The need to make better use of human and economic resources led companies to start a search for tools, mainly technological ones, that were accessible and easy to use in order to achieve the best results with relatively low investments. To respond to these demands, the business model arose as a service.
In this business model, a provider is in charge of investing, developing, creating the infrastructure, maintaining, updating and innovating in all types of cloud solutions, so that they reach the hands of the user as a product already underway that can be be used to respond to different needs.
Advantages of the as-a-service model
In general, a mobile device, internet and a subscription allow access to this world of services that have multiple advantages, among which we can highlight:
- Make the difficult easy. Tasks that were previously reserved for certain specialists with technical knowledge, mainly from areas such as IT, have now become diversified with the emergence of models such as SaaS and can be solved by almost anyone within a company with the necessary training.
- faster responses. It is precisely the democratization in the use of these innovations that contributed to shorten response times, since now each member of the company can use the tools to resolve doubts or problems that arise in their daily lives without waiting for the support of the specialist.
- Cheaper. What until a few years ago required expensive infrastructure or sophisticated technology, is now summarized in platforms, applications, websites, etc. that with monthly fees can solve one or more problems more quickly and easily. It is precisely accessibility that has allowed companies not only to hire one but different developments as a service to respond to more than one need.
- Access from anywhere and collaboration. Its hosting in the cloud means that those who collaborate in a company do not have to wait to get to the office or use the corporate equipment to carry out any activity, with these solutions it is enough to have the internet, the necessary accesses and a mobile device to do so. This becomes more relevant given the high rates of adoption of remote work or with the expansion of companies at a geographical level.
What business models as a service exist?
Some of the most recognized representatives of this business model are:
Software as a Service (SaaS).
Salesforce defines SaaS as “A way of making software and technology solutions available through the Internet, as a service. With this model, your company does not need to install, maintain and update hardware and software. Access is easy and simple: it is only necessary to have an internet connection”.
Examples: Sales Cloud, Marketing Hub, BigCommerce
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
For Google this concept refers to “a comprehensive cloud environment that includes everything developers need to build, run, and manage applications, from servers and operating systems to networking, storage, middleware, tools, and more.”
Examples: Magento Commerce Cloud, OpenShift
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
At IBM, IaaS is described as a “a form of cloud computing that delivers critical computing, networking, and storage resources to consumers on demand, over the Internet, and on a pay-per-use basis.” In other words, and unlike SaaS or PaaS, they offer more possibilities to manage operating systems, middleware or data.
Examples: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Rackspace
This business model has evolved and more services have been added such as DaaS (Device as a Service), DRaaS (Disaster Recovery as a Service), AIaaS (Artificial Intelligence as a Service), to name a few.
We live in an era in which there are more and more tasks that companies need to digitize and optimize in order to improve their results, which is why the demand for this type of service continues to increase and makes it an interesting entrepreneurial opportunity.
Daniela Ramos Communicologist and mom. With 10 years of experience, I have been able to tell stories related to business, personal finance, work culture, entrepreneurship and technology.