5 Reasons Why SaaS Sucks - SaaS Business Software Directory

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5 Reasons Why SaaS Sucks

Written by Derrick Lee

So it's no secret that we love SaaS... We eat it, we breath it, we stroke it's hair when we think that no one is looking... But SaaS is not for everyone! If you work at a mining camp in Northern Canada and the rusty satellite is your only Internet connection, then SaaS probably isn't for you. Or, if you think the CIA is after you and the idea of storing your data off site makes your skin crawl, then SaaS probably isn't for you either. But, if you're a relatively normal human being living in a moderately developed part of the world then chances are SaaS is going to be a great option for you to consider. Still, SaaS comes with it's limitations, and being aware of what those limitations are upfront will set your expectations properly and you'll be able to ensure a much smoother experience with a SaaS application.

1. "My Internet connection sucks!" If you find yourself saying this often, then you'll want to really examine what it would mean not to have your SaaS solution available. Because SaaS is dependent on an internet connection to access the application, if your internet goes down then so do all the services tied to it. Look at the frequency with which you've lost connectivity in the past and then ask yourself, "if all those times I lost my internet connection I also lost (insert SaaS app here), then would that have been a big deal?" Once you've answered that question, you can then ask yourself, "is the money I'm saving by using dial-up really worth it?" Chances are it's not. So go get a reliable Internet connection and join the happy masses...

2. "I don't trust the Internet..." And that's OK - you're not the only one... A lot of people also still wear aluminum hats to protect their brain from the aliens and no, they don't look silly at all. While the threat of hackers stealing your data is a valid concern, it's not so much of a problem that we should completely shun SaaS. It's simply something to be aware of and take precautions against. Little simple things like using a good password, only accessing your data from a familiar computer, or not forgetting to log out after you're done working all add up to keep your data secure. If you really want to get fancy then install a hardware firewall appliance. The point is is that you don't have to live in fear... just do what it takes to keep your data secure and you'll be fine. Any SaaS vendor worth their salt will have good encryption anyway.

3. "I always forget to hit the 'save' button." We all forget to hit the "save" button from time to time, but I guarantee you that after you do it a few times, you'll start to be better about it. Because of the way SaaS works, all the data you input into say, your CRM, just sits there on the screen until you "tell" the application that you're done editing. Only once the "save" button is pressed does the software know to record that data. I used to be notoriously bad about not saving notes in Salesforce.com, but after doubling my efforts a few times, I quickly got in the habit of frequently hitting the save button. Now I oftentimes hit the save button unnecessarily kind of like a nervous tick, but it's been a long time since I've had to reenter data.

4. "I don't understand why (insert SaaS app here) can't just (insert desireable feature here)" SaaS is affordable, quick to implement and easy to use, but the drawback is that it's not custom. In the industry, we say "configuration not customization" which is basically saying that what's there is there and if you don't like it, well tough. See, the way SaaS vendors keep costs low for their customers is they try and appeal to the needs of their most common audience and build all the features in the application they think their users will need. Then, SaaS vendors, will pre-program those features into the application such that functionality can literally be turned on or off depending your your need. What SaaS vendors can't do is custom coding for a single client. That then starts to get into the whole "single instance/multi-tenant" thing, but "why" isn't so important as just knowing that before you enter into a contract with a SaaS provider, separate your NEED's from your WANT's and make sure that all your NEED's are met.

5. "What do you mean ten years from now I'll still be paying for this thing?" Software-as-a-Service... It's a "service" that you subscribe to... That means monthly fees forever! While this is true, don't forget to put things in perspective. Because SaaS is delivered through the Internet, that means that any computer that has an Internet browser and an Internet connection can run your enterprise class software system. What that equates to is no servers, basic computers for employees, minimal hardware upgrades and little to no IT staff! When you think about all the money you save in terms of salaries for people to support expensive hardware that needs to be replaced every other year, then all of a sudden the monthly fees seem reasonable. Show me two software systems that do the same thing only one is SaaS and one is on-premise, and I'll show you spikes in budget expenditures, downtime, and troubleshooting vs. predictable pay-as-you-go budgeting, 99.999% uptime, and lower operating costs.

So clearly SaaS sucks, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Happily, all the reasons why SaaS sucks are addressable and easily prevented with a few precautions and a little awareness. If you've got spotty Internet service then it's probably time to upgrade anyway. Put in place some rules around when and how you access your SaaS app for security reasons. Hit the "save" button relentlessly... Make sure the SaaS app you're subscribing to does what you need it to do and more importantly know what it can't do. Also, be vocal about what you want the SaaS app to do as the application is constantly evolving. Lastly, do the hard math and be realistic about what on-premise software costs to purchase, install and maintain vs. something you pay a little into each month, but don't have to worry about.

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