10 Examples of SaaS businesses that can inspire you to build your own

Software as a Service (SaaS) is the subscription-based distribution of programmes through a Cloud model in which a corporation installs its application on a cloud that users may access. The programme is accessible via internet-enabled devices such as smartphones, laptop and computers.

Due to their low cost of entry, SaaS enterprises have gained popularity over time, and multiple organisations are using them to run their business efficiently and smoothly. 

According to BlueTree, companies using SaaS to meet their software needs are steadily increasing, with only 38% of companies relying on SaaS in 2016 and 51% in 2018. The percentage of companies relying solely on SaaS will hit 80% in 2022.

Running a SaaS business will prove to be enormously beneficial with time as automation seems like 

Here is a compilation of notable SaaS success stories to inspire your business growth strategy.

SalesForce

Salesforce is one of the most well-known and early organisations to move their apps to cloud storage. It is a comprehensive and straightforward cloud-based customer relationship management software, and applications focused on sales, customer service, marketing automation, analytics, and application development. 

It allows customers to have a high level of personalisation to improve customer experience. Firms can focus on customer care, marketing automation, in-depth analytics, and application development from a single dashboard.

There are many competitors in the market today; however, Salesforce remains one of the most important bridge between businesses and their customers. It is open to everyone for £20 and has more than 150K active clients.

Amazon Web Services

Amazon Web Services (AWS) delivers over 150 services and tools that people and enterprises may demand. Databases, IoT (Internet of Things), business applications, machine learning, storage, robots, security, consumer interaction, blockchain, and many other tools are a part of AWS. In addition, it provides various advantages such as pay-as-you-go service.

With a revenue of over $25.6 billion, AWS is very dependable and offers low-cost cloud infrastructure. It has over a million users, including major corporations like NASA and Netflix.

Google GSuite

Google offers the most convenient SaaS and cloud services for personal and commercial use. GSuite is Google’s Cloud SaaS product that comprises a variety of business apps and tools. Calendar, Hangouts, Drive, Sheets, Gmail, Docs, Slides, Vault, Sites, and Forms are among the features. 

While most of these services are free, the premium commercial edition offers several additional benefits. However, it is only available over the internet and does not have a desktop version.

Due to its low cost, GSuite has over 5 million active paid user accounts. As a result, connecting and collaborating with your colleagues is just a tap away.

HubSpot

HubSpot is a popular SaaS product that provides organisations with sales, marketing, CRM, CMS, and service tools. HubSpot’s SaaS products are available for free trials. You can purchase each of these categories as a stand-alone application. Alternatively, you can choose a bundled package offer.

Marketing software assists organisations in attracting visitors, converting them, closing agreements, and retaining them. 

What distinguishes HubSpot is its fantastic content marketing approach. It produces multiple blog entries every day and covers almost every issue directly or indirectly relevant to its key programmes.

Slack

Slack is a free, handy platform ideal for small teams and modern companies that enable remote work. Its power resides in the workplaces that users may design. For example, you may create places and assign users to each location. You may also use it to make audio and video calls.

Dropbox

Dropbox is a cloud-based storage and hosting service available to companies and individuals. It optimises efficiency, improves collaboration among teams working remotely, and allows you to exchange huge files without difficulty.

The business plans include collaboration tools that assure an organisation’s seamless operation. Business users have an option to appoint administrators to specify file rights.

ZenDesk

ZenDesk offers adaptable service-oriented CRM software that assists organisations in improving their client connections. It provides solutions to streamline and optimise your customer service and sales operations, a robust CRM platform, and marketplace apps and connectors.

While it is a simple service, the customisation option supports various enterprises by providing them with a tailored experience. In addition, it encompasses critical customer support channels like phone, email, live chat, and social media.

Lumen5

Lumen5 is a high-level video-creation SaaS programme that uses a drag-and-drop interface to allow organisations to produce videos. Lumen5 enables you to create movies from text or URLs as an added feature. Furthermore, you can customise your files by placing text, altering fonts, and integrating photographs and videos.

Lumen5’s most prominent feature is the automatic workflow AI that determines image/video duration based on text. Lumen5 is incredibly popular and has over 200K monthly visitors, due to its low pricing and outstanding features.

Canva

Canva is a graphic design SaaS service that provides templates for users to create visuals for social networking and other reasons. Canva can be an excellent tool/service, regardless of your business size. It enables you to create and print material in a variety of resolutions.

Canva’s user-friendly features allow anyone to enter the design world and make it simple to share the results on various platforms. Freebies are available on Canva’s interface, accessible by both free and pro users. However, they will charge an extra amount if you want to use high-level graphics and photographs on the platform, regardless of the user type.

Squibler

Squibler is an ideal SaaS tool for aspiring authors. It enables you to construct the tale you wish to express quickly and efficiently. In addition, you can easily arrange your ‘thoughts’ thanks to the ability to drag and drop pieces of your storyboard around. 

Squibler offers an additional feature of spelling correction to the users that can help you reduce passive voice errors.

Buffer

Buffer is a social media management software focused on publication and analysis. These features, however, are charged individually. Buffer allows users to schedule posts sent through the application to the user’s social media accounts (you can connect three social accounts via the free version). This feature can schedule and send posts to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Visme

The purpose of Visme is to allow non-designers to create beautiful designs, whether it’s a presentation, an infographic or a social media cover photo. With its sleek interface, affordable plans, and robust functionality, it’s one of the best visual storytelling tools of 2022.

The comprehensive material allows you to get started quickly, and each membership includes access to a vast library of templates, widgets, videos, icons, images, and even flowcharts.

Box

Box allows users to store and manage files in an online folder system accessible from any device. A product of this size offered via the SaaS model will enable it to have rock-bottom costs starting at $5 per month.

Box prides itself on the best collaboration functionality, based on the growing number of products used by companies and employees who need to work across apps effectively and key info internally.

Since business depends on collaborations, from teammates to customers to partners and vendors, this platform works together to bring all of them into a single place. In other words, you can say that Box makes the field sharing process easy for everyone. 

Furthermore, this platform offers HR onboarding, contract and digital-asset management facilities to automate repeatable workflows, ensuring smooth business.

Key Takeaways

One of the great things about the SaaS business model is that startups can respond more quickly to market shifts and customer demands than traditional businesses. They’re fast and nimble, and therefore, you can alter them as per your business needs.