15 Most Popular Cloud Applications and SaaS Services for Business
By moving away from the traditional method of software distribution, cloud computing and SaaS (Software as a Service) enabled startups, freelancers and SMB owners, as well as large businesses, to improve their work productivity and efficiency. Nowadays, with the emergence of SaaS and cloud-based computing, businesses are able to operate from any location, anytime and have access to their software from any device. Here are a few most popular SaaS services and cloud applications.
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Cloud-based advertising
SaaS offers the ability to gather and store data in real-time. Freelance marketers are able to analyze data and produce real-time marketing strategies that will meet the demand head-on. Also, data can be used for personalized advertisement and future trend predictions.
Server hosting
With cloud-based computing you will no longer have to store hardware for business operations. SaaS offers services, such as dedicated hosting that will enable you to have your own personal server, which is maintained and stored by the service provider.
Business scaling
Scaling your business has never been as simple as it is now. With Cloud services, you are able to upgrade or downgrade your software and hardware, depending on your business progress. All you have to do is subscribe to additional hardware or software, to support your business growth or scale down once you no longer need them.
Updates and security
With SaaS services, you no longer have to worry about updates or security of your network. Every issue is resolved and maintained by the service provider. This is especially beneficial to freelancers, who don’t need a centralized location for their business operations.
Workplace applications
SaaS method enables freelancers to take their workspace apps with them everywhere they go. For instance, with Microsoft Office 365 you can access apps such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint on any device.
Customer management solutions
Cloud offers apps for customer management, such as Salesforce, that help you manage your customers, with the use of data collected in real-time. You can collect information about sales, prospects and leads on a single platform, which can be accessed from any device.
Communications
You can communicate with your friends, family or business associates from anywhere, anytime. Apps such as Slack will help you stay in touch with whomever you need because they provide real-time communication.
Collaboration
SaaS offers apps that will improve your collaboration with your team. Project management tools, such as Active Collab, enable you to stay organized and manage your activities accordingly. Also, it enables you to schedule your tasks more easily.
Storage space
With cloud-based computing, online storage space is more useful than ever. Apps such as Google Drive, offer you storage space based in the cloud, which you can use to store and share documentation across various devices.
Analytics
You can easily monitor your articles, your audience growth or any other analytics with apps such as Google Analytics. It also enables you to monitor conversations, blog posts, landing pages and so on, with a dashboard-type data. You can also use Google Analytics, to review your online campaigns.
Social media management
SaaS services offer you the ability to schedule and manage your social media presence. With apps such as Buffer, you can pre-schedule your social media posts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. This is especially beneficial for freelancers that need to focus their attention on other tasks, while still maintaining their regular social media activity.
Social interactions
If you need to track your social media mentions, SaaS has a solution for you. With apps such as Notify, you can track conversations on social media that use your targeted keywords or your content shares. That way, you can engage in a conversation with your audience in real-time and gather all the feedback.
Travel plans
Freelancers who work and travel, such as digital nomads, can have difficulties arranging their travel plans and finances. Luckily, SaaS has a solution for that as well. Apps such as Concur, can help you manage your bookings and travel plans, while notifying you about expenses and allowing you to match your bookings with your budget.
Customer support
Cloud-based solutions for customer support are always welcome by any business owner. With apps such as Zendesk, you can automate the majority of answers, with machine-learning powered tool for customer’s questions. Also, you can deal with inbound customer request from various platforms, such as email, social media, telephone, etc.
Online documentation
One of the most important business factors for freelancers is documentation. SaaS provides apps, such as DocuSign, which offer electronic signature management services. With an app like this, you can sign business documents in digital format and exchange them. However, even though e-signatures are legally binding for most businesses, freelancers should seek out some finance advice when signing financial documentation online, to avoid any inconveniences.
Cloud applications and SaaS solutions are reinventing the business workflow and they are making the lives of every freelancer much easier. Don’t hesitate to leverage this new technology and thrive in the business world.
