by As your business grows, it’s important to regularly evaluate whether your current software as a service (SaaS) provider meets your needs. Some factors you may want to evaluate periodically include whether the provider is able to scale with your business, whether it provides the necessary features and offers the required level of support – and if the answer is no, it may be time to move to a new provider .
To help you understand if you’ve outgrown your current SaaS provider, a panel of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) members answered the following question:
“What’s one sign that can help you determine if your business has outgrown a particular SaaS provider, and what should you do once you’ve determined that?”
Here’s what members of the YEC community had to say.
1. The software no longer meets your business needs
“Assess whether the software and services meet your current needs and can scale as your business grows. If you’ve outgrown them, search for new providers, compare features and prices, and plan for a smooth transition to minimize disruption. Dig deeper to find out the total cost of ownership – it’s not just the price of the ticket. Add in implementation, data migration, legal and training costs, and other change-related costs.” ~ Devesh Dwivedi, Devesh Dwivedi
2. Diversification of services becomes necessary
“At first, you only need basic software like Excel to manage your daily operations and a small number of customers. However, a larger number of customers increases the possibilities of diversifying services. This often means the need for more features in business software. Consider specialized and valuable software that incorporates cost-saving strategies.” ~ Tonika Bruce, Drive Nice, Inc.
3. The costs begin to outweigh the benefits
“One way to determine if your business has outgrown a particular SaaS provider is to analyze usage and return on investment. If a retailer no longer meets your needs or the costs outweigh the benefits, it’s time to shop for a better fit. Once you’ve made that decision, explore other options and come up with a smooth transition plan.” ~Abhijeet Kaldate, Astra WordPress Theme
4. Inefficiency begins to develop
“One of the most persistent issues companies face is integrating with their SaaS applications. With so many different SaaS applications on the market, it can be difficult for companies to find solutions that work seamlessly together. As a result, many companies find it difficult to combine different tools and platforms, leading to inefficiencies and loss of productivity.” ~ Kelly Richardson, Infobrandz
5. You repeatedly encounter problems with the seller
“We recently made a switch with one of our suppliers. This decision was prompted by a major data breach that affected many companies and individuals, and it wasn’t the first time. Fortunately, there were many alternatives available and we changed. If you encounter problems with your provider repeatedly, you should take that as a sign that it’s time to do your research and switch to a new one. ~ Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
6. Other solutions offer better benefits
“One of the best ways to make an informed decision is to compare your current solution with other existing alternatives. If other solutions offer better capabilities than the one you currently use, it’s time to think about a replacement. Once you’ve made your decision, the next thing you should do is consider other options based on the features they offer.” ~ Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
7. The supplier does not innovate
“Check if they are adding new product integrations or features. The best SaaS providers are consistently developing their platforms to deliver more value to customers. In some cases, you may be able to integrate their tool with other applications, or you may be able to access new features they provide, including with an existing license. If they’re not innovating, their competitors probably are.” ~ Firas Kittaneh, Amerisleep Mattress
8. The pricing model is no longer satisfactory
“Assess how well the provider’s services meet your evolving business needs. For example, if a provider’s pricing model or feature list no longer meets your current requirements, it may be time to look for other providers. Once you’ve made that determination, create a list of criteria to compare potential suppliers and find the best one for your business.” ~Andrew Munro, AffiliateWP
9. Customers give negative feedback
“Do you get feedback from customers that your software or derivative processes are suffering? It’s an easy way to know it’s time to move on. Also, be communicative with your suppliers on a road map that may or may not exist to solve these customer issues. Vendors can work on new plans to solve the problems.” ~Matthew Capala, Alphametic
10. The seller does not provide sufficient customer service
“I believe the best measure is the customer service rating you receive. If customer support is lacking, it may be time to switch providers. When I realize this is the case, I look for other providers who can provide better support. I also review their security standards, features, pricing, and user-friendliness. All of these factors play a role in finding the right SaaS provider for my business.” ~ Blair Williams, MemberPress
Image: Envato Elements
