As your business grows, it’s important to regularly evaluate whether your current software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider is meeting your needs. Some factors you can regularly evaluate are whether the provider can scale with your business, provide the necessary functionality, and provide the level of support you need – if the answer is no, then it may be time to move to a new provider.
To help you understand if you have outgrown your current SaaS provider, a panel of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) members answered the following questions:
“What are the signs that can help you determine if your business has outgrown a particular SaaS provider, and what should you do once you’ve made that decision?”
Here’s what members of the YEC community had to say.
1. This software no longer meets your business needs
“Evaluate whether software and services meet your current needs and can scale as you grow. If you can no longer meet their needs, research new vendors, compare features and Pricing and planning for a smooth transition to minimize disruption. Dig deep into the total cost of ownership – it’s not just the price of admission. Add in implementation, data migration, legal and training, and other costs associated with switching.” ~ Devesh Dwivedi, Devesh Dwivedi
2. Service Diversification becomes inevitable
“To start, you only need basic software like Excel to manage day-to-day operations and a small number of clients. However, more clients increase the opportunity to diversify your services. This often means more Versatile. Consider professional and high-value software with cost-saving strategies.” ~ Tonika Bruce, Lead Nicely, Inc.
3. Costs start to exceed benefits
“One way to determine if your business has outgrown a particular SaaS provider is to analyze your usage and ROI. If the provider is no longer meeting your needs or the costs outweigh the benefits, then it’s time to Buying is a better fit. Once you’ve made that decision, research other options and make a plan for a smooth transition.” ~ Abhijeet Kaldate, Astra WordPress Theme
4. Inefficiency started to develop
“One of the most persistent issues companies face is integration with their SaaS applications. With so many different SaaS applications on the market, it can be difficult for businesses to find a solution that works seamlessly together. Therefore , many companies are struggling to connect various tools and platforms, resulting in inefficiencies and lost productivity.” ~ Kelly Richardson, Infobrandz
5. You repeatedly face the problem of suppliers
“We recently switched with one of our suppliers. This decision was prompted by a major data breach that affected many businesses and individuals, and it’s not the first time. Fortunately, there were many alternatives available and we switched. If you’re having repeated issues with your provider , you should take this as a signal that it’s time to do your research and move on to a new provider.” ~ Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
6. Other solutions offer better benefits
“One of the best ways to make an informed decision here is to compare your current solution with other alternatives. If the other solution offers better functionality than the solution currently comprising your technology stack, then it is time for you to consider switching. Once you have made up your mind, the next thing you should do The trick is to weigh other options based on the functionality they provide.” ~Stephanie Wells, Powerful Form
7. Suppliers are not innovative
“Check if they are adding new product integrations or features. Best SaaS Providers Providers are constantly improving their platforms to provide more value to their customers.In some cases, you can integrate their tools with other applications, or you can access new features they release, included in your existing license If they are not innovating, chances are their competitors are.” ~ Firas Kittaneh, Amerisleep Mattress
8. Pricing The model is no longer satisfactory
“Evaluate how the vendor’s services meet your changing business needs. For example, if a vendor’s pricing model or feature list no longer meets your current requirements, it may be time to look elsewhere. Once you’ve made this decision, create a criteria list to compare potential suppliers and find the best fit for your business. ” ~ Andrew Munro, AffiliateWP
9. The customer gave a bad review
“Have you received feedback from your customers that your processes related to software or software derivative products are being affected? It’s an easy way to know it’s time to move on. Also, communicate with your suppliers about a roadmap that may or may not exist to address these customer issues. Suppliers may be developing new plans to address the issue. ” ~ Matthew Capala, Alphametic
10. Vendor does not provide adequate customer service
“I think the best measure is evaluating the customer service you receive. If customer service is lacking, it may be time to switch suppliers. Once I realize this is the case, I’ll look for other vendors who can provide better support. I also check out their security standards, features, pricing and user-friendliness. All of these factors helped in finding the right SaaS provider for my business. ” ~ Blair Williams, Member Press
Image: Envato Elements
