How Important Is Design When Developing a SaaS Solution?

SaaS solutions are a software delivery model in which applications and data are hosted on remote servers and users access them via the Internet. Instead of installing and configuring software on their computers, users can use the program online through a browser or application. The SaaS model can be beneficial for any business that uses software. If you want to develop one of these solutions and work on UI/UX design for B2B SaaS in San Francisco, this article is for you.

What Is SaaS?

SaaS is a software distribution model that eliminates the need to download and install it on your own device. It runs in the cloud, and you get access to the results of its work.

The commercial point of SaaS is that access for corporate clients is provided on a paid basis. Businesses rent similar cloud solutions to organize internal processes. This way you can get access to ready-made infrastructure, rather than developing everything yourself from scratch. The only problem is that all corporate information, albeit in encrypted form, is stored on remote servers that are physically inaccessible to company employees. However, this is an excellent option for starting an effective business with minimal startup costs.

The most common example of SaaS is Gmail. But worthy of closer attention are enterprise applications that are designed to cover most of the business processes required by any large company. They allow you to optimize routine processes and reduce costs. As examples of such software products, pay attention to:

• Bit.ai – allows users to organize joint processing of documents.
• Trello is a complete solution for managing complex projects.
• Slack is a corporate messenger.
• Hubspot is software ideal for the tasks of online stores, marketing, and CRM.
• Buffer – management of official business accounts on social networks.

What Solutions Are SaaS?

SaaS includes any software that does not require downloading and installation but is used directly inside a browser window. This is a very profitable model for software developers. Because ready-made software does not end up in the hands of end consumers. They simply get privileged remote access to it.

To understand exactly which products belong to Software as a Service, you need to pay attention to the most obvious features of this model:

• The application is designed in such a way as to provide the client with exclusively remote access.
• One product can be used by many users. It does not imply individual access.
• If the application is paid, then the client pays for privileged access monthly in the form of a subscription fee. Options are acceptable when the cost calculation is based on the volume of operations performed.

Technical support is included in the standard premium package. That is, it is due to every registered client.

Moderation and software updates are downloaded and installed as quickly as possible. Clients can independently manage these processes if necessary.

A distinctive feature of all SaaS solutions can be considered a rental system, which excludes the possibility of direct ownership of the software product. All registered users can use the features of the application but do not own a physical copy of it.

Why is SaaS Design So Important?

The SaaS model needs a scalable design. This is due to the adaptation of the finished product to any changes occurring in the global market. Organizing a design system for Saas products is a rather complex and multi-stage process.

The design system itself is a set of components that have clear and understandable standards. They can be used to develop and update software products while ensuring overall consistency in the interfaces used. Creating a design system can be divided into two independent parts:

• Standardization – includes the development of basic templates.
• Recommendations for design – technical documentation that contains explanations for the use of each of the system components.

It all starts with creating a complete style guide. It includes the following steps:

• setting basic colors and styles that will be applied to all text;
• loading libraries with standard icons;
• selection of standard styles for complex elements such as images, graphics, and the like.

After developing the basic guide, it’s time to move on to the visual component of the user interface. It is necessary to think through the different states of the elements, which will depend on the options for interacting with them:

• default appearance;
• when hovering the cursor;
• disabled;
• upon activation;
• error message.

There can be many conditions. Their number will depend on the specifics of the software product being developed.

When the work on creating the design of the basic elements is completed, it’s time to create the page layout. This stage is considered the most important in the development of design for SaaS applications. It includes the creation of a complete information architecture and user scenarios. Work on UI/UX design for B2B SaaS solutions is best left to experienced professionals, such as the Dworkz company from San Francisco.

Adaptive design for the SaaS model requires taking into account several rules:

• The most appropriate width for page content to be viewed or read.
• In limited viewing situations, it is necessary to organize the display of content. The sequence of elements will depend on the selected settings.
• Designers and developers need to ensure that the most important information is always available.

SaaS In B2B

The SaaS model also copes with the challenges presented by B2B platforms. They offer businesses to use rental software that works on a subscription basis and allows them to reduce operating costs or automate a number of key processes.

The main advantage of SaaS-based solutions is the speed of their implementation. It makes such tools an ideal option for all kinds of startups and small projects that do not have a large staff. Thanks to the implementation of SaaS applications, a business can achieve stable profits after 6-12 months.

From a B2B point of view, investments in SaaS pay off very quickly due to the provision of technical support and ample opportunities to customize tools. And their regular updating, managed by the service provider, becomes an additional bonus.

Final Thoughts

SaaS is in greatest demand among individuals and small and medium-sized businesses. From the point of view of ordinary users and small companies, the ability to delegate complex technical tasks to specialized services becomes an incredibly profitable and effective solution. The potential for scaling of SaaS products further expands the range of applications of the model. If you are looking for a reliable company to develop a B2B SaaS product in San Francisco, we recommend that you pay attention to Dworkz, a provider of complex development services for SaaS solutions, taking into account UI/UX design, testing, and scaling features.