Renting software, or using Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), can be a smart move if you want to optimize your business processes without immediately incurring high costs. Three reasons why installation companies are increasingly opting for this are: predictable costs, scalability and efficiency.
Most entrepreneurs start an installation company out of a love for technology and practical work with their hands, not for things that are IT-related. Yet they cannot avoid it: for efficient business operations, working with spreadsheets and loose papers quickly becomes untenable. Professional software is then a necessary next step. Think of financial software or an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in which multiple business processes can be accommodated, such as purchasing and sales administration, inventory administration and time registration.
Predictable costs
By using Software-as-a-Service, i.e. as a service instead of in-house, you go to a subscription price, often monthly or annually. This makes the costs predictable and you do not have to invest in licenses, hardware and infrastructure. From a fixed amount per month you work with software in the cloud and the service provider takes care of the rest. The costs for updates, maintenance and support are usually included in the subscription. In addition, the software is always up-to-date and you can benefit from the latest features and security measures.
As an entrepreneur, securing your data is important. SaaS providers offer a solution as they continuously invest in security measures, such as monitoring and incident response, regular updates and patches, and access management. In addition, they make backups and can help with data recovery.
Scalability
Software in the cloud can grow flexibly with your business, or scale down when there is less work. For example, if (temporarily) additional employees need access to your ERP system, you can easily add additional licenses quickly. Purchasing additional hardware is not necessary, because the SaaS provider provides the necessary computing power and storage space to process the additional demand.
In addition to seasonal work, the needs of the company can change, for example if you are experiencing rapid growth and find that the current system cannot keep up. By using a SaaS solution, new modules can easily be added.
Work more efficiently
SaaS solutions are cloud-based, which means that they can be accessed anytime and anywhere, provided you have an internet connection: in the office, from different production locations, on the road or from home. This allows you to collaborate optimally with colleagues, suppliers or partners and share data in real time. Scalable ERP software also makes it possible to automate common manual tasks, which significantly reduces the error sensitivity in processes and data.
In short, a SaaS solution, such as ERP system Inventive from ECI, is an option that has many advantages for installation companies. By outsourcing the care of keeping everything running smoothly and reliably, you can concentrate on the things that matter, such as business operations and the quality of your services. That ultimately takes your company further!
Text: Lissa Verhoog, Product Marketing Manager at ECI Software Solutions
