SaaS Operations 101

SaaS solutions play an integral role in business operations for companies of all sizes, regardless of industry. This makes it vital to manage the applications your company procures – and that’s what SaaS Operations is all about.

SaaS Operations (SaaS Ops) is about managing the lifecycle of an organisation’s SaaS application. It keeps your costs optimised and enhances productivity – without compromising security and compliance.

In this article, we’ll cover what SaaS Operations is, why it’s important for modern businesses and the benefits of prioritising SaaS Operations.

What is SaaS Operations (SaaS Ops)?

The term SaaS Operations (SaaS Ops) refers to the management and operations of the entire lifecycle of a SaaS application within an organisation – from discovery and procurement to onboarding, offboarding and everything in between.

Businesses rely increasingly on SaaS solutions every day. SaaS Operations is here to ensure these tools deliver the maximum value while remaining secure and cost effective.

Key aspects of SaaS Operations include:

• Application management: Tracking and managing all SaaS tools, activities and processes within the organisation. It’s about knowing what software is used, how often it’s used and whether it’s worth keeping around.
• Cost optimisation: No one wants to pay for tools they don’t use. SaaS Ops helps spot unused subscriptions or overpriced licences, enabling the company to cut out waste and negotiate better deals.
• Security and compliance: Making sure the right people have access to the right SaaS applications. This also includes managing access control to minimise risks and stay compliant with data privacy rules.
• User management: Streamlining the onboarding of new hires, as well as revoking access when people leave.
• Automation and integration: SaaS Ops helps ensure every tool within the organisation works together seamlessly. It’s also about automating repetitive tasks like account setup, billing and reporting, boosting operational efficiency.
• Performance monitoring: If an app is slow or riddled with bugs, it’s a productivity killer. SaaS Ops helps track application performance and spot issues, allowing the company to fix them fast.
• Governance: Establishing policies for how the company buys, uses and renews software. It’s about avoiding chaos and keeping everyone on the same page.

SaaS Operations is typically done using an IT system to sort, manage and secure a company’s SaaS applications. This centralises and streamlines everything to do with SaaS Operations, helping ensure the process runs smoothly.

Why is SaaS Operations so important?

The modern business has dozens, if not hundreds of SaaS applications in its stack. Teams often have anywhere between 40 and 60 apps at their disposal – but in most cases, less than half of those licences are even active.

Without effective SaaS Ops, costs can spiral out of control quickly. If you’re paying for numerous subscriptions you aren’t using, you might as well be flushing money down the drain.

On top of that, unmanaged apps and improper access control leave you more vulnerable to security risks – not to mention the inefficiencies that often arise due to fragmented or poorly integrated tools.

With SaaS Operations on your side, however, you can keep your costs optimised, achieve operational agility and enhance productivity – maintaining security and compliance all the while.

The benefits: Why you should prioritise SaaS Operations

SaaS Operations isn’t just about managing apps: it’s about making life easier, saving money and keeping everything running smoothly. That also means it comes with a wide range of benefits.

Here are seven important benefits of effective SaaS Operations:

1. Save money without the headache

With SaaS Ops, you can spot unused or duplicate subscriptions in good time and cut them loose before they drain your budget. This ensures you aren’t overpaying for tools you barely use. It also gives you clear insights into your SaaS spend, making budgeting much easier for everyone involved.

2. Keep things secure

Keeping an eye on your licences helps you ensure only the right people get access to the right tools – no more worrying about accidental leaks. It also helps you stay on top of compliance rules and avoid getting in trouble. Finally, you won’t have to worry about apps sneaking in without approval – in other words, you can say goodbye to shadow IT.

3. Support team productivity

New hires? No problem. With SaaS Ops you’re always on top of your tools and can get everyone set up with everything they need in no time. It also helps ensure all your tools work seamlessly together, allowing your teams to focus on their work – not fixing tech. SaaS Ops also helps you stay ahead of any app glitches, ensuring team productivity isn’t compromised by downtime.

4. Know your tools

Keeping track of all your SaaS tools takes guesswork out of the equation: you can actively see which tools are pulling their weight and which aren’t. With data on your side, you can make informed decisions about what to keep, what to retire and what you want to try next.

5. Work smarter, not harder

With SaaS Operations, you can automate the boring, repetitive tasks like setting up accounts or tracking renewals. This lets you simplify the way you manage your tools so it’s not a constant hassle. In short, you can create a system that works like clockwork.

6. Stay flexible and scalable

As your team grows, you remain on top of your toolkit. That means you can add or tweak tools whenever needed and adapt quickly to new challenges or opportunities – and you already know your SaaS stack can handle it. This flexibility also allows you to try out new tools without worrying about messing up what’s already working for you, enabling you to make changes and upgrades without compromising your toolkit.

7. Keep everyone on the same page

Last, but not least, SaaS is about setting clear rules for how to buy, use and renew tools within your organisation. No more last-minute surprises when it’s time to renew a subscription: you’re always ready for what’s coming. This takes the chaos out of managing your SaaS applications and ensures your software choices match your company’s big-picture goals.

Wrapping up

In today’s business landscape, SaaS Operations isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ – it’s essential for streamlining software usage, reducing costs and keeping your operations secure and compliant.

The benefits of SaaS Ops are clear: lower expenses, increased productivity, enhanced security and greater operational efficiency. In short, with SaaS Operations you’ve everything to gain and nothing to lose.