solution needs, budget, and other factors. This approach proves significantly more cost-effective than constructing an in-house team, as it eliminates the need for full-time payments. This widens your horizon and gives you global exposure.
Now, it's your call on which way to go. But in case you’re not all in for risking your significant time & financial investments opting for a freelancer or on-the-fly raising your future operational cost by building an in-house team, then we've got you covered. Take a look at the roadmap that we follow on our custom SaaS journey.
A Step-by-step Approach To Developing Custom SaaS Software
(1) Requirement Gathering: In which Direction do you Intend to Proceed?"
The first step towards initiating any project that we do is to understand the pain points and exact requirements of the client, bridge the gap between any empty spaces, and point out and fix any possible loopholes beforehand. This involves conducting a series of meetings, discussions, feasibility assessments, and subject analyses.
(2) Assessment: “What are the Possible Approaches to Reach your Destination?”
After chalking out the overall plan, we start diving into the details. This involves conducting a comprehensive study of each client-requested feature, thoroughly assessing them, seeking clarification when necessary, and proposing enhancements where possible. And once all that is done we finally draft a well-detailed BRD(Business Requirement Document). This BRD acts as a reliable point of reference for both the client and the technical team throughout the entire development journey.
(3) Road mapping: “Finalizing the Route and Planning the Pit Stops”
Before taking a deeper dive into the project, our approach is to dissect the entire project into simpler and manageable steps and sub-components so that it becomes easier to formulate a strategy. We do this by identifying key milestones, obtaining clarification about the client’s vision, assessing the feasibility of the desired features, establishing timelines and deadlines, etc. The motive behind this is to provide the client with a comprehensive understanding of our planned course of action and what to anticipate at what stage. Hence making sure the communication is crystal clear right from the beginning.
(4) Strategizing Project Management: “The Journey Finally Begins!”
Every voyage requires a captain. So before any project starts rolling we assign a project manager. The project manager coordinates and manages the whole team, solves any project scope-related issues, and acts as a point of communication also known as the single point of contact(SPOC).
(5) Development: “We’re Halfway There”:
By the time we reach the development process, we have already conquered half the war. Our vital initial and robust planning automatically paves the way for a smooth development journey. However, certain hurdles are inevitable when developing such complex applications. The good thing is that our technical team is equipped with ample expertise and can effortlessly navigate through such unforeseen circumstances.
(6) Testing and Optimizing: “Time to Dip our Toes into the Water”
The only way to find out the true potential of a product is to put it through rigorous testing. And we leave no stones unturned in that matter. We apply various methodologies to acutely scrutinize the model to ensure that any situation that could jeopardize the normal functioning of the application is eliminated.
(7) Deployment: “You have Arrived at your Destination!”
As the final step of the development process, we implement the software in the production environment. This includes the steps like setting up the product environment, migrating the code and database, testing and finally releasing the product to its target audience.
(8) Maintenance: “We don’t say Goodbye just yet”
Even after your application is on stage we will still be at your service for any help related to enhancement, optimization, bug fixing, server maintenance, and more.
Custom SaaS Development Services That We Offer
(a) SaaS Product Development
As the final step of the development process, we implement the software in the production environment. This includes the steps like setting up the product environment, migrating the code and database, testing and finally releasing the product to its target audience.
(b) SaaS Migration / Re-Engineering
With our knowledge of cutting-edge technologies like AI ML, Blockchain, IoT, and cloud technologies we can revamp your SaaS model into a new and enhanced version of itself.
(c) SaaS Backed Mobile App Platform
With our knowledge of cutting-edge technologies like AI ML, Blockchain, IoT, and cloud technologies we can revamp your SaaS model into a new and enhanced version of itself.
(d) API Development
We specialize in building fast and secure API connections that can bridge the gap between frontend, backend, and various other services. Additionally, we design secure and scalable API services to seamlessly integrate third-party software solutions.
(e) Multi-Tenant Architecture Upgrades
We assist product vendors in building Multi-Tenant Architectures for their SaaS-based service offerings, resulting in a significant reduction in operational and maintenance expenses.
(f) SaaS App Performance Optimization
We eradicate any hindrance faced, implement scalable components, and subsequently minimize noticeable latency in your application, resulting in a seamless and swift experience for your SaaS users.
Check out BinaryFolks’ SaaS projects portfolio here.
Unlocking The Benefits Of Choosing BinaryFolks For Tailoring Your SaaS Software
(a) Scalable and Precise Custom SaaS Application Development
We at BinaryFolks can help you develop custom SaaS products that will perfectly fit your unique business needs and help you establish a distinctive niche for your enterprise. Our proficient development team can build seamless and user-friendly application interfaces that effortlessly blend ease of use with effective functionality.
(b) Longtime Operational Effectiveness and Profit Margin
If you want to see your business thrive in the long run then Custom SaaS development can be a wise choice. As with BinaryFolks, we help you develop applications that will generate sustainable returns over an extended duration in the coming years.
(c) Proficient Developers and Consultants
With twelve years of industry experience under our belt, we have gained our fair share of expertise. We do our best to provide you with fruitful technical assistance whether in the form of a consultant or a developer. This ensures that every investment you make with us will yield satisfactory results allowing you to be at ease about the returns on your expenditure.
Conclusion
We tried to touch upon every single aspect of the custom SaaS Development process to help you make your decision. Not just that, but now you also have a glimpse of the steps that we go through to understand and solve our client’s business problems and provide them with the best possible solutions. By integrating our expertise, innovative thinking, and collaborative spirit, we strive to empower your business for enduring excellence.
However, it's okay if it is still not lucid enough for you to leap as we are just a ping away. Feel free to reach out to us, and we can arrange a meeting to delve into your requirements in detail. Or just take a few minutes to drop in your query and we promise to get back to you with a viable solution!
Bring your custom SaaS vision to life
FAQs
How do I choose a custom software development company?
Some of the key factors to consider while choosing a custom software development company are making sure the company has enough expertise in the field that you are willing to work on and has a track record of experience within your industry. Additionally, researching their software development technologies and methodologies is vital to ensure alignment with your specific needs. Lastly, prioritise a company that commits to open communication and offers you value for your investment.
What is the process of custom software development?
The custom software development process involves several key stages. It begins with thorough requirement gathering, where the client's needs are carefully identified and understood. Following this, a comprehensive assessment is conducted to evaluate the feasibility and scope of the project. A road map is then outlined, detailing the strategic steps for effective project management. Then comes the development stage followed by feature testing and optimization. Once the development is complete, it’s time to deploy your project. Post-deployment, ongoing maintenance is undertaken to address any issues, implement updates, and ensure the software's continued optimal performance.
Why is custom software development better?
Custom SaaS is better than regular SaaS because it is fully customizable as per requirements. With full ownership of both the software and the associated data, companies have enhanced control and security. Moreover, custom software offers superior integration capabilities with third-party software, better reporting and analytics, and allows for greater flexibility. Initially it might be heavy on the pocket and the long development time might be a concern, but the notable return on investment (ROI) makes the endeavour worthwhile, offering a bespoke solution that aligns precisely with the unique requirements of the business.
Who needs custom software development?
In the current landscape, custom software solutions extend beyond specific sectors, industries, or business sizes. Whether you operate a sizable enterprise with complex business processes, a small to medium-sized business with distinct needs, or an individual startup brimming with fresh ideas, Custom SaaS development is here to meet all your needs. If you're seeking to automate, scale, and secure your business processes, Custom SaaS development awaits your exploration.
