Chapter 1: Your understanding of SAAS may be wrong
SAAS, Software as a Service.
If you think SAAS is just a web-based software or platform, then make money by subscription.
Then you are wrong.
In order to correctly understand SAAS, let us first talk about the development process of SAAS.
1. SAAS in the PC Internet Era
Before the Internet developed, software was packaged and sold directly. They are often sold in a way similar to “CD + serial number”.
In the early days of the Internet, Internet companies mainly provided information to users, whether it was a variety of websites or search engines.
Later, these Internet companies felt that in addition to providing users with information, they could actually provide functional applications on web. Web-based Email is a good example.
On the other hand, traditional software companies have found that with the development of the Internet and WEB. The way of users acquire software is increasingly relying on downloads rather than buying a CD. And the functions of their software can also be realized by WEB, which can save the download and make it easier for users to obtain. It also allows users to try it out to a certain extent. Thereby increasing the rate of paid purchases.
After despising each other for many years, the two brothers, the Internet and the traditional software industry, finally found a hit point.
So SAAS, that is, the concept of software as a service, began to be sought after.
One of the earliest, and probably one of the most successful SAASs so far, was Google Docs.
Web-based, no download, free or subscription-based payment methods.
This is the basic characteristic of the earliest SAAS. In particular, “based on the WEB, abandoning the client” has almost become the symbol of SAAS. To this day, the SAAS in the concept of many people is still like this.
This type of SAAS is more typical, in addition to Google Docs, there is ZOHO (www.zoho.com).
Here, a special mention. ZOHO is indeed worthy of respect. It is also a successful case of traditional software enterprises transforming into SAAS.
From its establishment in 1996 to 2005, when the Internet came out of the first cold winter and WEB2.0 became popular, ZOHO turned to SAAS. After that, ZOHO did not raise funds or go public, and continued to do it silently for 10 years to build itself into a The world’s first-class SAAS service provider.
In the past, my colleagues and some friends in the United States told me such things. After Google Docs appeared, they gave up client office software like Microsoft Office. However, when they entered the Chinese market and wanted to cooperate with Chinese colleagues, there was a problem. Because it is impossible to use Google Docs under normal circumstances in China (for reasons, you know). So, they will choose another “Docs”, which is ZOHO.
2. The era of mobile Internet – the evolution of SAAS
The internet always do something different. It seems that many of the changes in these years, traceable to the source, are the initiators of the Internet. Just like the PC Internet era, Google made a Docs, and let the “WEB-based” SAAS show the limelight. This time, it was Apple who did something, and in the end, made a lot of things different.
The mobile internet has changed many things. From the subscription pandemic to the big development of WEB technology, SAAS has been profoundly affected.
(1).Subscription Pandemic
Afraid, no one would have thought that the subscription type that was originally more mainly TO B, which has always been tepid, would explode in popularity on the mobile terminal and in the direction of TO C.
The subscription-style pandemic is really thanks to Apple. A good user experience, convenient APP acquisition, and convenient payment methods are all important factors that lead to this result.
It can be said that Apple’s APP store and iCloud have brought something different to C SAAS. This has also made many people gradually realize that SAAS does not seem to be the same.
(2). Native or WEB, this is the question
The natural closed nature of the mobile Internet has resulted in many independent and closed user ecology, such as the user ecology of ios, the user ecology of each Android mobile phone manufacturer, and so on.
In order to reach users in various ecosystems, various native APPs have become popular.
Why not web?
Weird isn’t it?
The WEB, which has always been sought after by the Internet, was suddenly disliked when it arrived on the mobile Internet.
There was even a saying that the WEB was about to die, and the future was dominated by native apps. Of course, the fact that later, WEB not only did not die, but developed very well.
This is the case for two main reasons.
- The WEB is opened by entering the URL, which becomes very difficult on the mobile phone.
- The experience of WEB on the mobile terminal is very poor.
One of the reasons is that the opening of the WEB on the mobile terminal is very slow due to the limitations of the mobile phone screen and the network.
Another reasons, at that time, WEB was relatively backward in technology and had poor interactivity, which could not keep up with the development of the times.
However, in order to reach users of various ecosystems, each ecosystem must develop a native APP, which is an unbearable cost to engage in the Internet.
One set of code, run everywhere. This is the way of the Internet!
Therefore, instead, WEB technology has begun to develop greatly. First, the rapid popularization of H5 and the maturity and wide application of js technology, development methods with front-end and back-end separation, hybrid development methods, and various front-end development frameworks emerge one after another. Even later, Facebook came up with a black technology – rect native, which is to use js bridging technology to call native components to form native APPs, package them into ios to form ios native APPs, and package them into Android systems to form Android native APPs. Only one set of code needs to be maintained.
This idea has a great influence on the development of APP in the following years.
Today, probably, most of the apps on your phone are not pure native apps. Either mixed development, or pure WEB packaging.
(3). WEB can also be a client
The development of technology always brings changes in methods, and changes in methods always bring changes in concepts, and changes in concepts can always change many, many things.
As WEB front-end technologies such as H5, js, and CSS3 become more and more mature. The development method of WEB has also undergone major changes, and WEB can also be packaged into APP, and JS can also develop APP. Then, everyone found that WEB can also be a browser-based client. Just like IOS APP is an IOS-based client, and Android APP is an Android-based client. So the concept of “WEB client” and “application-based WEB” came into being.
The generation of this concept is very important for SAAS. We no longer limit SAAS to “WEB-based”.
(4). SAAS is multi-terminal
Microsoft, the overlord of traditional software, missed the PC Internet era.
In the era of mobile Internet, the old Microsoft, who was ridiculed by the Internet, was finally angry.
Tigers don’t show their power, you treat me as a sick cat. Internet stinky boys, die!
The old Microsoft made a move, and it was still a big move.
For a time, the situation changed, the avenues roared, and visions were clustered. The Internet has been overwhelmed, and although it will not be defeated, it is also in a hurry.(notice:i don’t know if these words are translated right or wrong. these words are translated from chinese,classical chinese.)
This move of the old Microsoft is famous – mobile first, cloud first.
Interested friends can read a book “Refresh – Rediscovering Business and the Future”, which was written by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. What is written is how Microsoft proposes the direction of mobile first and cloud first, and realizes the reshaping of Microsoft’s soul and self-refresh.
After the self-refresh of the old Microsoft, the changes are huge. For example,MS Office.
(a).From selling software to selling services
Software as a Service, the focus is on services, not software.
The self-refreshed Office is no longer a client software that can only produce various documents, but has become a service that can collaborate with colleagues anytime, anywhere.
Note: Microsoft Office 365 was officially released in 2011 and became a subscription type, but at that time Office 365 was still mainly a way of thinking of selling software (binding the system, limiting the number of computers, etc., and it could only run in Windows systems) .) . Until 2014, Satya Nadella took the helm of Microsoft and put forward the strategy of “mobile first, cloud first”, and after self-refreshing, Microsoft Office has undergone great changes and completely turned into “selling services”, but , This process of change is not as fast as everyone thinks, from selling software to selling services completely, in fact, when Microsoft replaced Office 365 with Microsoft 365 ,it was completed (2020). And, until today, Microsoft still “sells software” in addition to “selling services”, and will launch new Office for “selling software” every once in a while, such as Office2016, Office2019, Office2021 and so on.
Still recommend reading that book “Refresh”.
(b).One cloud and multiple terminals
The former Office was just a client software running on the Windows operating system.
The refreshed Office truly embodies the “mobile first, cloud first” feature.
- Multiple terminals ensure “mobile first”.
Not only can it run on Windows, it can also run not only on the browser (WEB), but also on Apple Iphone, MAC, Android phones and other devices. It is realized that, anytime, anywhere, no matter what scene, no matter what device you use, you can use Microsoft Office and collaborate efficiently at the same time.
Note: Please don’t simply interpret “mobile first” as “mobile phone first”. If you want to better understand Microsoft’s “mobile first, cloud first”, I recommend everyone to read the book “Refresh”. This article will not discuss.
Letting your own Office run in the competitor’s (Apple) system is a “stupid thing” that Microsoft would never do in the past. However, under the concept of “mobile first” and “selling services”, this “stupid thing” has become a “smart thing” that must be done.
- One cloud is the premise of multiple terminals.
No matter which terminals is used, the final edited and viewed “content” is the same. Without a cloud as the premise guarantee, multi-terminal will lose its meaning.
Similar to Microsoft’s transformation is the SAAS transformation of another traditional software giant, which is Adobe. Its transformation is almost identical to that of Microsoft Office. The difference is that it may be the reason for “suffering piracy for a long time”. Adobe’s SAASization is more thorough than Microsoft Office. Completely abandoned “selling software” and turned to “selling services” completely.
The successful transformation of Adobe and Microsoft Office can be said to be a classic case of traditional software transformation SAAS. It also allows everyone to see a different SAAS from a larger field of vision.
Saas can be like this.
Sell services, not software. Under this core idea, the form of SAAS is actually secondary. It is believed that with the passage of time and the development of technology, more forms of SAAS will appear.
For “mobile first, cloud first”, I still recommend that friends who are doing SAAS and those who are preparing to do SAAS have a good understanding, and still recommend the book “Refresh – Rediscovering Business and the Future”